Johann Arndt: True Christianity
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
Never before translated into English, this book by the sixteenth-century Lutheran mystic Johann Arndt (1555–1621) has been the foundation for countless spiritual works both Protestant and Catholic. In this volume, his words are translated for application and for study in an English-speaking context.
For a massive collection including over a hundred and twenty of the volumes in this series, see the Classics of Western Spirituality Bundle (126 vols.).
Key Features
- An initial translation in English
- Fully integrates and cross references with other resources from your Logos library
- A primary source that is useful for devotion and historical study
Top Highlights
“It is not enough to know God’s word; one must also practice it in a living, active manner.” (Page 21)
“Therefore, simple Christian, you must not consider the fall of Adam to be a slight or insignificant sin as if it were the mere bite of an apple, but it is the fall of man in that man wished to be God himself. This was also the fall of Satan. This is the most abominable and frightful sin.” (Page 33)
“The image of God in man is the conformity of the human soul, understanding, spirit, mind, will, and all internal and external bodily and spiritual powers with God and the Holy Trinity and with all divine qualities, virtues, wills, and characteristics.” (Page 29)
“Arndt attacks a double and a doubly dangerous divorce: one between faith and life, another between scholarly knowledge and practical wisdom, a wisdom which was for Arndt the decisively Christian know-how.” (Page xi)
“As Spener sees it, Arndt stands in the immediate proximity of Luther, and both men travel the same spiritual path shown by Johannes Tauler (†1361).” (Page xiii)
About the Author
Johann Arndt (December 27, 1555–May, 11 1621) was a German Lutheran theologian who was also an influential writer of devotional Christianity. He is seen as a forerunner of pietism, a movement within Lutheranism that gained strength in the late 17th century.
Reviews
1 rating
Glenn Crouch
7/4/2019
One of the lecturers from Australian Lutheran College recommended I try Arndt after I had found the 2nd volume of Gerhard a bit difficult (really enjoyed the 1st volume). Arndt is a Lutheran from the same time period as Gerhard, but not from the Scholastic side of things - rather he is sometimes considered the father of Lutheran Piety. So, yes indeed, this was a far different experience to that of Gerhard :) First, I would say that the translation is one that is easy to read - and encourages me to read more of the volumes I have in this series. I really enjoyed this book to start with, but as I went further into it I did start to find it too legalistic. Now I do believe that Arndt is basing his argument on the Christian Life - ie the Christian who has been saved by faith alone, through grace alone in Christ alone. He is not advocating a salvation of works, but it does seem that he is coming pretty close to a sanctification by works. I have found this difficulty at times with works strong in piety. I start with being challenged and encouraged, but through the repetition it starts to feel more like a beating leading to being discouraged... Anyway it is fascinating to read both Gerhard and Arndt - writing in the Century following Luther - and in neither extreme do we seem to have Luther anymore... However, perhaps it is good that both extremes were there to help balance one another...