Martin Luther: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought
Stephen J. Nichols; Phillipsburg: P&R, 2002
Reviewed by A. Michael Cole
Stephen Nichols’ Martin Luther provides a manageable read (intended for mature readers) that goes beyond a simple introduction to the events of the reformer’s life. He seeks to remedy the lack of familiarity most modern Protestants have regarding Luther’s life and writings. So Nichols’ attempts to “put his [Luther’s] long-lost descendants in touch with their legacy, an invitation to spend some time at Luther’s table, to examine his life and hear his ideas” (14). He does so in a relatively short book (240 pages) of three parts. Part one offers a brief, interesting biography [chapters 1 and 2] that highlights the significant events of Luther’s life. In Part two, Nichols’ guides the reader through Luther’s theology that led to the Reformation. Chapter 3 surveys Luther’s theology, dealing with his teaching on sin, the cross, justification, faith, Scripture, and the laity. Chapter 4 introduces readers to three of Luther’s treatises that sparked the Reformation: Address to the Christian Nobility, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and The Freedom of the Christian. In chapter 5, Nichols summarizes Luther’s debate with Erasmus concerning the human will by walking the reader through The Bondage of the Will. Next, in chapter 6, Nichols’ covers Luther’s teaching on the Lord’s Table. In the final chapter of part 2 (7), the reader discovers the center of Luther’s teaching on Christian ethics. The final part of Nichols’ book covers Luther the pastor, surveying his work among children (8) and pupils (9), his work in hymnody (10), his work in church polity and practice (11), and his work in preaching (12).
Unlike some biographical or historical books I’ve read, this work is enjoyable to read. Nichols writes on a popular level, but does not resort to shallow treatment when tackling deep topics. He has organized the chapters well, helping the reader stay with the topic under discussion. He keeps the primary topics in view and does not deviate from them. His sentence structure and vocabulary keep the work moving.
Several features of Nichols’ work succeed in providing readers with beneficial information and analysis. First, each chapter ends with several suggestions for further reading. He also provides a list of books written by and about Luther at the end of the book. Second, special insets and feature boxes also provide helpful information in summary form. For example, he summarizes the important events of Luther’s break with Rome in 1520 and lists Luther’s major works on the Lord’s Supper along with key events in the development of his thought. Third, each chapter introduces readers to the ideas embodied in Luther’s works, moving readers into a knowledge of Luther that goes deeper than a rudimentary grasp of his life. This feature is why the book should be read. Nichols ably takes the reader to the root ideas that drove Luther’s theology; ideas like justification by faith alone, radical depravity, love as the center of Christian ethics, and the importance of training the next generation to name a few. This book is not a rehash of what everyone knows about Luther; it takes the reader by the hand and introduces him to key themes in Luther’s teaching. Finally, Nichols moves beyond description to application throughout the book. He is not afraid to point readers to the relevance of Luther’s thinking for modern Christianity. Usually he is pointing out deficiencies in contemporary thought or practice.
Nichols accomplishes his purpose with this book. He took someone who knew the basic aspects of Luther’s life and teaching to a deeper understanding of the reformer’s theology. Martin Luther’s has wet my appetite for learning more from this godly man. I recommend it as a helpful place to begin a journey of understanding the man and theology that sparked the Protestant Reformation.
