Theological Non-Negotiables in Martin Luther's Hymns for Confessing Jesus Christ in the Twenty-first Century

Abstract

This article offers a theological-literary reflection on select hymns by Martin Luther which are interpreted in the genre of poetry. Pointing to the doctrine of justification as Luther’s hermeneutical center, the author highlights primary Confessional non-negotiables grounded in Scripture. These include the incarnation of the eternal Word who graciously and humbly enters the world of sin to ransom sinful humanity, defeating the power of the devil by freely going the way of death on the cross. Luther’s vision is grounded in the church’s confession that God is eternally Triune. The essay closes with the reminder that justification and justice stand at the heart of the Gospel.