The Masks of God

""This rich and carefully structured study of Luther's 'masks of God' offers precisely the kind of confessional Lutheran theology our churches need in an age of confusion about where and how God is at work in the world. Grounded in the distinction between the hidden and revealed God and in the centrality of Christ's incarnation as the only saving self-disclosure of the Father, the author traces how God binds himself to his chosen instruments: the external word, the sacraments, and his concrete 'signs' in history. By attending closely to Luther's exegesis of Genesis and his teaching on the ministry of the word, law and Gospel, the true and the false church, and God's ordering of home, church, and civil government, this work unfolds a profoundly evangelical vision that is thoroughly in harmony with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions."" --Douglas L. Rutt, Professor Emeritus, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis ""According to Luther, the God who 'made me and all creatures' works in creation through the instrumentality of other creatures. That is, he 'hides' himself behind coverings or masks to accomplish his purposes in both the temporal and spiritual realms. Dr. Anthony Steinbronn has provided readers with a robust study of this key aspect of Luther's theology through a careful examination of his Genesis lectures and other texts. The Masks of God is an especially welcome addition to the growing body of research on Luther's doctrine of vocation. It will be of benefit to pastors and teachers who desire to deepen their understanding of Reformation theology for preaching and catechesis. The book's lucid style also makes it accessible to the general reader as well."" --John Pless, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions, Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne ""With the wisdom and skill of a seasoned teacher and pastor, Steinbronn offers us an insightful, comprehensive, and winsome account of Luther's theology of revelation. Using the Reformer's insight that God makes himself known in and through his masks in the world, Steinbronn outlines the various ways in which God reveals and enacts his purposes for creation in Christ through external signs of his will and word in the church and the world. Highly recommended as an entrée into the relevance of Luther's great insight for all of life."" --Leopoldo Sanchez, Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis ""Books on Martin Luther's theology are usually intended for an academic audience and are inaccessible to those outside the guild. This one is not. Coherently, digestibly, and with a pastoral and evangelical tone, Anthony Steinbronn traces the thought of Luther on important topics that touch the whole of Christian life--Scripture, law and gospel, sacraments, church, family, government. You do not need previous knowledge of Luther, or even theology, to read this book and appreciate Luther's concern for the word of God permeating all of creation through the 'masks' that God has appointed for that purpose."" --Richard J. Serina Jr, Associate Executive Director, Commission on Theology and Church Relations, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod