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Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched the Reformation in 1517.[1] The Lutheran Churches adhere to the Bible and the Ecumenical Creeds, with Lutheran doctrine being explicated in the Book of Concord.[2] Lutherans hold themselves to be in continuity with the apostolic church and affirm the writings of the Church Fathers and the first four ecumenical councils.[3][4][5]
The schism between Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism, which was formalized in the Edict of Worms of 1521, centered around two points: the proper source of authority in the church, often called the formal principle of the Reformation, and the doctrine of justification, the material principle of Lutheran theology.[a] Lutheranism advocates a doctrine of justification "by Grace alone through faith alone on the basis of Scripture alone", the doctrine that scripture is the final authority on all matters of faith. This contrasts with the belief of the Roman Catholic Church, defined at the Council of Trent, which contends that final authority comes from both Scripture and tradition.[6] In Lutheranism, tradition is subordinate to Scripture and is cherished for its role in the proclamation of the Gospel.[7]
The Lutheran Churches retain many of the liturgical practices and sacramental teachings of the pre-Reformation Western Church, with a particular emphasis on the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper, although Eastern Lutheranism uses the Byzantine Rite.[8] Though Lutherans are not dogmatic about the number of sacraments, three Lutheran sacraments are generally recognized including baptism, confession and the eucharist.[9][10][11][12] The Lutheran Churches teach baptismal regeneration, that humans "are cleansed of our sins and born again and renewed in Holy Baptism by the Holy Ghost".[13] Lutheranism teaches that sanctification commences at the time of justification and that Christians, as a result of their living faith, ought to do good works, which are rewarded by God.[14][15] The act of mortal sin forfeits salvation, unless individuals turn back to God through faith.[16] In the Lutheran Churches, the Office of the Keys exercised through confession and absolution is the "authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth: to forgive the sins of the penitent sinners, but to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent."[17][18] The doctrine of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist via a sacramental union is central to the Lutheran faith, with the Mass (also known as the Divine Service) being celebrated regularly, especially on the Lord's Day.[19][20]
Lutheranism became the state church of many parts of Northern Europe, starting with Prussia in 1525. In Scandinavia, the Roman Catholic bishops largely accepted the Lutheran reforms and the Church there became Lutheran in belief; the threefold ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons was continued.[21][22] Lutheran divines who contributed to the development of Lutheran theology include Martin Luther, Martin Chemnitz, Philip Melanchthon, Joachim Westphal, Laurentius Petri, Olaus Petri, and Laurentius Andreae.[23]
Lutheranism has contributed to Christian hymnody and the arts, as well as the development of education.[24][25][26] Christian missions have been established by Lutherans in various regions.[27] Lutheran Churches operate a number of Lutheran schools, colleges and universities around the world, in addition to hospitals and orphanages.[28] A number of Lutheran religious orders, as well as monasteries and convents, live in community to pray and work.[29][30] Lutherans are found across all continents of the globe, numbering 90 million.[31][32]
- ^ Markkola, P (2015). "The Long History of Lutheranism in Scandinavia. From State Religion to the People's Church". Perichoresis. 13 (2): 3–15. doi:10.1515/perc-2015-0007.
- ^ Fritschel, George John (1916). The Formula of Concord, Its Origin and Contents: A Contribution to Symbolics. Lutheran Publication Society. p. 123.
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Remensnyder1893was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Olson, Roger E. (1 April 1999). The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition Reform. InterVarsity Press. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-8308-1505-0.
- ^ Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, Fourth Session, Decree on Sacred Scripture (Denzinger 783 [1501]; Schaff 2:79–81). For a history of the discussion of various interpretations of the Tridentine decree, see Selby, Matthew L., The Relationship Between Scripture and Tradition according to the Council of Trent, unpublished Master's thesis, University of St Thomas, July 2013.
- ^ Jahn, Curtis A. (1 January 2014). A Lutheran Looks At Catholics. Northwestern Publishing House. ISBN 978-0-8100-2613-1.
Examples that Chemnitz cites include making the sign of the cross, turning to the east in prayer, the renunciation of Satan in Baptism, and others. Other ancient customs and practices clearly do have their origins already in the New Testament, such as replacing the Jewish Sabbath with Sunday as the regular weekly day for worship, also the laying on of hands when ordaining, installing and commissioning a minister of the gospel for public service in the church (1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 1:6). In Christian freedom, we may observe such ceremonies as they serve the preaching of the gospel. The only traditions Lutherans object to are those that pertain to doctrine and Christian life, have no foundation in Scripture, and are used as sources of doctrines—placed on the same level as the doctrines clearly taught in Scripture.
