October 31, 1517: Martin Luther and the Day that Changed the World - Hardcover

Marty, Martin E.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1612616569 ISBN 13: 9781612616568

Publisher: Paraclete Press, 2016

Synopsis

“This volume is small but weighty and a solid addition for all modern Christianity collections.” —Ray Olson, Booklist

With a foreword by James Martin, this classic reader on the Reformation by Martin Marty answers the question: Why is the Reformation relevant today?

Most importantly, this book is about how the Reformation impacts us devotionally as Christians of any denomination.

Accessible for church groups or personal reading, this is not a historical narrative of Reformation events, but an explanation of the issues that led to Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses and their implications for the Church and the world.

As one of the world’s preeminent Luther scholars, Martin Marty also explores the concept of repentance as a central theme of the Theses. In a foreword, James Martin, SJ, offers context and a shared vision.

This year began with the joint ecumenical commemoration in Lund, Sweden, on October 31, 2016, attended by Pope Francis and members of the Lutheran World Federation and other Christian churches. Martin Marty explains how this event, and indeed all ecumenical dialogue that has happened over the past few hundred years and will happen in this coming year, represents a change of heart.

“Valuable insight.” – Kathleen Norris

About this title

About the Author:

Martin E. Marty is the Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago, where he taught for 35 years. An ordained Lutheran minister since 1952 and an historian, he has written on Christian history, Reformation era topics - including a biography of Martin Luther, American religion, and world religions in recent times. The author of over sixty books, he is a National Book Award winner and was honored with the National Medal of Humanities. His passion is to stress how Christianity relates both to public life and to the classic personal themes of faith and hope and love. He has participated in Christian ecumenical programs and reported on the Second Vatican Council and other events involving Catholics and Protestants.

Review:

“Martin Marty is the most widely respected historian of Christianity in the United States today.  In this little book he with clarity, compassion, and a good dose of common sense shows how Luther's story is meaningful today.” —Rev. John O'Malley, S.J., University Professor, Georgetown University

“Martin Marty's attention to October 31, 1517, the day that Martin Luther promulgated his 95 Theses, provides valuable insights for the past, the present, and the future--why Luther's articulation of"repentance" meant so much then, why his commitment to "justification" has now built a bridge for Catholics and Lutherans to work with each other, and why this great event of 500 years ago might herald a hopeful future for Christian believers and all others.  There is an awful lot packed readably into this one small book.” —Mark Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame 

“I would not dream of preparing my mind and heart for the celebration of Luther's role in the Reformation without finding out what Martin Marty has to say on the subject. And he says it here  in this wonderful little book. The gifted historian that he is, Marty gives us much solid information. But he also writes eloquently about how best to prepare our souls for the kind of commemoration that also includes some prayers of repentance.” —Richard Mouw

“This pithy book offers valuable insight on how Luther's 95 theses have had a profound influence on the ecumenical movement, and can help Christians today understand what it means to be a member of a truly ‘catholic’ church.” —Kathleen Norris

About this edition

• Publisher: Paraclete Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1612616569
• ISBN 13: 9781612616568
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128