Copyright © 2015 Michael Hopson James Boutot All Rights Reserved. the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Has Permission To
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Copyright © 2015 Michael Hopson James Boutot All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. LUTHER AND THE DEADLY BE’S: HIS CHRIST-CENTERED PREACHING IN CONTRAST TO REDEMPTIVE-HISTORICAL EXCLUSIVISM A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Michael Hopson James Boutot December 2015 APPROVAL SHEET LUTHER AND THE DEADLY BE’S: HIS CHRIST-CENTERED PREACHING IN CONTRAST TO REDEMPTIVE-HISTORICAL EXCLUSIVISM Michael Hopson James Boutot Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Robert A. Vogel (Chair) __________________________________________ David L. Puckett __________________________________________ Hershael W. York Date______________________________ To Holly: Your passion, tenacity, and wit rival the reformer. Your name, not mine, deserves to be on the first page. 'Tis grace hath brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................x PREFACE ......................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 Exclusivistic Leanings .......................................................................................2 The Inevitable Impact ........................................................................................4 Martin Luther as Corrective ................................................................................6 Sub-Christian Sermons .......................................................................................7 Thesis ..................................................................................................................9 Methodology .....................................................................................................10 2. THE EXCLUSIVISTIC LEANINGS OF REDEMPTIVE-HISTORICAL PREACHING ...................................................15 Fundamental Pillars ...........................................................................................16 Why So Deadly? ...............................................................................................20 The Redemptive-Historical Consensus .............................................................24 The Unifying Thread .........................................................................................30 The Potential Concern .......................................................................................32 Summary ...........................................................................................................38 3. MARTIN LUTHER AS CORRECTIVE .............................................................39 iv Chapter Page Anti-Historical Preaching? ................................................................................39 Unlikely yet Ideal ..............................................................................................42 A Final Word on Sermon Selection ..................................................................57 Summary ...........................................................................................................60 4. A WITTENBERG HOMILETIC .........................................................................62 God-Spoken ......................................................................................................63 Spirit-Directed ...................................................................................................64 Text-Driven .......................................................................................................67 Christ-Centered .................................................................................................69 Law/Gospel-Expressed .....................................................................................73 Hearer-Sensitive ................................................................................................75 Evaluating the Sermon ......................................................................................77 The Primacy of Law and Gospel .......................................................................78 Summary ...........................................................................................................91 5. LUTHER'S EARLY SERMONS: 1510-1521 ......................................................93 Matthew 7:12 ....................................................................................................93 Psalm 19:1 .........................................................................................................99 Matthew 11:25-30 ...........................................................................................106 Exodus 25:9-27:18 ..........................................................................................111 Summary .........................................................................................................117 6. LUTHER’S PREACHING IN MID-CAREER: 1522-1532 ..............................121 The Invocavit Sermons ...................................................................................121 Jude .................................................................................................................131 Matthew 11:25-30 ...........................................................................................136 Sermon on the Catechism ...............................................................................142 On the Cross and Suffering .............................................................................148 v Chapter Page 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 ..................................................................................154 Summary .........................................................................................................158 7. THE MATURE LUTHER: 1533-1546 ..............................................................162 1 Peter 4:7-11 ..................................................................................................162 Revelation 12:7-12 ..........................................................................................171 Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14 ...........................................................................178 Hebrews 13:4 ..................................................................................................185 Acts 9:1-19 ......................................................................................................191 Matthew 11:25-30 ...........................................................................................196 Summary .........................................................................................................202 8. GOSPEL-DOMINATED LAW: THE ROLE OF IMPERATIVES IN CHRIST-CENTERED PREACHING ..............................206 A Sub-Christian Preacher ................................................................................206 Gospel-Dominated Law ..................................................................................213 Summary .........................................................................................................239 9. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................244 Three Alternatives ...........................................................................................244 Christ-Centered Legalism?..............................................................................245 Areas for Further Study ...................................................................................248 The Homiletical Legacy of Martin Luther ......................................................251 Appendix 1. DETAILED ANALYSIS OF USUS LEGIS .......................................................253 2. ADDITIONAL SERMON ANALYSIS FROM LUTHER'S WORKS ............................................................................................313 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................321 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS LW Luther’s Works RHP Redemptive-historical preaching RH Redemptive-historical WA D. Martin Luthers Werke: Kritische Gesammtausgabe (Weimarer Ausgabe) vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Law and gospel in Matthew 7:12 . 97 2. Law and gospel in Psalm 19:1 . 105 3. Law and gospel in Matthew 11:25-30 (1517) . 110 4. Law and gospel in Exodus 25:9-27:17 . 115 5. Usus legis from 1510-1521 . 119 6. Law and gospel in the Invocavit Sermons . 128 7. Law and gospel in Jude . 134 8. Law and gospel in Matthew 11:25-30 (1525) . 139 9. Law and gospel in the sermon on the catechism . 145 10. Law and gospel in On the Cross and Suffering . 152 11. Law and gospel in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 . 156 12. Usus legis from 1522-1532 . 159 13. Law and gospel in 1 Peter 4:7-11 . 168 14.