The Sacramentality of Scripture in the Writings of Johann Gerhard
Johann Gerhard (1582-1637) was a Lutheran pastor and university professor in Germany whose writings on scripture stand as some of his most important theological contributions. In these works, he developed the doctrine of scripture in several significant ways. This essay addresses one such developmen...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2023
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In: |
Lutheran quarterly
Year: 2023, Volume: 37, Issue: 4, Pages: 407-423 |
IxTheo Classification: | HA Bible KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history KBB German language area KDD Protestant Church NBB Doctrine of Revelation NBP Sacramentology; sacraments |
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Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | Johann Gerhard (1582-1637) was a Lutheran pastor and university professor in Germany whose writings on scripture stand as some of his most important theological contributions. In these works, he developed the doctrine of scripture in several significant ways. This essay addresses one such development: Gerhard's understanding of the sacramentality of scripture. Though scripture is not a sacrament properly speaking, the relationship of its external form to its internal divine meaning and purpose presents an interesting sacramental analogy. In speaking of sacramentality, Gerhard is concerned with the status of scripture as a means of grace and the efficacy of the word in itself. This essay will focus on the continuity of Gerhard's views on the efficacy of scripture, especially in the face of an episode known as the Rahtmannian debate. Two points will be stressed throughout: (1) Gerhard took a consistent approach to the efficacy of scripture throughout his writings and (2) this approach provides a helpful foundation upon which to establish a theology of the sacramentality of scripture. |
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ISSN: | 2470-5616 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Lutheran quarterly
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/lut.2023.a911859 |