Church History Class Introduction

Course Introduction and Expectations

• The instructor teaches from a bar stool, takes 10-minute breaks, and accepts questions during class.
• The instructor reserves the right to not answer questions immediately, especially if they're not directly relevant to the current topic.

Approach to Church History

• The instructor does not teach church history for inspiration or chronology, but to learn from the past and understand why people acted in certain ways.
• Applied history is about learning from the past to understand the human condition at particular points in time.
• The instructor wants students to understand why people thought and acted in certain ways, rather than just memorizing facts.

Important Concepts

• The instructor believes that to understand the Bible, one must understand its historical context.
• The Lord's Supper and baptism are important issues that were debated during the Reformation.
• Luther was a hero to many Protestants, but he was different from modern evangelicals and had strong convictions on important issues.

Historical Context

• Historical context is crucial in understanding why people acted in certain ways.
• Economics and politics play a significant role in how people live and behave.
• The Reformation could not have happened without certain social and economic conditions, such as the existence of the printing press.

Martin Luther

• Luther is a singularly important Protestant figure, and understanding him can help us learn how to approach historical figures.

• Luther's view of the Lord's Supper was a crucial issue during the Reformation.

• Luther was not just a solitary figure, but part of a larger historical context that led to the Reformation.### The Church and Its Division

• In the 16th century, the concept of church division was unimaginable, unlike in modern times where it's common.

• In the past, people took the unity of the church seriously, and division was a significant concern.

• Today, church division is cheap and often occurs over minor differences, such as a pastor's attire.

Luther and the Church

• Luther had a profound effect on Evangelical experience, but it's often misunderstood.
• Luther's "tower experience" is a famous story, but it likely didn't happen as he described it.
• Luther's conversion is often misunderstood; he believed he was converted when he was baptized.
• Luther's view of the Christian life is sacramental, emphasizing Word and Sacrament (baptism and the Lord's Supper).

Luther's Ministry

• Luther's approach to ministry is liberating, as it focuses on preaching and administering the sacraments.
• He believed that the agent in ministry is God, and the minister's role is to use the tools God provides (Word, baptism, and the Lord's Supper).
• Luther's pastoral ministry is centered on preaching, baptism, and the Lord's Supper.

Approaching Luther

• 2017 marks a significant year for Luther studies, with many new publications and resources available.
• The Annotated Luther series is a recommended resource for understanding Luther's key texts and themes.
• There are various approaches to understanding Luther, including views of him as a hero or anti-hero, as well as Catholic responses that portray him as an agent of the Antichrist.### Luther and the Book of Revelation
• Luther's fans associated him with figures in the Book of Revelation, but Luther never identified himself with those figures
• The Book of Revelation predicts the Reformation and Luther's role in it

Approaches to Understanding Luther

• Traditional approach: Luther as a figure in black and white terms (good vs. evil)
• Psychological approach: examining Luther's relationship with his father and its influence on his theology (Erick Erickson's theory)
• Historical approach: understanding Luther in the context of his time, recognizing the complexities of human motivations (Haiko Oberman's approach)

Luther and His Father

• Luther's relationship with his father was complicated and had an impact on his theology
• Calvinists should understand the complexities of human motivations and the influence of sin and selfishness on human actions
• Fathers have a significant influence on children, and it's essential to consider this when studying Luther's life and theology

The Historical Approach

• Haiko Oberman's approach: recognizing the continuities and discontinuities between late medieval theology and Luther's ideas
• Oberman's approach helps to understand the Reformation in a more nuanced and less partisan way

Luther and Late Medieval Theology

• Luther built on difficulties in late medieval theology, which eventually led to the collapse of the ecclesiology of the Church
• Luther's theology was not a dramatic break with the past but rather a continuation of late medieval theology
• Luther's actions had unintended consequences, including the collapse of the Church's ecclesiology

The Significance of Oberman's Approach

• Oberman's approach provides a more truly Catholic sensibility
• It allows Protestants to claim the whole of church history as their own, including the theology of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas
• This approach has intellectual and Christian benefits

Course Introduction and Expectations

• The instructor teaches from a bar stool, takes 10-minute breaks, and accepts questions during class.
• The instructor reserves the right to not answer questions immediately, especially if they're not directly relevant to the current topic.

Approach to Church History

• The instructor focuses on applied history to learn from the past and understand the human condition.
• The goal is to understand why people thought and acted in certain ways, rather than just memorizing facts.

Important Concepts

• Understanding the Bible requires understanding its historical context.
• The Lord's Supper and baptism were important issues debated during the Reformation.
• Luther had strong convictions on important issues and differed from modern evangelicals.

Historical Context

• Historical context is crucial in understanding why people acted in certain ways.
• Economics and politics significantly impact human behavior and decision-making.
• The Reformation required specific social and economic conditions, such as the printing press.

Martin Luther

• Luther is a singularly important Protestant figure.
• Understanding Luther helps in approaching historical figures.
• Luther's view of the Lord's Supper was a crucial issue during the Reformation.
• Luther was part of a larger historical context that led to the Reformation.

The Church and Its Division

• In the 16th century, church division was unimaginable and a significant concern.
• Today, church division is common and often occurs over minor differences.

