Peter van stolk biography of martin luther

I mentioned last time that Luther’s life is central to reading his theology. His thinking, while remarkably consistent, does develop over time. He nuances his positions on various issues as he faces challenges which his own Reformation theology generated.

Thus, knowing what issues he is facing and when is important when reading him.

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The benchmark biography of Luther in English is thethreevolumes by the German historian, Martin Brecht. These look rather forbidding: nearly 1400 pages of text, excluding notes.

Peter van stolk biography of martin luther

Nevertheless, the translation is very readable and the narrative moves at a good pace, such that the reader’s interest is maintained and the basic storyline remains very clear.

For those with less time to spare, there is the classic biography by Roland Bainton, Here I Stand.

It was my first introduction to the Reformation and remains a favourite. Bainton was a radical thinker himself, not doctrinally sympathetic to Luther but rather emotionally s