Friday, August 12, 2022

Gerhard's Theological Commonplaces Series: What's Available


From time to time I'm asked how much of Johann Gerhard's monumental Theological Commonplaces is available and whether Concordia's edition is going to include this or that locus. Here are some answers.

First, the entire series (as currently available) can be found on this page. The volumes are not in order in this listing, but all available items (plus Gerhard’s commentary on the books of Timothy) are listed. We added the “original” loci on Scripture to our series so that we could also provide a translation of Gerhard’s Method of Theological Study (item 531216). This is the only instance where we have addressed the earliest form of the loci (1610) in addition to the 1625 exegesis volumes translated by Dr Dinda.

The newest volume, On Eternal Life, will be available in the fall of 2022.

The chart below presents each locus, its publication history in the various editions, and our status regarding publication. Those loci highlighted in blue have been published by Concordia, either as standalone volumes in the series or as multiple loci in a single volume. The loci on the ministry and on death are separated into two volumes. On Death part I will release in 2023 and part II will release in 2024 and will complete our work with the translated material. The loci that are not highlighted will not be published at this time by CPH. Although we have raw translated text for all but the “original” loci on the Trinity (included in the Frankfurt/Hamburg and Cotta editions), we have no current plans to edit and publish the material.

For those who would like to read what Gerhard says on the sacraments, please see Rev. Elmer Hohle's translation of Gerhard's Comprehensive Explanation of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Comparison of Editions of Gerhard’s Loci

 Title -- Frankfurt/Hamburg (1657)* / Cotta (1762) / Preuss (1863)

On the Nature of Theology (Exegesis) -- E preface / E preface / Preface

On Holy Scripture (Exegesis) -- E1 / E1 / 1

On the Nature of God (Exegesis) -- E2 / E2 / 2

On the Most Holy Mystery of the Trinity (Exegesis) -- E3 / E3 / 3

On the Person and Office of Christ (Exegesis) -- E4 / E4 / 4

On Holy Scripture -- 1 / 1 / omitted

On the Interpretation of Scripture -- 2 / 2 / omitted

On the Nature of God -- 3 / 3 / omitted

On the Three Elohim -- 4 / 4 / omitted

On God the Father and His Eternal Son -- 5 / 4, part 2 / omitted

On the Holy Spirit -- 6 / 5, part 3 [!] /  omitted

On the Person and Office of Christ - 7 / 5 / omitted

On Creation and Angels -- 8 / 6 / 5

On Providence -- 9 / 7 / 6

On Election and Reprobation -- 10 / 8 / 7

On the Image of God in Man before the Fall -- 11 / 9 / 8

On Original Sin -- 12 / 10 / 9

On Actual Sins -- 13 / 11 / 10

On Free Choice -- 14 / 12 / 11

On the Law of God -- 15 / 13 / 12

On the Ceremonial and Forensic Laws -- 16 / 14 / 13

On the Gospel -- 17 / 15 / 14

On Repentance -- 18 / 16 / 15

On Justification through Faith -- 19 / 17 / 16

On Good Works -- 20 / 18 / 17

On the Sacraments -- 21 / 19 / 18

On Circumcision and the Paschal Lamb -- 22 / 20 / 19

On Holy Baptism -- 23 / 21 / 20

On the Holy Supper -- 24 / 22 / 21

On the Church -- 25 / 23 / 22

On the Ecclesiastical Ministry -- 26 / 24 / 23

On Political Magistracy -- 27 / 25 / 24

On Marriage, Celibacy, and Similar Topics -- 28 / 26 / 25

On Death -- 29 / 27 / 26

On the Resurrection of the Dead -- 30 / 28 / 27

On the Last Judgment -- 31 / 29 / 28

On the End of the World -- 32 / 30 / 29

On Hell, or Eternal Death -- 33 / 31 / 30

On Eternal Life -- 34 / 32 / 31

 

* The Jena ed. (1610) has the same enumeration, except that it lacks the Exegesis. Our edition follows this enumeration as well.

1 comment:

  1. Disappointing to see On Political Magistracy won't be published. Not that I know what is in it, but I would like to.

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