A Good Book Comparing Lutheran Theology to Reformed Theology

[Backwoods Presbyterian]

Any suggestions?

What I am looking for is a comparative study (either modern or ancient) or a "commentary" on one by the other.

 

[Casey]

You may already have some resources to get some answers, such as various systematic theologies, like Turretin and Bavinck . . at least that's a place to start before you fork over some for a new book.

 

[Backwoods Presbyterian]

I have Turretin. I'll search it deeply. How much does Turretin deal directly with Luther?

 

[MW]

Turretin is an excellent suggestion. The index of subjects under "Lutherans" narrows references down to precise topics. Also, David Dickson's Truth's Victory over Error gives contrasts to the Westminster Confession.

 

[R. Scott Clark]

You'll want to distinguish between Luther and confessional Lutheranism. There is some distance between the doctrine of Bondage of the Will (1525) and the Book of Concord (1580).

I don't know of any modern book that systematically contrasts the Reformed and Lutheran confessional positions, but you could look at Berkhof's ST, which is generally fair to the Lutherans -- in stark contrast to the way the Lutherans treat the Reformed.

There is a Reformation Chart in two parts here:

Part 1

Part 2

The chart contrasts Roman, Lutheran, and Reformed views on a series of topics.

You should spend the time to look at the Lutheran "Hodge" (Pieper). The Lutheran "Berkhof" (a one volume synopsis) is hardly worth the name, so I can't recommend it. There is a modern confessional Lutheran series of volumes that is coming out slowly but it's not complete.

I often find that Reformed folk haven't read Luther and they certainly haven't read Lutheran confessions or confessional Lutheran theology and few Lutherans have taken the time to read Calvin etc.