Cross Narratives: Martin Luther’s Christology and the Location of Redemption

In this text Neal Anthony examines Luther’s radical interpretation of the two natures of Christ, and the ubiquitous presence of the humanity of Christ as a fundamental expression of that same theology. This expression of Luther’s theology of the cross, Anthony asserts, elaborates fully on an important and creative corrective with reference to recent signal expressions of the theology of the cross. As contemporary theologians of the cross have articulated—most notably Douglas John Hall and the late Alan E. Lewis—the theology of the cross is pre-eminently a theology of redemption from within (“within-redemption”). In the process of outlining and analyzing these theologies of within-redemption, Anthony exposes an impasse created by these theologies, regarding the relationship of within-redemption to individual human narratives. Anthony contends that only through Luther’s radical interpretation of the two natures of Christ can complete within-redemption can be expressed. Anthony also evaluates the christology of Karl Barth from the perspective of his findings. This text is an innovative and fresh application of Luther’s christology, placing it at the cutting edge of contemporary discussions regarding the theology of the cross and its within-redemption.