Luther's Anthropological Matrix

Chapter 1 “Luther’s Anthropological Matrix” pp. 23-32

A study of anthropology includes analysis of the presuppositions of life in the target time and culture. Kolb and Arand assert that few people consider their own anthropology. This leads to a weak understanding of people in toher places and times. After examining modern and postmodern anthropology they suggest a “theological” view of anthropology. In this discussion the Reformation matrix of two kinds of righteousness comes to bear. The Reformers recognized a “passive righteousness” which comes from God without human contribution, as well as an “active righteousness” in which we act within society for good. Luther and his followers saw that an excessive focus on either was unhealthy. They also saw that the Roman church had conflated the two. When rightly considered, we need to be full of both passive and active righteousness at the same time, cultivating both the vertical and the horizontal life. This allows us to preserve the proper relationships with God and man, living our humanity to the full.