Let’s start a series of posts on ideas for Christmas presents! Here is a good one: Reading Romans with Luther. It’s by R. J. Grunewald, a sometime commenter here at the Cranach blog.
Luther’s greatest theological works are his commentaries on Scripture, such was his concern to adhere closely to the text of God’s Word. One of his greatest works is his commentary on Romans, the epistle in which St. Paul explores the Gospel of salvation through the work of Christ in its depths. Here is the Law & Gospel, the universality of sin, the grace of God, the gift of Christ, the Cross, Baptism, good works, Christian freedom–it’s all here!
But the book of Romans can be tough going. Luther’s commentary unpacks it, but it can be tough going too. In this book, Grunewald unpacks both of them. Jumping back and forth from the Bible, the Commentary, and his own contemporary applications, Grunewald leads you into deep understanding and insight.
I read an advance manuscript and gave CPH a blurb for the book. Here is what I wrote:
The Epistle to the Romans contains some of the Bible’s richest explorations of the Gospel. Luther’s Commentary on Romans shows how great a theologian—that is, an expositor of Scripture—he is. In this book, R. J. Grunewald serves up extracts from both St. Paul and Luther and then explains and applies them in an utterly fresh, contemporary, and illuminating way.
With its three voices—those of St. Paul, Luther, and Rev. Grunewald—this book is a highly original, extremely readable treatment of our justification by Christ. Laypeople will read it with pleasure and give it to their non-Christian friends.
The book won’t be released until January 12. But if you pre-order it on Amazon, then go to the book’s website, you can give your order number and you will receive freebies: bonus content, copies of the book’s artwork, sermon notes, and a discussion guide.
