Commemoration of Johann Gerhard, Theologian
Friday, August 17,
2012
The Lord be with you
Johann Gerhard (1582-1637) was a great Lutheran theologian
in the tradition of Martin Luther (1483-1546) and Martin Chemnitz (1522-86) and
the most influential of the seventeenth-century dogmaticians. His monumental Loci Theologica (twenty-three large
volumes) is still considered by many to be a definitive statement of Lutheran
orthodoxy. Gerhard was born in Quedlinburg, Germany.
At the age of fifteen he was stricken with a life-threatening illness. This
experience, along with guidance from his pastor, Johann Arndt, marked a turning
point in his life. He devoted the rest of his life to theology. He became a
professor at the University of Jena
and served many years as the superintendent of Heldburg. Gerhard was a man of
deep evangelical piety and love for Jesus. He wrote numerous books on exegesis,
theology, devotional literature, history, and polemics. His sermons continue to
be widely published and read. Gerhard, alone with his co-workers Johann Major
and Johann Himmel, were sometimes call the “Trias
Johannea” (three Johns), as their work was so well respected and
influential.
An excellent, short, summary of his life can be found at: http://www.studiumexcitare.com/content/71.
The only question mark I have about this article is the quote “Gerhard is the
third (Luther, Chemnitz, Gerhard) in that series of
Lutheran theologians in which there is no fourth.” However the great theologian
Abraham Calov (1612-1686), commemorated November 9, would, in my opinion, be in
the same class as Gerhard, and be considered the “fourth” by most.
Prayer: Most High
God, we owe You great thanks that in the sacred mystery of the Supper You feed
us with the body and blood of Your Son. May we approach this heavenly meal with
true faith, firmly convinced that the body we eat and the one given into death
for us and that the blood we drink is the blood shed for our sins; through
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert
No comments:
Post a Comment