Back in July last year, I bought a copy of Lyndal Roper's biography of the great Reformer. I really got into it early on but then put it down but I picked it up again more recently when we decided to do it at The Pastors' Academy Reading Group.
For various reasons numbers were down and only four of us gathered to discuss the book at our meeting yesterday. It's always good to talk over a book, however, and it was interesting to see what others thought. We agreed that it was a very readable and thorough book that gives a rounded picture of Luther - the good, the bad and the ugly. We were in agreement that no-one could really read this book and come away thinking Luther was some sort of plaster saint.
Be warned that some of the imagery, content and language in this book is outside the usual remit of evangelical publishing.
We were most dismayed at his advocacy of secret bigamy and some of his other advice on marriage and divorce and his manic insistence on the real presence, not to mention his magisterialism and his attitude to the Jews.
One thing we could not agree on is how well Dr Roper understands Luther.
Do get hold of the book if you want a very thorough treatment of the man that we're all talking about this month.
We will meet again in the new year, God willing and look at a book from the past. The exact tome is to be decided.
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