Today the church remembers "the second Martin," Martin Chemnitz. Some have said that if it weren't for Chemnitz, everything that Luther and his boys had fought for would have been lost. From the Treasury of Daily Prayer:
Aside from Martin Luther, Martin Chemnitz (1522-1586) is regarded as the most important theologian in the history of the Lutheran Church. Chemnitz combined a penetrating intellect and an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Scripture and the Church Fathers with a genuine love for the Church. When various doctrinal disagreements broke out after Luther's death in 1546, Chemnitz determined to give himself fully to the restoration of unity in the Lutheran Church. He became the leading spirit and principal author of the 1577 Formula of Concord, which settled the doctrinal disputes on the basis of Scripture and largely succeeded in restoring unity among Lutherans. Chemnitz also authored the four volume "Examination of the Council of Trent" (1565-73), in which he rigorously subjected the teachings of this Roman Catholic Council to the judgment of Scripture and the ancient Church Fathers. The "Examination" became the definitive Lutheran answer to the Council of Trent, as well as a thorough exposition of the faith of the Augsburg Confession. A theologian and a churchman, Chemnitz was truly a gift of God to the Church.
And so we pray:
Lord God, heavenly Father, through the teachings of Martin Chemnitz, You prepare us for the coming of Your Son to lead home His bride, the Church, that with all the company of the redeemed we may finally enter into His eternal wedding feast; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
2 comments:
What a rich herritage of 'fathers' we have! Met Pastor Matt Harrison yesterday at Pastor Starkey's Church. (composer of 32 hymns in LSB) He talked about many of the more recent German/ American Lutheran fathers. A wonder afternoon!
I'm jealous! What a day that must have been.
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