Luther and the Church

• Luther profoundly affected Evangelical experience, but it's often misunderstood.
• Luther's conversion is often misunderstood; he believed he was converted at baptism.
• Luther's view of the Christian life is sacramental, emphasizing Word and Sacrament.

Luther's Ministry

• Luther's approach to ministry focuses on preaching and administering the sacraments.
• He believed the agent in ministry is God, and the minister's role is to use the tools God provides.
• Luther's pastoral ministry is centered on preaching, baptism, and the Lord's Supper.

Approaching Luther

• 2017 marked a significant year for Luther studies with new publications and resources.
• The Annotated Luther series is a recommended resource for understanding Luther's key texts and themes.
• Approaches to understanding Luther include views of him as a hero, anti-hero, or as an agent of the Antichrist.

Luther and the Book of Revelation

• Luther's fans associated him with figures in the Book of Revelation.
• Luther never identified himself with those figures.

Approaches to Understanding Luther

• Traditional approach: Luther as a figure in black and white terms (good vs. evil).
• Psychological approach: examining Luther's relationship with his father and its influence on his theology.
• Historical approach: understanding Luther in the context of his time, recognizing the complexities of human motivations.

Luther and His Father

• Luther's relationship with his father was complicated and had an impact on his theology.
• Fathers have a significant influence on children, and it's essential to consider this when studying Luther's life and theology.

The Historical Approach

• Haiko Oberman's approach recognizes the continuities and discontinuities between late medieval theology and Luther's ideas.
• Oberman's approach helps to understand the Reformation in a more nuanced and less partisan way.

Luther and Late Medieval Theology

• Luther built on difficulties in late medieval theology, which eventually led to the collapse of the Church's ecclesiology.
• Luther's theology was not a dramatic break with the past but rather a continuation of late medieval theology.
• Luther's actions had unintended consequences, including the collapse of the Church's ecclesiology.

The Significance of Oberman's Approach

• Oberman's approach provides a more truly Catholic sensibility.
• It allows Protestants to claim the whole of church history as their own, including the theology of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.
• This approach has intellectual and Christian benefits.

Course Introduction and Expectations

• The instructor teaches from a bar stool, takes 10-minute breaks, and accepts questions during class.
• The instructor reserves the right to not answer questions immediately, especially if they're not directly relevant to the current topic.

Approach to Church History

• The instructor focuses on applied history to learn from the past and understand the human condition.
• The goal is to understand why people thought and acted in certain ways, rather than just memorizing facts.

Important Concepts

• Understanding the Bible requires understanding its historical context.
• The Lord's Supper and baptism were important issues debated during the Reformation.
• Luther had strong convictions on important issues and differed from modern evangelicals.

Historical Context

• Historical context is crucial in understanding why people acted in certain ways.
• Economics and politics significantly impact human behavior and decision-making.
• The Reformation required specific social and economic conditions, such as the printing press.

Martin Luther

• Luther is a singularly important Protestant figure.
• Understanding Luther helps in approaching historical figures.
• Luther's view of the Lord's Supper was a crucial issue during the Reformation.
• Luther was part of a larger historical context that led to the Reformation.

The Church and Its Division

• In the 16th century, church division was unimaginable and a significant concern.
• Today, church division is common and often occurs over minor differences.

Luther and the Church

• Luther profoundly affected Evangelical experience, but it's often misunderstood.
• Luther's conversion is often misunderstood; he believed he was converted at baptism.
• Luther's view of the Christian life is sacramental, emphasizing Word and Sacrament.

Luther's Ministry

• Luther's approach to ministry focuses on preaching and administering the sacraments.
• He believed the agent in ministry is God, and the minister's role is to use the tools God provides.
• Luther's pastoral ministry is centered on preaching, baptism, and the Lord's Supper.

Approaching Luther

• 2017 marked a significant year for Luther studies with new publications and resources.
• The Annotated Luther series is a recommended resource for understanding Luther's key texts and themes.
• Approaches to understanding Luther include views of him as a hero, anti-hero, or as an agent of the Antichrist.

Luther and the Book of Revelation

• Luther's fans associated him with figures in the Book of Revelation.
• Luther never identified himself with those figures.

Approaches to Understanding Luther

• Traditional approach: Luther as a figure in black and white terms (good vs. evil).
• Psychological approach: examining Luther's relationship with his father and its influence on his theology.
• Historical approach: understanding Luther in the context of his time, recognizing the complexities of human motivations.

Luther and His Father

• Luther's relationship with his father was complicated and had an impact on his theology.
• Fathers have a significant influence on children, and it's essential to consider this when studying Luther's life and theology.

The Historical Approach

• Haiko Oberman's approach recognizes the continuities and discontinuities between late medieval theology and Luther's ideas.
• Oberman's approach helps to understand the Reformation in a more nuanced and less partisan way.

Luther and Late Medieval Theology

• Luther built on difficulties in late medieval theology, which eventually led to the collapse of the Church's ecclesiology.
• Luther's theology was not a dramatic break with the past but rather a continuation of late medieval theology.
• Luther's actions had unintended consequences, including the collapse of the Church's ecclesiology.

The Significance of Oberman's Approach

• Oberman's approach provides a more truly Catholic sensibility.
• It allows Protestants to claim the whole of church history as their own, including the theology of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.
• This approach has intellectual and Christian benefits.