Originally published as two volumes in 2002, this one volume is filled with an overview of all things Luther for even the most elementary of learners.

The book is broken up into four parts:
Part one: Luther a Life
Part two: Luther the Reformer
Part three: Luther the Pastor
Part four: Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses


Before the first page of this book is complete we are told that Luther translated the Greek New Testament into German in just three months as way of expressing how great his mind was. What most people know about Martin Luther(if they know anything at all) is that he was seriously outraged by the indulgences, or free passes that were being sold to the people from the Roman Catholic Church as a method of atoning for their sin rather than preaching the truth of salvation and forgiveness by grace and Christ alone. Penance involves four steps in the Roman Catholic Church: contrition, confession, satisfaction and absolution. Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar from Germany reduced the first three steps of penance into one easy to swallow step of buying an indulgence for oneself or for someone already dead and gaining pardon easily which was authorised by Pope Leo the Tenth. Luther rejected this idea and wrote up ninety-five topics and questions to be debated by the greatest minds the church could offer and, as popular folklore tells it, he nailed his paperwork to the front door of the Wittenberg Castle Church on October 31st, 1517. In this book there is a brief dialogue about how there might be other dates in which Luther actually nailed his theses to the front door, but gives no concrete decision of when it occurred. What is known for sure is that his action resulted in Luther ultimately being named a heretic by the Roman Catholic Church and becoming one of the churches greatest reformers ever known.

Luther went from understanding that forgiveness of sins was something he had to actively earn to something freely given by Christ and accepted in faith alone. With this change of understanding Luther began the journey towards reformation of his personal faith and that of other believers. Not one to back down, the Roman Catholic Church sent professors and trained theologians to debate and basically derail Luther’s position. Luther would stress salvation by faith and the centrality of Scripture, setting himself up for a showdown with his former Church. Rather than listening, debating or accepting the challenges given by Luther, the Roman Catholic Church rejected his stance and demanded that he recant his position and returns to the fold of the Church or face damnation. Luther chose official damnation and isolation from the Catholic Church.

Luther began his quest to resolve his spiritual struggles embraced by the church and, in his mind, abandoned by God. He resolved his struggles embraced by God and abandoned by the church.


This book gives an overview of Luther the person in the start of this book. He is portrayed by Nichols as a remarkable human being. Luther was an Augustinian priest and monk within the confines of the Roman Catholic Church for many years, later becoming known as a theologian and professor in Wittenberg’s university. Later in life he married Katharina von Bora and had six children, as well as taking in four children of relatives who had died from the plague. He had a reputation as a man of extraordinary musical talent and has written hymns that are still in use. He was a working pastor, preacher, university lecturer and important official in his town. He opened his home to his students who took copious notes about what Luther was talking about that moment, leaving a great public record and knowledge of his activities, behaviour and teachings. During his break from the Church Luther wrote and preached hundreds of sermons to his own congregation and as a guest at many other churches, he completed commentaries on books of the New Testament such as Romans and Galatians that are still considered vital reading by Biblical students even today.



Many of the reforms that Luther thought about and brought about are still important today in the Church. Within this book it is given as:

Sola Scriptura
Sola fida
Sola gratia
Solus Christus
Soli Deo gloria

Scripture alone
Faith alone
Grace alone
Christ alone
To the glory of God alone.

With these simple words the whole of the Protestant faith comes into being, which are explored in much greater detail in the second part of this book, which is quite a large portion of the work. Nichols follows the historical path of Luther’s growth and understanding of lessons taught by the Roman Catholic Church, including the many interactions he had with the great religious thinkers of his day, such as Desiderius Erasmus, whose work and writing initially resonated with those of Luther himself, only later did divisions between the two develop and the mutual support of each other was withdrawn. Luther also debated and worked with Ulrich Zwingli, a Swiss pastor and theologian leader who might be considered a lesser known co-originator of the Reformation.

The third portion of this book looks directly at Luther as a pastor, given that his primary devotion was to serve God through the church. It discusses Luther’s impact in bringing music to the forefront of worship services, giving the explanation that it was going back to the Biblical way of worship. It also discusses how Luther wrote the Large Catechism for adults and the Small Catechism for children, teaching Biblical truths as he believed them to be revealed. Luther believed that teaching the next generation would ensure that the truths discovered would be passed down if children were taught with solid knowledge. Luther did not think it beneath him to spend time focusing on children, writing a translation of Aesop’s Fables also.

Luther was an academic of some renown and he saw his work as a teacher of the gospel as fulfilling the words of Paul in the letter to Timothy in which believers are commended to be firm teachers of said gospel. Great detail is given to just some of the works that Luther wrote to instruct fellow believers, reforming the idea of knowledge being something for all to have, not just given to a trusted few within the clergy. Topics such as the Apostles Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the sacraments are all given copy in this section of the book. Nichols also looks at basic ethics and doctrine that Luther was to turn his hand to. He also looks to the events in which Luther invited his students from the university to come to his home for a meal and when the conversation was recorded by the students because what Luther talked about was so stimulating on many and varied topics.

And, around its dining room table, some of Luther’s best theologizing too place.

These nights of discussion and the hashing out of topics are now written down in volumes called Tishreden , or “Table Talk.” Nichol looks at how Luther was to change the method of worship, from the actual time people met to the outline of the meeting itself. Also discussed are the seven marks that Luther said served as a way of telling if a church was in the right standing of its beliefs and teachings. Luther also taught that preachers shouldn’t unduly burden the parishioners with sermons that were too long.

