Recent Reformation / Luther Postings

Here's a few things I came across over the last few days from a few different perspectives:


Notes On Calvin’s Doctrine That Justification Sola Fide Is The Principal Axis Of The Christian Religion (R. Scott Clark)- Clark revises a word in the Battles translation of the Institutes to demonstrate Calvin's use of the term "regeneration." R Scott Clark also lamented about those who swim the Tiber or become Eastern Orthodox in this recent blog post.

James White vs. Jimmy Akin on Predestination-  Here's a YouTube audio of an interaction between Dr. White and Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers on Predestination. I'm not sure of the date on this one, but it must be old by this point, since Dr. White's opening statement goes through Akin's article A Tiptoe Through Tulip.  I went through Akin's article some years back, but I'm sure Dr. White was interacting with it long before I even knew about Mr. Akin. It doesn't appear to me that either AOMIN or CA makes this debate available (at least I could not find it on these websites).

Be a Sinner and Sin Boldly (Walid Shoebat)- Shoebat is a pro-Roman Catholic anti-Islamic website. This article on Luther from April 2014 cites me, unattributed. I may actually go though this article at some point. Shoebat states, "The question isn’t Luther’s statements, but why so many theologians defend him, especially that there are countless obvious immoral statements in his writings? I gave only three references from some of Luther’s defenders (there are hundreds) who re-interpret Luther’s statements. Many are simply Luther’s sycophants."

Calvin contra Rome on Scripture (Introduction); Calvin contra Rome on Scripture (Part 1)- reformation 21's Professor Denlinger starts this series of entries on Calvin vs. Rome. He mentions helpfully,

The burden of proof that something other than Scripture constitutes a source of "saving truth" -- whether that something be "unwritten traditions" or Chinese fortune cookies -- rests entirely with those making such claims. This is often overlooked by would-be Roman apologists who require Protestants to defend from Scripture their principle that Scripture alone is authoritative, and fail to realize that sola Scriptura is not a positive claim per se, but a denial of the positive claim that "unwritten traditions" or anything else deserve the moniker "Word of God."

Reformation or Revolt or Revolution? by Dr. Paul Peters (Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary). I mentioned this old article a few days ago. It's a brilliant article that attempts to cut through the battle over the word "Reformation." The seminary also hosts a number of free articles worth digging through.

Recent Reformation / Luther Postings

Here's a few things I came across over the last few days from a few different perspectives:


Luther: The Antinomians Preach Easter But Not Pentecost (R. Scott Clark)- A great quote showing that Luther's sola fide was not an antinomian sola fide.

My Take on the Reformation in England: Owen, Packer, Hooker, Puritans, Anglicans, and Worship (Triablogue)- A discussion on the English church and the Puritans. Who are the rightful heirs of the English Reformation?

Thomas Cromwell was the Islamic State of his day (The Telegraph)- A brief article from last year about Cromwell's unscrupulous methods during the English Reformation. Sure he helped get Rome's tentacles out of the England, but did his methods cross the line? Anachronism alert.

Was Luther a Calvinist? (The Gospel Coalition)- An interesting article comparing the 5 points of Calvinism, Luther's writings, and Lutheran confessions. A worthy effort on a difficult and emmotionally charged subject.

Curb Pope and Turk! – Luther’s hymn abandoned (Back to Luther); “Most controversial Protestant hymn”; C. Winkworth; Luther: Curb Pope and; Turk (Back to Luther)- These are a few posts from a fanatical Lutheran documenting a change in a Lutheran hymn. Despite the weirdness of this blog,  it does present some fascinating tidbits from time to time.

The Real Story of the Reformation (Catholic Answers)- This is a recent radio interview with "Steve Weidenkopf is a lecturer of Church History at the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College." I haven't listened to this yet, nor have I ever heard of this guy.  I find it fascinating that Catholic Answers tracked down someone from Notre Dame rather than a priest or a convert to address this topic.

Addendum
Recently I mentioned Calvin’s Sermons on Deuteronomy have been put online. A recent blog comment mentioned the availability of a pdf of Calvin's sermons on Deuteronomy 27 and 28. The description link can be found here, and the pdf can be found here.

Recent Reformation / Luther Postings

Here's a few things I came across over the last few days from a few different perspectives:

The Fireproof Martin Luther (Reformation 21).
This is a recent offering from Aaron Denlinger on what is usually referred to as "Incombustible Luther." For an intriguing study of this -and probably what was used as the main source for this article, yet unattributed by Mr. Denlinger, see: R.W. Scribner, Popular Culture and Popular Movements in Reformation Germany (London: The Hambledon Press, 1987). Chapter 15 is entitled, "Incombustible Luther: the Image of the Reformer in Early Modern Germany" (Much of this chapter is available via a free preview, but reading the chapter in its entirety is well worth it).


What made Luther jump? (Catholic Answers)
Our friends on the Non-Catholic Religions Forum at Catholic Answers attempt to figure out "what Luther saw in his view of Catholicism that made him constantly fear for his salvation."


Looking For a Luther Quote (Luther Quest)
A Lutheran is looking for where Luther said, "Where there is no command or promise in God's Word there is no need."

My Opinion of Martin Luther (Taylor Marshall)
I found this 2013 recording from Tiber swimmer Taylor Marshall on his main page. A lot of fluff before discussing the topic. Fast forward to 6 min. in. Marshall says Luther should have obeyed the papacy, even if the papacy was wrong. True martyrs have been persecuted by the Roman church.


Catholic Martyrs of the Protestant Reformation? (Catholic Answers)
Our friends on the Non-Catholic Religions Forum at Catholic Answers attempt to figure out " Who are some specific Catholic Martyrs of the Protestant reformation?"

Recent Reformation / Luther Postings

Here's a few things I came across over the last few days from a few different perspectives:

Luther on God's "Hardening" and "Softening" of Human Hearts (reformation 21)- An interesting comparison of the Synod of Dort and Luther's Bondage of the Will. (Reformed)

Martin Luther Was A Calvinist! (From Geneva to Wittenberg)- A bit of sarcasm from a Lutheran pointing out that many Reformed folks don't read past Luther's Bondage of the Will.

The "Obdurate Jews" (Jewish Currents)- A short post in which the comments delve into Luther's final statement on the Jews.

Looking Back at what the Reformation has Done A Free for all from our friends on the Catholic Answers "Non-Catholic Religions" forum. A poll asks, "If Luther could do it all over again, would he?" Here are the poll results thus far.