Chapter Three. Philip Melanchthon: Justification As The Renewal Of The Intellect And The Will

Abstract

Melanchthon's notion of justification evolved over the years so that the role of renewal in justification varied. In 1521, Melanchthon published the first edition of his introduction to theology, Loci Communes. The way Melanchthon refers to patristic theology indicates his christological views. Renovatio thus forms part of justification and means a change from a state of unbelief to one of faith. In the Augsburg Confession (CA, 1530), which was written by Melanchthon and deemed the most important confessional writing of Lutheranism, justification is described along the lines of Loci 1521. Melanchthon's Commentary on Romans (1532) defines justification as fixing the relation between the individual and God. Melanchthon's Commentary is a representative of a purely forensic doctrine of justification. Andreas Osiander brought the unio cum Christo theme back in to the discussion by claiming that Melanchthon had removed concept of ?indwelling' from justification.Keywords: Andreas Osiander; Augsburg Confession; Commentary on Romans ; forensic doctrine of justification; Loci Communes; Lutheranism; patristic theology; Philip Melanchthon; Renovatio; unio cum Christo