Mickey L Mattox | Hillsdale College (original) (raw)

Journal Articles & Book Chapters by Mickey L Mattox

Sixteenth Century Journal, 2018

A reflection on recent Catholic research on Luther, and a plea for more and better.

Pro Ecclesia, 2020

The Flacian controversy in mid-16th century Lutheranism turned on the question whether as a conse... more The Flacian controversy in mid-16th century Lutheranism turned on the question whether as a consequence of original sin the image of God in humankind has been lost and replaced by the image of the devil. Is the fallen human being evil per se? Examining Martin Luther's comments on the story of creation and fall in his Genesis Lectures (1535-1545), I argue that Luther's insistence on the loss of the imago dei results in an anthropology closer to that of Thomas Aquinas than to Luther's uncompromising disciple, Matthias Flacius Illyricus. For both Thomas and Luther, original sin is a holistic term that reflects the absence of original righteousness in the essence of the soul. Luther rejects any substantial reading of original sin that would ontologize it as the very substance of the human being. His anthropological holism means that sin has a deleterious effect on the whole human being, including all the powers of body and soul. Sin is privative, a spiritual leprosy that corrupts the whole human being. Keywords Divinization, essence of the soul, formal substance, Genesis 1-3, image of the devil, Martin Luther, Matthias Flacius Illyricus, original righteousness, original sin, sin as privation In the years immediately after Martin Luther's death in 1546, the Lutheran reformers heard shouts of heresy all around them. Of course, Catholic polemi-cists loudly accused them of departing from the orthodox faith on such important issues as justification, the mass, good works, papal authority, and more.

Luther the Iconographer of the Saints of Genesis, 2018

Martin Luther's Lectures on Genesis (1535-45) are still too little known. His portrayal of the bi... more Martin Luther's Lectures on Genesis (1535-45) are still too little known. His portrayal of the biblical saints is particularly compelling. This article briefly introduces this important resource for pastors and theologians today.

Trinity Journal, 2018

Martin Luther's early sermons on Genesis include a robust defense of the doctrine of creation ex ... more Martin Luther's early sermons on Genesis include a robust defense of the doctrine of creation ex nihilo. His exegesis of the creation as an act of the omnipotent God sets the Catholic doctrine of God into dynamic relationship with the Evangelical doctrine of salvation by faith.

First page of my article on Luther's cosmology, just published in the Oxford Research Encyclopedi... more First page of my article on Luther's cosmology, just published in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion: Martin Luther. For the full text, go to http://religion.oxfordre.com/page/martin-luther

This is the first page of my sketch of the elder Luther, written for the soon-to-be published Oxf... more This is the first page of my sketch of the elder Luther, written for the soon-to-be published Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion: Martin Luther. For the full text, go to http://religion.oxfordre.com/page/martin-luther

Reformation & Renaissance Review, 2012

Pro Ecclesia, 2008

Here is a study of Luther's use of the phrase "accidental mercy" in his Genesis commentary, espec... more Here is a study of Luther's use of the phrase "accidental mercy" in his Genesis commentary, especially as he applied it to the fratricide Cain. Exiled from the household of Adam and Eve, Cain was therefore separated--so Luther--from the true church. What hope remained for Cain, his spouse, their progeny!

Christian Theologies of Scripture: A Comparative …, 2006

Christology, Hermeneutics, and Hebrews: Profiles from the History of Interpretation, 2012

Pro Ecclesia

In the fourth volume of his study of the Christian tradition, Jaroslav Pelikan observed somewhat ... more In the fourth volume of his study of the Christian tradition, Jaroslav Pelikan observed somewhat cryptically that the Reformation doctrine of justification should be understood as a development not only from Augustinian theological anthropology, but from the dogma of the Holy Trinity as well. 1 That markedly Catholic reading of Reformation theology as a whole stands in rather sharp contrast to the judgment made by the great Adolph von Harnack just a century ago. Having drunk perhaps a bit too deeply from the wells of Ritschlian theology, Harnack labeled Martin Luther's Trinitarian doctrine an "unspeakable confusion." On Harnack's account, Luther's confusion resulted quite naturally from the fact that he did not actually believe in the Trinitarian God of the Catholic tradition. 1. Jaroslav Pelikan, Reformation of Church and Dogma, vol. 4 of The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1984), 156-58. For a somewhat fuller development of this point, see his Obedient Rebels: Catholic Substance and Protestant Principle in Luther's Reformation (New York: Harper and Row, 1964), 47-48. For a more traditionally Lutheran angle on the relationship between Luther's doctrine of justification and his doctrine of God, see Paul Althaus, "Gottes Gottheit als Sinn der Rechtfertigungslehre Luthers," Luther)ahrbuài 13 (1931): 1-28. Althaus does not attempt to ground Luther's doctrine of justification in his Trinitarian theology but instead attempts to show that it rests on his prior insistence that the theologian "let God be God"-i.e., that Christians should understand themselves as creatures utterly determined by God's word of grace and promise.

