Background
He was born on October 17, 1582 in the German city of Quedlinburg.
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The Daily Exercise of Piety
(Johann Gerhard (15821637) holds a place of honor among t...)
Johann Gerhard (15821637) holds a place of honor among the great theologians of the Age of Lutheran Orthodoxy. Remembered not only for his academic works such as the Loci Theologi, but also for his devotional works such as Sacred Meditations, The Daily Exercise of Piety, and the Schola Pietatis, Gerhard's influence on the teaching and piety of the Lutheran Church is felt to this day. The Daily Exercise of Pietyconsists of 46 devotionals written in the form of prayed catechesis. These devotions are divided under four major headings: (1) Meditations on Sins; (2) Contemplation on Divine Gifts Bestowed; (3) Mediation on our Need; and (4) Meditation on the Need of the Neighbor. First published by Repristination Press in 1994, this English translation of The Daily Exercise of Pietymarked the beginning of a new wave of interest in the theologians of the Age of Lutheran Orthodoxy.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1891469320/?tag=2022091-20
On the Legitimate Interpretation of Holy Scripture
(Johann Gerhard (15821637) is widely acknowledged as the ...)
Johann Gerhard (15821637) is widely acknowledged as the most scholarly and insightful theologian of the Lutheran Church in the seventeenth century. Not only Gerhard's writings in the realm of dogmatic theology, but also his devotional works, have had a powerful influence on the Church for four centuries. Gerhard wrote his Tractatus de legitima Scripturæ Sacræ Interpretatione (1610) to serve as a corrective for flawed Roman Catholic and Reformed methodologies which he was concerned were imperiling the faith of Christians by detracting from the authority of Sacred Scripture. Gerhard's book is a carefully reasoned response to such methodologies and as a valuable resource for all students of theology.
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Commentary on 1 & 2 Timothy
(The books of 1 and 2 Timothy are central for defining pas...)
The books of 1 and 2 Timothy are central for defining pastoral ministry and the Church's life. Johann Gerhard's commentary explains the biblical text, answers questions that commonly raise doubts, resolves apparent contradictions, and applies the text for teaching, admonishing, warning, and consoling God's people.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/075865636X/?tag=2022091-20
On Interpreting Sacred Scripture and Method of Theological Study (Theological Commonplaces)
(This translation of Johann Gerhard includes two commonpla...)
This translation of Johann Gerhard includes two commonplaces originally published in 1610. On Sacred Scripture deals with the authority of Scripture in addition to many other topics; On Interpreting Sacred Scripture expands upon Gerhard's view of how to interpret the Bible.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0758649495/?tag=2022091-20
On the Church - Theological Commonplaces (Theological Commonplaces (Numbered))
(The doctrine of the church was contentious as Lutherans a...)
The doctrine of the church was contentious as Lutherans argued for the scriptural catholicity of their churches, which embraced the Reformation, over against Roman Catholic claims to be the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church confessed in the creeds. Distinguishing between visibility and invisibility as aspects of the same church, Gerhard discusses whether the church can err and defines the true marks of the church. Yet this volume covers much more than just the doctrine of the church. It deals with mission, miracles, prophecy, the curious case of Pope Joan, and the corruptions of the papacy in the centuries leading up to Gerhard s time. The Theological Commonplaces series is the first-ever English translation of Johann Gerhard's monumental Loci Theologici. Gerhard was the premier Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century. Combining his profound understanding of evangelical Lutheran theology with a broad interest in ethics and culture, he produced significant works on biblical, doctrinal, pastoral, and devotional theology. Gerhard interacts with the writings of the church fathers, Luther and his contemporaries, and the Catholic and Calvinist theologians of his day. His 17-volume Loci is regarded as the standard compendium of Lutheran orthodoxy, with topics ranging from the proper understanding and interpretation of Scripture to eschatology. Useful for research on Lutheran doctrine, Gerhard's accessible style makes this a must-have on the bookshelf of pastors and professional church workers. Each embossed hardback volume includes: the translation of Gerhard's Loci (originally published from 1610 to 1625), a glossary of key theological, rhetorical, and philosophical terms, a name index, a Scripture index, a carefully researched works cited list that presents guidance for deciphering the numerous abbreviations of the other titles from which Gerhard quotes.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0758618670/?tag=2022091-20
Sacred Meditations
(Written by Johann Gerhard as a young man, the author delv...)
Written by Johann Gerhard as a young man, the author delves deeply into the truth and paradox of Christian faith and life. Each devotion a powerful journey into the revelation of God to the human race, Johann Gerhard's meditations immerse the reader in Christ, bringing him or her through trial to glory, through anguish to peace, through doubt to certainty, through confession to absolution, through cross to resurrection. This classic work of Lutheran spirituality reminds us all that the Word of God is living and breathing, changing not only how we think or live, but even who we are.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982158602/?tag=2022091-20
On the Gospel and Repentance - Theological Commonplaces
(This volume of Gerhard s comprehensive exegetical-systema...)