The final portion of this book is looking at the actual Ninety-Five Theses and the discussion of the issues Luther had with each one.

While Luther intended the Ninety-Five Theses to spark an academic debate among theologians, his interests and motivations were intensely pastoral.

Topic by topic, Nichol goes through the ninety-five topics one by one, giving insight and understanding to every theme. He explains the difficulties Luther had with the Church’s teaching, behaviours and traditions. Time and again we shown the issues that Luther wanted dealt with within the church and even his use of marketing jingles that Tetzel used in his raising money from the indulgences. Line by line Nichol builds a defence of Luther’s thinking and reasons for abandoning the Roman Catholic Church.


This book attempts to put a great deal of knowledge into a relatively slim volume. Certainly it is easier to read and digest for the novice reader, but it doesn’t have the time for much of an in-depth look into what makes Luther the historical figure that he is today, rather it is intended, and succeeds in whetting the appetite and stoke further learning of the teachings of Luther.

It is true, however, that as we read Luther’s writings, certain themes, such as the theology of the cross, justification by faith, the centrality of Scripture and the sacraments, meet us virtually at every turn.

Nichol also gives a listing of books to further the knowledge of the student of Luther, both biographies of and books on his theology and further books written by Luther himself. It is easy to read and doesn’t require a great deal of prior theological understanding to comprehend this book.

This book contains a very wide range of subjects in a fairly compact format. It coverers not only Luther’s life and times, but also gives an overview of his theology, doctrines, and teaching styles. I liked how the author took the time to explain the doctrines and practices that Luther was refuting.
It was very pro-Luther. I’m fine with that. It was about him. A few times, it was a bit over the top, though. Even the crudity, vulgarity, and racism in his writings are either glossed over or an attempt is made to excuse them. It read more like a eulogy than a biography.
I would have to say I did find one thing very annoying. The constant talking about what you are going o to talk about.
I received this book for free from NetGalley and P&R Publishing. No review was required.

Beyond the 95 Theses: Martin Luther’s Life, Thought and Lasting Legacy written by Stephen J. Nichols, who and published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. As you may or may not know 2017 is the 500 anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Between the years 2016-2017 there have been a plethora of books written about or concerning Martin Luther and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, many of these books are biographies or a general history of Reformation. This book however while containing a brief biography of Martin Luther focuses on the different roles that Martin Luther had and the lasting effect that he has today.

Beyond the 95 Theses is broken down in four sections a biography, his role as a Reformer, his role as a Pastor, his best known work “The 95 Theses”. In each of these sections Dr. Nichols explores the Luther in a manner which there has been little study into, specifically into his role as pastor. In which the three main works “Table Talk”, “Smaller Catechism”, and his hymn writing are examined in great detail.

While there are many books that have been written on Martin Luther and be assured there will be many more, Beyond the 95 Theses is one of the few books about the life, thought, and legacy of Luther that will have a lasting effect on your understanding of a servant of God and hopefully help the reader, from the example of Luther, lead Christ like life.

This book was provided to me free of charge from P & R Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

Beyond the 95 Theses: Martin Luther’s Life, Thought and Lasting Legacy
© 2016 by Stephen J. Nichols
Publisher: P & R Publishing
Page Count: 304 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1629953311

Beyond the Ninety-Five Theses
Martin Luther's Life, Thought, and Lasting Legacy
by Stephen J. Nichols
P & R Publishing


Christian
Pub Date 30 Nov 2016   

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of the Ninety Five Theses through the publisher and Netgalley in exchange my honest review which is as follows:

In the years leading up until 1517 Luther's troubles increased. Martin Luther questioned the practices of the Catholic church during a time when doing so could be dangerous, even life threatening.

Martin Luther was born on November 10 1483 in Eisleben and died on February.18.1546. In 1492-1498 he attends school at Mansfield, Magdeburg and Eisenach.

In 1509 receives B.A in Bible.

In 1525 Martin Luther was married.

On May.05.1507 Martin Luther performs his first Mass at his ordination

In 1519 he writes The Blessed Sacrament Of the Holy and True Blood and Body of Christ.

Beyond the Ninety Five Theses is full of information on Martin Luther, and the reformation, as well as his personal life and his writing.

I give this book five out of five stars.

Happy Reading.

Do we look to God to understand humanity? Or, do we look to humanity to understand God? Luther tried looking to God. But the closer he looked, the more terrified he became. This started his journey and the Reformation.

The struggle of Martin Luther is our struggle too and it should be our struggle. A great historical text on what drove Martin Luther and the history of the church itself. As the catholic church was selling penance and salvation, Luther was driven for God to be found in suffering and the cross. That is where true theology lies. Anything else, leads to idolatry of self and the church was the bigger offender. The 95 theses laid out the gospel and the misdirection of the church. Luther taught it was the word alone, Christ alone. The sola scriptura. It became the authority question. We submit to the word, the word does not submit to us.

Luther's life as described in this text reveals his confidence in the scriptures and the work of the cross. It behooves us to understand church history to avoid making the same theological mistakes of the past. It keeps what is important and the one thing the one thing. With the 500 year birthday of the Reformation, we as Christians owe much to Martin Luther and paving the way for us to these spiritual truths. Spiritual truths that focus on the Gospel and not of a man-made kingdom. A legacy that is worth a study. High recommend.

A Special Thank You to P & R Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.