Human freedom, Christian righteousness
Subtitle: Philip Melanchthon's exegetical dispute with Erasmus of Rotterdam
By: Timothy J. Wengert.
Series: Oxford studies in historical theology
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 239
Subjects: Melanchthon, Philipp, 1497-1560.; Erasmus, Desiderius, d. 1536.; Bible. N.T. Colossians -- Criticism, interpretation, etc. -- History -- 16th century.; Liberty -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- History of doctrines -- 16th century.; Free will and determinism -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- History of doctrines -- 16th century.; Justification (Christian theology) -- History of doctrines -- 16th century.; Righteousness -- History of doctrines -- 16th century.
Description: "This book argues the provocative thesis that Philip Melanchthon, so often pictured as hopelessly caught in the middle between Erasmus and Luther, and more "Erasmian" than Lutheran in his thought, was, at least in his theological methods and views, not Erasmian at all, but in fact sharply opposed to Erasmus. Author Timothy J.

Wengert builds his case largely on the basis of Melanchthon's Scholia on the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians, employing the critically important but seldom used second edition of 1528, which was produced in the aftermath of Luther and Erasmus's famous debate over the freedom of the will. Wengert also draws on a wide range of other contemporary sources, many of them well known but, as he argues, frequently misunderstood.

Throughout this analysis he subjects a wide range of the secondary literature to sharp critical review.".

"The book deals with a number of important topics: the complicated and elusive relationships between humanism and the Reformation, Erasmus and Luther, Erasmus and Melanchthon, and Melanchthon and Luther; the theological issues of proper biblical interpretation, of free will, and of divine and human righteousness; and the hotly contested social problem of political order.

Human Freedom, Christian Righteousness will be of interest not only to students and scholars of Reformation theology, but to a broader audience of those concerned with Renaissance and Reformation history and literature."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 219-226) and index.