Carl E Braaten

New Testament scholars have long debated the historical identity of Jesus and the development of Christology within the church's history. In "Who Is Jesus?" Carl Braaten reviews the various historical Jesus quests, arguing that it is time for the current ("third") quest to admit failure. Against the implication that "the real Jesus has been lost and needs to be found," Braaten maintains that the only real Jesus is the One presented in the canonical Gospels and that "any other Jesus is irrelevant to Christian faith." He draws on a wealth of historical resources to address such contentious questions as these: What can we actually know about Jesus of Nazareth? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Is Jesus unique -- the one and only way of salvation? Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Was Jesus the founder of the Christian church? What does Jesus have to do with politics?

Volume 2 treats atonement, the Holy Spirit, ecclesiology, the sacraments, justification by faith, and eschatology.

Volume 1 discusses dogmatics, the Trinity, the identity of God, creation, sin, and Christology.

Pluralism as such is not the enemy of the gospel. Preaching the Christian message will always encounter a world with many religions, world-views, ideologies, and lifestyles. The earliest generation of Christians found themselves in a pluralistic situation. They were witnessing to Jews as well as to Greeks and Romans in the great melting pot of Hellenistic culture. Religious pluralism does pose a threat when it becomes an ideological dogma that asserts that all religions are equally valid and lead to the same goal.

First published in 1983, "Principles of Lutheran Theology" has guided students into theological reflection on the landmarks of Christian faith as understood in the Lutheran confessional heritage for a generation. The book sets forth the main principles of classical Lutheran theology but with an eschatological accent. Canon, confession, ecumenicity, Christ-centeredness, sacrament, law/gospel, and two kingdoms are all examined not only in terms of their original meaning and historical development but also in light of current reflections. In this new edition, Braaten takes stock of the research and reflection of the last twenty-five years and also adds a chapter on the distinctive, Archimedean Lutheran insight into the hiddenness of God as a fount or ground of all theologizing. This new edition, cross-referenced to key readings in Luther's "Works" and "The Book of Concord", will both equip and facilitate the search for a contemporary articulation of Christian identity in light of the church's historic commitments.

The Princeton Proposal is a landmark statement on the present situation and future possibilities of modern ecumenism. Drafted by sixteen theologians and ecumenists from various church traditions, who met over a period of three years in Princeton, New Jersey, this document seeks to steer contemporary efforts at church unity away from social and political agendas, which are themselves divisive, and back to the chief goal of the modern ecumenical movement -- the visible unity of Christians worldwide, of all those who are reconciled "in one body through the cross." Since the study group that produced this statement was instituted and its participants were chosen by an independent ecumenical foundation, the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology, their "unofficial" work presents especially profound and creative reflection on the ecumenical task. With this report the study group members do not claim to speak for their churches, but hope to speak to all the churches out of shared concern for the founding ecumenical imperative "that they all may be one . . . so that the world may believe." Signatories of the Princeton Proposal: William Abraham * Mark Achtemeier * Brian Daley * John H. Erickson * Vigen Guroian * George Lindbeck * Lois Malcolm * Bruce McCormack * R. R. Reno * Michael Root * William G. Rusch * Geoffrey Wainwright * Susan K. Wood * Telford Work * J. Robert Wright * David Yeago

"Church Unity and the Papal Office" provides the first theological and ecumenical response to Pope John Paul II's encyclical "Ut Unum Sint" ("That All May Be One"). Scholars representing Anglican, Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, and Evangelical churches, offer fresh perspectives on this pivotal document, calling for a "patient and fraternal dialogue" concerning the ministry of the papal office, in the service of church unity. Contributors include Carl E. Braaten, Edward Idris, Cardinal Cassidy, Brian E. Daley, S.J. Joseph-Augustine DiNoia, O.P. Robert, W. Jenson, Richard J. Mouw, Stephen W. Sykes, Geoffrey Wainwright, George Weigel, and David S. Yeago.

Sin, death, and the devil, called "the unholy trinity" by Martin Luther, are the classic biblical tyrants. This volume, which takes its cue from John Paul II's description of Western society as a "culture of death," unveils the faces of sin, death, and the devil in modern culture. Far from being pessimistic, however, these engaging chapters by eight recognized theologians take care to affirm God's victory over the diabolical forces that oppress humanity--a victory continually realized through the proclamation of the gospel and the sacraments of the church. Contributors: Gary A. Anderson, Carl E. Braaten, Vigen Guroian, Stanley Hauerwas, Robert W. Jenson, Gilbert Meilaender, Richard John Neuhaus, and A. N. Williams.

This book introduces the English-speaking world to the new Finnish interpretation of the theology of Martin Luther, initiated by the writings of Tuomo Mannermaa of Helsinki University. At the heart of the Finnish breakthrough in Luther research lies the theme of salvation. Luther found his answer to the mystery of salvation in the justifying work of Christ received through faith alone. But Protestant theology has never enjoyed a consensus on how to interpret the Reformation doctrine of justification by faith. In opposition to the traditional forensic understanding of justification, Mannermaa argues that for Luther "Christ is really present in faith itself." Mannermaa's interpretation of Luther's view of justification is thus more ontological and mystical than ethical and juridical. As such, his work challenges a century of scholarly opinion concerning a foundational doctrine of Protestant theology.

Carl Braaten here issues an energetic call for a truly ecumenical church, including a Lutheran rationale for recovery of the historical episcopacy and papal primacy as servants of the gospel.Quoting Augustine's dictum that You cannot have God for your father unless you have the church for your mother, Braaten writes of the church's place in the divine scheme of things and of the various modernisms that distort or hide the classical Christian tradition. Tracing his own ecumenical journey, he outlines an ecclesiology of communion and advances specific proposals for enhancing Christian unity in liturgy, spirituality, and church polity. The confessing movement named after Martin Luther he views in terms of its basic intent to reform and renew the church, not to start a new Christianity in a multiplicity of separate denominations.Vigorous, provocative, well and clearly argued, Braaten's case is a formidable and timely contribution to the ecumenical debate.

Leading theologians speak out on the crisis in the role of biblical authority and the interpretation of the Bible in the church. 'The various chapters in this excellent book, summarised as to leading themes by editors in the introduciton, orginated as conference papers which addressed the question: can the Bible still speak to the Church in an age of critical historical awareness? It is a book which will repay careful reading by all those concerned to maintain or restore an intergral connection between Bible and Church while retaining also a personal integrity of intellect and spirit. There are eight essays in all, each addressing the central question in its own unique manner.' Colm O Baoill, University of Aberdeen, Scottish Journal of Theology

In Part I, Braaten assesses Luther's view of justification and its subsequent interpretation by orthodoxy, by Calvin, by Ritschl and Harnack, by Tillich, and by Barth. In Part II, the discussion turns to ecumenical dialogues on justification and the relation of the doctrine to evangelization, to the distinction between law and gospel, to pastoral care, and to the church's involvement in secular issues. Always lucid, often challenging, this book will stimulate thought and discussion beyond confessional lines.