Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism

A helpful and accessible guide to Lutheranism's history and central tenents, with numerous photos and illustrations.

Small wonder that many are confused about Lutheranism's historical origins, doctrinal affirmation, and ethical directives. Even Lutherans themselves-maintains, Eric Gritsch, a leading authority on the Lutheran tradition-are not clear about their identity. Some Lutheran consider themselves heirs to a reform movement, others see themselves as members of a denomination or ecclesial institution, and still others are confounded by the tension and miss the tradition's thrust.

Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism offers in Part One a concise, well-written overview of this group's history from The Book of Concord to the present and in Part Two a distillation of its teachings as challenges to the reader.

Eric W. Gritsch was Emeritus Professor of Church History at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Among his many works are Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism (1994), Lutheranism: The Theological Movement and Its Confessional Writings (with Robert W. Jenson, 1976), Thomas Muntzer: A Tragedy of Errors (1989), and the anthology Martin Luther: Faith in Christ and the Gospel (1996).