A Companion to Paul in the Reformation, Jan 1, 2009

Seminary Ridge Review 16:2, 2014

Seminary Ridge Review is a scholarly journal offering perspectives which highlight the history an... more Seminary Ridge Review is a scholarly journal offering perspectives which highlight the history and theology of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, eastern Lutheranism and issues that emerge in the cross-currents of theological and cultural debates.

Address to a session of the American Society of Church dedicated to an appreciation of the schola... more Address to a session of the American Society of Church dedicated to an appreciation of the scholarly work of David C. Steinmetz.

Plenary address to the American Society of Church History on the occasion of the bestowal of the ... more Plenary address to the American Society of Church History on the occasion of the bestowal of the Distinguished Career Award on David C. Steinmetz. January 2010, San Diego, CA.

My recent contribution to Sapientia, the online journal of the Henry Center for Theological Under... more My recent contribution to Sapientia, the online journal of the Henry Center for Theological Understanding. Part of the three-year Creation Project there, with funding from the Templeton Religion Trust.

Books by Mickey L Mattox

Luther at Leipzig, 2019

On the five-hundredth anniversary of the 1519 debate between Martin Luther and John Eck at Leipzi... more On the five-hundredth anniversary of the 1519 debate between Martin Luther and John Eck at Leipzig, Luther at Leipzig offers an extensive treatment of this pivotal Reformation event in its historical and theological context. The Leipzig Debate not only revealed growing diferences between Luther and his opponents, but also resulted in further splintering among the Reformation parties, which continues to the present day. The essays in this volume provide an essential background to the complex theological, political, ecclesiastical, and intellectual issues precipitating the debate. They also sketch out the relevance of the Leipzig Debate for the course of the Reformation, the interpretation and development of Luther, and the ongoing divisions between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. Readership Scholars and students of theology, church history, or European history interested in Martin Luther, late medieval and Reformation theology, and the Protestant and Catholic Reformations. Pages: xiv, 348 pp.; 5 color ills.

Sixteenth Century Journal, 2018

A reflection on recent Catholic research on Luther, and a plea for more and better.

Pro Ecclesia, 2020

The Flacian controversy in mid-16th century Lutheranism turned on the question whether as a conse... more The Flacian controversy in mid-16th century Lutheranism turned on the question whether as a consequence of original sin the image of God in humankind has been lost and replaced by the image of the devil. Is the fallen human being evil per se? Examining Martin Luther's comments on the story of creation and fall in his Genesis Lectures (1535-1545), I argue that Luther's insistence on the loss of the imago dei results in an anthropology closer to that of Thomas Aquinas than to Luther's uncompromising disciple, Matthias Flacius Illyricus. For both Thomas and Luther, original sin is a holistic term that reflects the absence of original righteousness in the essence of the soul. Luther rejects any substantial reading of original sin that would ontologize it as the very substance of the human being. His anthropological holism means that sin has a deleterious effect on the whole human being, including all the powers of body and soul. Sin is privative, a spiritual leprosy that corrupts the whole human being. Keywords Divinization, essence of the soul, formal substance, Genesis 1-3, image of the devil, Martin Luther, Matthias Flacius Illyricus, original righteousness, original sin, sin as privation In the years immediately after Martin Luther's death in 1546, the Lutheran reformers heard shouts of heresy all around them. Of course, Catholic polemi-cists loudly accused them of departing from the orthodox faith on such important issues as justification, the mass, good works, papal authority, and more.

Luther the Iconographer of the Saints of Genesis, 2018

Martin Luther's Lectures on Genesis (1535-45) are still too little known. His portrayal of the bi... more Martin Luther's Lectures on Genesis (1535-45) are still too little known. His portrayal of the biblical saints is particularly compelling. This article briefly introduces this important resource for pastors and theologians today.

Trinity Journal, 2018

Martin Luther's early sermons on Genesis include a robust defense of the doctrine of creation ex ... more Martin Luther's early sermons on Genesis include a robust defense of the doctrine of creation ex nihilo. His exegesis of the creation as an act of the omnipotent God sets the Catholic doctrine of God into dynamic relationship with the Evangelical doctrine of salvation by faith.

First page of my article on Luther's cosmology, just published in the Oxford Research Encyclopedi... more First page of my article on Luther's cosmology, just published in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion: Martin Luther. For the full text, go to http://religion.oxfordre.com/page/martin-luther

This is the first page of my sketch of the elder Luther, written for the soon-to-be published Oxf... more This is the first page of my sketch of the elder Luther, written for the soon-to-be published Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion: Martin Luther. For the full text, go to http://religion.oxfordre.com/page/martin-luther

Reformation & Renaissance Review, 2012

Pro Ecclesia, 2008

Here is a study of Luther's use of the phrase "accidental mercy" in his Genesis commentary, espec... more Here is a study of Luther's use of the phrase "accidental mercy" in his Genesis commentary, especially as he applied it to the fratricide Cain. Exiled from the household of Adam and Eve, Cain was therefore separated--so Luther--from the true church. What hope remained for Cain, his spouse, their progeny!