This volume of Gerhard s comprehensive exegetical-systematic theology presents two commonplaces. On the Gospel defines the Gospel carefully as the proclamation of God s promises and forgiveness of sins for the sake of Jesus Christ. Since confusions continually arise on the relationship of the Gospel to the text of the New Testament, Old Testament, and the Law of God, Gerhard carefully distinguishes Law from Gospel and explains how the Gospel is found in both testaments. Against the Roman Catholic idea of supererogation, Gerhard explains that Christ revealed the same moral Law as had been given in the Old Testament, but did not add to new laws that are supposedly optional for Christians. On Repentance deals with salutary turning-away from sins, which Lutherans commonly define as including contrition (grief over sins committed) and faith in the promise of forgiveness for Christ s sake. Much of this commonplace takes apart the Roman Catholic sacrament of Penance, defined as consisting of contrition, confession, and satisfaction, as well as the concept of indulgences that is bound up with this. At the same time, Gerhard supports and defends private, individual confession and absolution of Christians before their pastors as a practice fully in accord with Holy Scripture.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0758646976/?tag=2022091-20
Handbook of Consolations: For the Fears and Trials That Oppress Us in the Stuggle with Death
(Johann Gerhard (1582-1637) was one of the leading dogmati...)
Johann Gerhard (1582-1637) was one of the leading dogmatic theologians of his time and was the authoritative voice of seventeenth-century Lutheran Orthodoxy. Yet, he also published numerous devotional works and meditations that were meant to be used in the daily lives of ordinary believers. The Handbook of Consolations sought to provide comfort and encouragement not only to those approaching death, but also to those who provided care for the sick and dying. Gerhard himself was no stranger to sickness and death, having lost his infant son and young wife, and faced numerous life-threatening illnesses throughout his life. In this pastoral work, which is the first complete English translation based on Gerhard's original Latin to be published since the seventeenth century, Gerhard brings together his extensive understanding of Scripture, theology, and church history in a practical and easy-to-understand manual that is as relevant and meaningful in the twenty-first century as it was in Gerhard's day.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1606086642/?tag=2022091-20
The Method of Theological Study
(In The Method of Theological Study, Johann Gerhard (1582...)
In The Method of Theological Study, Johann Gerhard (15821637) sets forth the aims and topics of theological study which form a five year educational program for the preparation of Candidates for the Office of the Holy Ministry. In the words of Gerhard, Speaking concisely and by way of outline, the study of theology is the remedy for our innate ignorance of spiritual matters and for the inherent disorder in our emotions; the stronghold for the cultivation of holiness and piety; the means for listening to God daily in the Word and for speaking to God daily in prayers; and, finally, a sort of prelude to that most holy and blessed society which we await in heaven. Since 1993, Repristination Press has led the effort to publish English translations of classics from the Age of Lutheran Orthodoxy (15801713).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1891469754/?tag=2022091-20
Johann Gerhard
Edit ProfileEducation
At the age of fourteen, during a dangerous illness, he came under the personal influence of Johann Arndt, author of Das wahre Christenthum, and resolved to study for the church. He entered the University of Wittenberg in 1599, and studied philosophy and theology. A relative then persuaded him to change his subject, and he studied medicine for two years.
In 1603, he resumed his theological reading at Jena, and in the following year received a new impulse from J. W. Winckelmann and Balthasar Mentzer at Marburg. He graduated in 1605 and began to give lectures at Jena.
Career
In 1606 he accepted the invitation of John Casimir, Duke of Coburg, to the superintendency of Heldburg, today Bad Colberg-Heldburg, and mastership of the gymnasium Casimirianum Coburg; soon afterwards he became general superintendent of the duchy, in which capacity he was engaged in the practical work of ecclesiastical organization until 1616, when he became the senior theological professor at Jena, where the remainder of his life was spent.
Here, with Johann Major and Johann Himmel, he formed the "Trias Johannea. " During his lifetime he received repeated calls to almost every university in Germany (e. g. Giessen, Altdorf, Helmstedt, Jena, Wittenberg), as well as to Uppsala in Sweden. He died in Jena on the 20th of August 1637.
His writings are numerous, alike in exegetical, polemical, dogmatic and practical theology. To the first category belong the Commentarius in harmoniam historiae evangelicae de passione Christi (1617), the Comment, super priorem D. Petri epistolam (1641), and also his commentaries on Genesis (1637) and on Deuteronomy (1658). Of a controversial character are the Confessio Catholica (1633–1637), an extensive work which seeks to prove the evangelical and catholic character of the doctrine of the Augsburg Confession from the writings of approved Roman Catholic authors; and the Loci communes theologici (1610–1622), his principal contribution, in which Lutheranism is expounded "nervose, solide et copiose, " in fact with a fulness of learning, a force of logic and a minuteness of detail that had never before been approached.
Achievements
Works
book
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On the Church - Theological Commonplaces (Theological Commonplaces (Numbered))
(The doctrine of the church was contentious as Lutherans a...)
-
The Method of Theological Study
(In The Method of Theological Study, Johann Gerhard (1582...)
-
Handbook of Consolations: For the Fears and Trials That Oppress Us in the Stuggle with Death
(Johann Gerhard (1582-1637) was one of the leading dogmati...)
-
On the Legitimate Interpretation of Holy Scripture
(Johann Gerhard (15821637) is widely acknowledged as the ...)
-
Sacred Meditations
(Written by Johann Gerhard as a young man, the author delv...)
-
The Daily Exercise of Piety
(Johann Gerhard (15821637) holds a place of honor among t...)
-
On the Gospel and Repentance - Theological Commonplaces
(This volume of Gerhard s comprehensive exegetical-systema...)
-
Commentary on 1 & 2 Timothy
(The books of 1 and 2 Timothy are central for defining pas...)
-
On Interpreting Sacred Scripture and Method of Theological Study (Theological Commonplaces)
(This translation of Johann Gerhard includes two commonpla...)
-
On the Church - Theological Commonplaces (Theological Commonplaces (Numbered))
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Born
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Died
August 20, 1637 (aged 55) -
Nationality
German -
Religion
Lutheran