Bugenhagen's Jonah: Biblical Interpretation As Public Theology

When the University of Wittenberg reopened after the Smalcaldic War in 1547 Johannes Bugenhagen Wittenbergs chief pastor and a professor at the university began lecturing on Jonah. He first saw these lectures as a way to build up faith in his shaken community. As the months passed Bugenhagen adapted his work to address the controversies that arose in the wars aftermath especially those provoked by Emperor Charles Vs 1548 religious edict the Augsburg Interim. In his published Jonah Commentary Bugenhagen richly and publicly articulated an Evangelical Lutheran faith that was confronting political threats religious uncertainty and the recent death of Martin Luther. By studying Bugenhagens context biblical theology and Lutheran faith this study brings a vital perspective to contemporary questions of how Christian faith can serve daily life.Bugenhagens Jonah makes several significant contributions to Reformation studies. It is the first book published in English about Bugenhagen in over 80 years. It integrates diverse fields of study (including biblical interpretation ecclesiology worship social reform and church history) draws upon the latest international scholarship and translates original sources. Finally the emphasis on Bugenhagen as a public theologian highlights the relationship between faith and daily life for every age.