Martin Luther: Visionary Reformer - Hardcover

Scott Hendrix

4.14

137 ratings by Goodreads

9780300166699: Martin Luther: Visionary Reformer

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0300166699 ISBN 13: 9780300166699

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2015

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The sixteenth-century German friar whose public conflict with the medieval Roman Church triggered the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther was neither an unblemished saint nor a single-minded religious zealot according to this provocative new biography by Scott Hendrix. The author presents Luther as a man of his time: a highly educated scholar and teacher and a gifted yet flawed human being driven by an optimistic yet ultimately unrealized vision of "true religion." This bold, insightful account of the life of Martin Luther provides a new perspective on one of the most important religious figures in history, focusing on Luther's entire life, his personal relationships and political motivations, rather than on his theology alone. Relying on the latest research and quoting extensively from Luther's correspondence, Hendrix paints a richly detailed portrait of an extraordinary man who, while devout and courageous, had a dark side as well. No recent biography in English explores as fully the life and work of Martin Luther long before and far beyond the controversial posting of his 95 Theses in 1517, an event that will soon be celebrated as the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

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Review:

[A] richly detailed portrait D.G./i>
--D.G. Hart "Wall Street Journal ""

Outstanding . . . the material is colored in distinctively new hues . . . mining Luther s correspondence in a new, more thorough way. . . . To a great extent [Hendrix] allows Luther to tell us in his own words about the growth of his inner self. Denis R./i>--Denis R. Janz "America ""

Freshly insightful . . . [Hendrix] paints a sympathetic portrait of the movement s enigmatic founder. S./i>--S. Craig Sanders "Towers ""

[Hendrix] has given us a Luther who is not only an extraordinary theologian, but also a firm friend, a demanding colleague, an energetic administrator, a mediocre politician, and a loving, if sometimes heavy-handed, husband and father What keeps it together is Hendrix s sharp insights, his easy style and his unfailing eye for telling facts or quotations. Dr./i>--Alec Ryrie"Church Times" (06/10/2016)"

With astonishing conciseness, Hendrix goes a long way toward restoring the reputation of the father of the Reformation. . . . A fine, sturdy biography. Ray Olson, Booklist (starred review)--Ray Olson "Booklist ""

Comprehensive . . . [Hendrix] balances theology and history well. . . . Highly recommended. Risto Saarinen, First Things--Risto Saarinen "First Things ""

Scott Hendrix is a veteran insider historian from the American Protestant tradition, with the worthy aim of tackling some of the complacent myths all families build up about their founding fathers an efficient performance. Diarmaid Mac Culloch, London Review of Books--Diarmaid MacCulloch"London Review of Books" (08/11/2016)"

About the Author:

Scott H. Hendrix is emeritus professor of reformation history, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the author of numerous works of Reformation history, including Luther and the Papacy and Recultivating the Vineyard: The Reformation Agendas of Christianization. He lives in Pittsboro, NC.

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