- ^ Webber, David Jay (1992). "Why is the Lutheran Church a Liturgical Church?". Bethany Lutheran College. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
In the Byzantine world, however, this pattern of worship would not be informed by the liturgical history of the Latin church, as with the Reformation-era church orders, but by the liturgical history of the Byzantine church. (This was in fact what occurred with the Ukrainian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, which published in its 1933 Ukrainian Evangelical Service Book the first ever Lutheran liturgical order derived from the historic Eastern Rite.)
- ^ Lackmann, Max (1963). The Augsburg Confession and Catholic Unity. Herder and Herder. p. 54.
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Becker2024was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Jensen, Gordon A. (22 December 2016). Martin Luther's Sacramental Theology. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.359. ISBN 978-0-19-934037-8.
When Luther turned his attention to the number of sacraments in his 1520 treatise "The Babylonian Captivity of the Church," he reduced them from the seven recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. ... he reduced the valid sacraments from seven to three: "baptism, penance, and the bread"
- ^ Walther, Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm (2008). Sermons and prayers for Reformation and Luther commemorations. Joel Baseley. p. 27. ISBN 9780982252321.
Furthermore, the Lutheran Church also thoroughly teaches that we are cleansed of our sins and born again and renewed in Holy Baptism by the Holy Ghost. But she also teaches that whoever is baptized must, though daily contrition and repentance, drown The Old Adam so that daily a new man come forth and arise who walks before God in righteousness and purity forever. She teaches that whoever lives in sins after his baptism has again lost the grace of baptism.
- ^ Harstad, Adolph L. (10 May 2016). "Justification Through Faith Produces Sanctification". Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
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Preus2025was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Chemnitz2007was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ The Lutheran Witness, Volumes 9–11. English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri and Other States. 7 December 1892. p. 98.
- ^ Martin Luther (11 April 2012). "Part 5: Office of the Keys and Confession". Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ Mattox, Mickey L.; Roeber, A. G. (27 February 2012). Changing Churches: An Orthodox, Catholic, and Lutheran Theological Conversation. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-8028-6694-3.
In this "sacramental union," Lutherans taught, the body and blood of Christ are so truly united to the bread and wine of the Holy Communion so that the two may be identified. They are at the same time body and blood, bread and wine. This divine food is given, more-over, not just for the strengthening of faith, nor only as a sign of our unity in faith, nor merely as an assurance of the forgiveness of sin. Even more, in this sacrament the Lutheran Christian receives the very body and blood of Christ for the strengthening of the union of faith. The "real presence" of Christ in the Holy Sacrament is the means by which the union of faith, effected by God's Word and the sacrament of baptism, is strengthened and maintained.
- ^ Wieting, Kenneth (23 November 2020). "Are You Fanatical about the Lord's Supper?". The Lutheran Witness. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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RichardsonJohn1983was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Gassmann, Günther; Oldenburg, Mark W. (10 October 2011). Historical Dictionary of Lutheranism. Scarecrow Press. p. xxi. ISBN 978-0-8108-7482-4.
- ^ Lamport, Mark A. (31 August 2017). Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 138. ISBN 9781442271593.
- ^ Porras, Gabriel (9 February 2021). "The Impact of Luther's Reformation on Education". International Missionary Society. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
- ^ "Lutheran Worship". Council of Lutheran Churches. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ Granquist, Mark (9 January 2015). Lutherans in America: A New History. Fortress Press. p. 269. ISBN 978-1-4514-9429-7.
- ^ Granquist, Mark (9 January 2015). Lutherans in America: A New History. Fortress Press. p. 154, 196. ISBN 978-1-4514-9429-7.
- ^ Kurian, George Thomas; Lamport, Mark A. (10 November 2016). Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 1940. ISBN 978-1-4422-4432-0.
- ^ Joy, Janet (1995). A Place Apart: Houses of Prayer & Retreat Centers in North America. Source Books. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-940147-30-0.
- ^ Gassmann, Günther; Oldenburg, Mark W. (10 October 2011). Historical Dictionary of Lutheranism. Scarecrow Press. p. 202. ISBN 978-0-8108-7482-4.
- ^ "Lutheranism". St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Welland, Ontario, Canada. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
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