Luther; Man Between God and the Devil

by Heiko A. Oberman; translated by Eileen Walliser-Schwarzbart

• ISBN13: 9780300103137
• ISBN10: 0300103131
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2006-03-11
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

Written by one of the world's greatest authorities on Martin Luther, this is the definitive biography of the central figure of the Protestant Reformation. "A brilliant account of Luther's evolution as a man, a thinker, and a Christian. . . . Every person interested in Christianity should put this on his or her reading list."Lawrence Cunningham, Commonweal "This is the biography of Luther for our time by the world's foremost authority."Steven Ozment, Harvard University "If the world is to gain from Luther it must turn to the real Lutherfurious, violent, foul-mouthed, passionately concerned. Him it will find in Oberman's book, a labour of love."G. R. Elton, Journal of Ecclesiastical History

Author Biography

The late Heiko A. Oberman was professor of medieval, Renaissance, and Reformation history at the University of Arizona.
 

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
Preface to the English Edition	xv
Preface to the First Edition	xix
PART ONE The Longed-for Reformation
Prologue: Controversy beyond the Grave	3	(10)
"The Charioteer of Israel Has Fallen"
History in the Shadow of the Last Days
Chapter I A German Event	13	(37)
The Enigmatic Elector Frederick
The State of the Nation
Election Victory for Charles
The Spanish Factor
World Monarchy and Reformation
The Luther Issue in Worms
"Wake up, wake up, o German nation"
Chapter II A Medieval Event	50	(32)
Reformation and No End in Sight
The Struggle for Monastic Reform
The Hierarchical Church under Fire
The Pursuit of the Millennium
The Alien Luther
The City of God as Utopia
The Antichrist and His Designs
"Repentance is better than indulgence"
Chapter III An Elemental Event	82	(31)
Enduring Influences: Father Hans
Mother Hanna: Old Witch and Grand Lady
School Days, School Days
Preparation for Life
"One need not paint the Devil above one's door"
God's Word in Filthy Language
PART TWO The Unexpected Reformation
Chapter IV The Road to Wittenberg: Decisions before the Reformation	113	(38)
Gateway to Modern Times
Luther Becomes a Nominalist
The Impact of Humanism
From Magister to Monk
Piety and Politics: Cowl and Cabal
Reform or Unity: The Fundamental Question of an Age
God's Prospective Adviser
The Fool in Rome
Chapter V The Reformation Breakthrough	151	(24)
Discoveries along the Way
The Devil and the Cloaca
The Born Reformer
With Augustine against Aristotle
The First Lectures in Wittenberg
"Today you have the Bible"
Chapter VI The Reformer Attacked	175	(34)
The Persecution of Christians "Today"
Mysticism and Lift: Tauler and Staupitz
Thrice Excommunicated
Do Not Indulge in Indulgences!
Scripture or Pope
Against Pope and Emperor
PART THREE The Reformation in Peril
Chapter VII Life between God and the Devil	209	(17)
Driven and Drawn
Luther and Enlightened Humanism
Man as a Mule
Luther and Fundamentalism
Chapter VIII Discord in the Reformation	226	(20)
The Sacrament of the "Ignorant"
Divided over the Sacrament of Unity
Chapter IX Christianity between God and the Devil	246	(26)
False Alternatives
Book of Psalms—Book of the Church
Church of Confessors—Church of Martyrs
Gospel for Sale
The Future of the Church: Reformation between Failure and Success
Chapter X Wedded Bliss and World Peace: In Defiance of the Devil	272	(26)
The Delights and Duties of Marriage
The Emancipation of Eve
Holy Matrimony
Love and Lust
Divorce and Bigamy
Chaos and Peace
Darkness at Noon: Luther and the Jews
Chapter XI The Man and His Deeds	298	(27)
Conflict and Character
Luther and the Art of Language
Wine, Women, and Song
Luther Today: A Test
Sickness unto Death
Psychology at the Deathbed
Epilogue: Luther as He Was	325	(6)
Notes	331	(24)
Chronological Outline	355	(10)
Subject Index	365	(9)
Index of Names	374