Gospel Prism

I have never read Roland Bainton’s classic biography on Martin Luther. From all that I have heard about regarding that book, it seems to be a very well-written biography and really the standard on Luther for many years. In reading James Kittelson’s Luther, the Reformer, it certainly makes me curious to see how this book differs from Bainton. But I can say this much about Kittelson, he does an excellent job of detailing Luther’s life and the many facets of Luther’s writings and controversies that surrounded him.

For a man as influential and pivotal to Christianity as Luther, there really doesn’t seem to be that much written about the man historically. However, Kittleton provides a good overview of Luther, reporting on his childhood and the influences (both positive and negative) of his father Hans Luther, along with his entrance into the Augustinian monastic tradition which obviously shaped much of Luther’s thoughts and future writings.

Kittelson adeptly weaves Luther’s life with his theology and teachings, giving a brief overview of his stance on issues such as justification and his understanding of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper while placing them each issue into its historical context. You can see why Luther dealt with his view of justification, especially in light of Rome’s teaching on works and indulgences. For the modern day Protestant, it seems quite extraordinary that Rome could teach that indulgences could free a family member from Purgatory. But in Luther’s day, to oppose such thinking was a rarity.

I had always imagined the drama of Luther standing before the Roman Church as he professed his conviction on justification by faith alone. Kittelson, in his chapter “The Lines Drawn” (ch. 6), gives a wonderful perspective on this battle of will and conscience between the Roman Church and Luther. The danger that he faced in speaking of such things in his day is far beyond what most might realize. Apart from the protection of German nobles in high places, Luther might have never survived.

Kittelson describes well the flurry of different fronts that Luther faces as he begins this new movement of the church that depends on God’s Word rather than on a church body for the determination of truth. And perhaps what the reader does come away with is Luther’s passion and blunt style in addressing his opponents, in particular the pope whom Luther described as the “vicar of the devil; an enemy of God; an opponent of Christ; and a destroyer of the church of Christ; a teacher of all lies, blasphemy, and idolatries…a genuine werewolf.” (p. 290) I don’t think it is an understatement to think that Luther rarely pulled any punches.

Finally, Kittelson has some great illustrations and pictures in the book, many of them painted by Lucas Cranach who had done many different portraits of Luther.

If you want to read a good bio on Luther, Kittelson is definitely a quick read and I would highly recommend it.