Fortress Press

Volker Leppin, the leading expert on Martin Luther and medieval mysticism, at last has a book dedicated to the subject in English. This collection of essays establishes itself as the definitive English reference for understanding the mystical aspects of Luther's theology. By reading this book, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a strict dichotomy between Protestantism and mysticism, as well as the notion of a sudden breakthrough in Luther's understanding of justification by faith. Instead, Leppin reveals how Luther's early theological development revolved around a mystical transformation of his understanding of penance, shifting from a sacrament mediated by the church hierarchy to a direct and internal encounter with God. Beyond dispelling long-standing stereotypes about Luther, this book has the potential to reshape our contemporary understanding of theology, inviting us to embrace theology not solely as an academic discipline but as an existential orientation.

Volker Leppin's studies of Martin Luther's "mystical roots" and "transformations" of medieval mystical traditions have challenged our historical understanding of the reformer and have major implications for the further development of the Lutheran tradition. This volume makes a judicious selection of Leppin's essays available in English and will be welcome and thought-provoking reading for anyone interested in Luther's theology.

Martin Luther transformed medieval Christianity into something else. Some forms were left behind, but their substance endured in difficult-to-see ways. In this deeply learned book, Volker Leppin, one of our finest interpreters of medieval and Reformation Christianity, shares his vision of this transformation. The vision is remarkable both in its microscopic attention to text and context, and also in its breadth of survey of centuries of history. Read this convincing, engaging, and delightful book.

Martin Luther stands at the crossroads of medieval mysticism and early modern university theology. German, American, and Scandinavian scholars interpret Luther's vision in diverse ways. Volker Leppin masters this complex field and provides an academic synthesis that leads the reader to the heart of the Reformation.