Calvin and Luther: The Continuing Relationship

Christine Helmer, Ph. D., is Professor of Religious Studies and German at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
Dr. Robert Kolb ist Professor em. für Systematische Theologie am Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis, USA.

Timothy J. Wengert ist em. Professor für Kirchengeschichte am Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, USA.

Dr. phil. Henning P. Jürgens ist wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am Leibniz-Institut für Europäische Geschichte in Mainz und Sprecher des Forschungsbereichs II.

R. Ward Holder, Ph.D.is Professor of Theology at the Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH, USA.

R. Ward Holder, Ph.D.is Professor of Theology at the Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH, USA.

Dr. Günter Frank ist Direktor der Europäischen Melanchthon-Akademie Bretten und außerplanmäßiger Professor am Karlsruher Institut für Technologie.

Dr. phil. Barbara Mahlmann-Bauer ist Professorin em. für "Neuere deutsche Literatur" an der Universität Bern.

Johannes Schilling ist Professor im Ruhestand für Kirchengeschichte an der Universität Kiel.

Dr. Günther Wassilowsky ist Professor für Kirchengeschichte an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

The reforms begun by Luther and Calvin became two of the largest and most influential movements to arise in the sixteenth century, but frequently, these two movements are seen and defined as polar opposites - one's theology is Reformed or Lutheran, one is a member of a Reformed or Lutheran congregation. Historically, these were two very separate movements - but more remains to be understood that can best be analyzed in the context of the other.Just as surely as the historical question of the boundaries between Calvin and Luther, or Lutheranism and Calvinism must be answered with a resounding yes, the ongoing doctrinal questions offer a different picture. In the more systematic doctrinal articles, an argument is forwarded that the broad confessional continuity between Luther and Calvin on the soteriological theme of union with Christ offers still-unexplored avenues to both deeper understandings of soteriology. Through such articles, we begin to see the possibility of a rapprochement between Calvin and Luther as sources, though not as historical figures. But that insight allows the conversation to extend, and bear far greater fruit.Contributors are, J.T. Billings, Ch. Helmer , H.P. Jürgens, S.C. Karant-Nunn, R. Kolb, Th.F. Latini, G.S. Pak, J. Watt, T.J. Wengert, P. Westermeyer, and D.M. Whitford.

The insight in the confessional divisions of the reforms begun by Luther and Calvin allows the conversation to extend, and bear far greater fruit. Ongoing doctrinal questions offer a different picture.

Rapprochement between Calvin and Luther as sources.