Christian Theologies of Scripture: A Comparative …, 2006

Christology, Hermeneutics, and Hebrews: Profiles from the History of Interpretation, 2012

Pro Ecclesia

In the fourth volume of his study of the Christian tradition, Jaroslav Pelikan observed somewhat ... more In the fourth volume of his study of the Christian tradition, Jaroslav Pelikan observed somewhat cryptically that the Reformation doctrine of justification should be understood as a development not only from Augustinian theological anthropology, but from the dogma of the Holy Trinity as well. 1 That markedly Catholic reading of Reformation theology as a whole stands in rather sharp contrast to the judgment made by the great Adolph von Harnack just a century ago. Having drunk perhaps a bit too deeply from the wells of Ritschlian theology, Harnack labeled Martin Luther's Trinitarian doctrine an "unspeakable confusion." On Harnack's account, Luther's confusion resulted quite naturally from the fact that he did not actually believe in the Trinitarian God of the Catholic tradition. 1. Jaroslav Pelikan, Reformation of Church and Dogma, vol. 4 of The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1984), 156-58. For a somewhat fuller development of this point, see his Obedient Rebels: Catholic Substance and Protestant Principle in Luther's Reformation (New York: Harper and Row, 1964), 47-48. For a more traditionally Lutheran angle on the relationship between Luther's doctrine of justification and his doctrine of God, see Paul Althaus, "Gottes Gottheit als Sinn der Rechtfertigungslehre Luthers," Luther)ahrbuài 13 (1931): 1-28. Althaus does not attempt to ground Luther's doctrine of justification in his Trinitarian theology but instead attempts to show that it rests on his prior insistence that the theologian "let God be God"-i.e., that Christians should understand themselves as creatures utterly determined by God's word of grace and promise.

A Companion to Paul in the Reformation, Jan 1, 2009

Seminary Ridge Review 16:2, 2014

Seminary Ridge Review is a scholarly journal offering perspectives which highlight the history an... more Seminary Ridge Review is a scholarly journal offering perspectives which highlight the history and theology of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, eastern Lutheranism and issues that emerge in the cross-currents of theological and cultural debates.

Address to a session of the American Society of Church dedicated to an appreciation of the schola... more Address to a session of the American Society of Church dedicated to an appreciation of the scholarly work of David C. Steinmetz.

Plenary address to the American Society of Church History on the occasion of the bestowal of the ... more Plenary address to the American Society of Church History on the occasion of the bestowal of the Distinguished Career Award on David C. Steinmetz. January 2010, San Diego, CA.

My recent contribution to Sapientia, the online journal of the Henry Center for Theological Under... more My recent contribution to Sapientia, the online journal of the Henry Center for Theological Understanding. Part of the three-year Creation Project there, with funding from the Templeton Religion Trust.

Luther at Leipzig, 2019

On the five-hundredth anniversary of the 1519 debate between Martin Luther and John Eck at Leipzi... more On the five-hundredth anniversary of the 1519 debate between Martin Luther and John Eck at Leipzig, Luther at Leipzig offers an extensive treatment of this pivotal Reformation event in its historical and theological context. The Leipzig Debate not only revealed growing diferences between Luther and his opponents, but also resulted in further splintering among the Reformation parties, which continues to the present day. The essays in this volume provide an essential background to the complex theological, political, ecclesiastical, and intellectual issues precipitating the debate. They also sketch out the relevance of the Leipzig Debate for the course of the Reformation, the interpretation and development of Luther, and the ongoing divisions between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. Readership Scholars and students of theology, church history, or European history interested in Martin Luther, late medieval and Reformation theology, and the Protestant and Catholic Reformations. Pages: xiv, 348 pp.; 5 color ills.

This work examines Martin Luth er 's inte rpretation of the female charac te rs in the stories of... more This work examines Martin Luth er 's inte rpretation of the female charac te rs in the stories of Genesis, d rawing attention to his ap propri ation of pre modern catholic inte1 :pre tations of the bibli cal "sain ts". In Luthe r's ha nds, many of th ese women became heroic examples of the godly life newly adapted to the worldly asceticism of e merging Protestantism. The ir everyd ay sanctity, exercised for the most part within the limits Luther be lieved God had imposed on th eir sex, displayyd the kind of piety h e thought should a nimate Christian women in their own househo lds. Two chapters evalua te Luth er 's inte rpretation of Eve, noting his understand ing of the ideal relations betwee n men a nd women. Five further chapters examine Sarah, Hagar, Rac hel, the daughte rs and wife of Lot, and Potiphar's wife.