Luther’s Theology of the cross-1

尋找閱讀台灣,新加坡,美國華人教會及香港關於馬丁路德十架神學的中文論述過程中,發現大部份都曾引述或引用過麥葛福之Luther’s Theology of the cross的內容,引發我想要完整讀這本書的動機,並寫下摘要:
The crucified God is not merely the foundation of the Christian faith, but is also the key to a proper understanding of the nature of God.(本書前言)

what man must do if he is to saved?(P.9)

How can a sinner enter into fellowship with a holy and righteous God? How can the troubled conscience find peace by discovering a gracious God?(p.12)

For Luther, Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God, revealing at one and the same time God’s condemnation of sin and remedy for it. Through the creative power of the Holy Spirit and the hearing of the Word of the gospel, the sinner shares in the divine righteousness through faith.(P.21)

Martin Luther-An Introduction to His Life and Work -7

In reading Luther, Ranke gave special attention to Luther’s interpretation of Psalm 101 (1534/35). In this interpretation of the psalm, Luther developed his own theological view of history.(P.218)

Harnack was the first to demonstrate the meaning of this concept, which was so central to The Bondage of the Will.(P.221)

Holl was the first to combine historical and systematic perspectives in his study of Luther.(P.224)

We experience both this absolute demand and our own inadequacy in our conscience. This is the place where we meet God. This experience of God’s ethical demand and our own failure to meet that demand is the basis on which we experience the judging and the gracious God.(P.225)

Martin Luther-An Introduction to His Life and Work -6

Luther did not see creation as a finished act but rather as an ongoing event. Luther understood creation as a present reality.(P.172)

any study of Luther’s doctrine must take into account the development of his viewpoints.(P.190)

God is revealed through self-veiling..,we need faith to recognize God’s revelation as it is concealed in the events of history.(P.194)

The category of “hiddenness" is thus extraordinarily important, both in Luther’s theology of the cross and in his view of history. God creates life by putting us to death. When judging us, God is being gracious to us.(P.196)

Revelation and hiddenness are available only as a dialectical unity. Only in Jesus Christ do we encounter God as our savior.(P.196)

history ultimately summons everyone to believe. We are repeatedly tested as to whether we really want to hear God’s Word or not,,.Each person therefore, is summoned to meet the spiritual temptations that come to us through our experience of history with firm trust in God.(P.197)..,Until the very end, the devil will never give up struggling against the light..,For after all..,it was, is, and will be he who says,"I am with you always, to the close of the age".(P.198)

Martin Luther-An Introduction to His Life and Work -5

for Luther, the righteousness received in faith was not only the forgiveness of sins but also the beginning of God’s process of making us righteous.(P.150)

“Take Christ out of the Scripture, and what will you find left in them?" This led Luther directly to the conclusion that Scripture interprets itself.(P.156)

The distinction between law and gospel is one of the most important themes in Luther’s theology.(P.158)

Luther thought of God as always active…,God acts in a hidden way,,,.It teaches us to rely on God.(P.168)

The wrath of God is,,,.the power of God at work in life..,We need to flee from this wrath to the love of God..in Christ. God’s revelation in Jesus Christ breaks through the power of God’s wrath.(P.171)

Martin Luther-An Introduction to His Life and Work -4

A Christian person is a free lord of everything and subject to no one. A Christian person is a ready servant of everything and subject to everyone.(P.130)

The category “spirit"..,refer to the way in which God is hidden fromus..,the category of the “letter" refers both to human autonomy and to the wrath of God..,the spirit is hidden in the letter.(P.146)

you will not change me into what you are , but you will be changed into what I am. (P.147)思想:Scripture change the reader or reader change Scripture.

God’s grace is always present as the hidden reality under his judgment.(P.147)

we are sinful,,.because we are self-centered and seek our own welfare. this is most true when we seek to become right with God by doing good works rather than trusting in God.(P.147)