History
One of the leading figures of Lutheranism, St. Johann Gerhard was known for many theological contributions to the seventeenth-century Church. As we mentioned in our introductory post on him, Gerhard was an astute professor, teacher, and pastor. His dedication to systematic theology was especially substantial, and he spent much of his life tracing the theological tradition of the Church and detailing why the Church believes what she believes.
Yet Gerhard also composed more accessible and intimate materials for the average Lutheran to read, as well. A man who endured great hardship throughout his life including sickness and the death of loved ones, Gerhard wrote various devotional works meant to impart simple (yet rich) spiritual meditations to his readers.
These meditative works are definitely worth consideration for Christians today! In our estimation, sitting down to read them would be one of the best ways to commemorate this great Lutheran saint in today’s world and would likely help you grow in the faith as well. His Sacred Meditations, Meditations on Divine Mercy, and his Handbook of Consolations for the Fears and Trials that Oppress Us in the Struggle with Death directly speak to Gerhard’s understanding of the difficulties of life.
Moreover, these works have recently been resurrected for the English-speaking Lutheran world, with new translations of both works having come out in recent years. You can find them sold online. Yet we would also be remiss to not steer you toward one of the many older and free translations available online. These would be easy for you (and your family and friends) to get a hold of for a group study, such as this downloadable version of the Rev. C. W. Heisler’s translation of Sacred Meditations. If you’re looking for a translation recommendation, the 2008 Wade Johnson version is especially highly regarded.
A Community Study of Gerhard’s Sacred Meditations
Something else to consider with these works is that they are worth reading in the company of other believers! We have suggested studying the works of great saints before—taking time to read the primary sources available from those in the faith who have gone before us. However, since Gerhard’s writing was a direct response to his difficulties in life, what better way to discuss the toils and turmoils that we all go through than to be in the midst of other Christians?
Given this, and the fact that Gerhard is one of Lutheranism’s greatest theologians, his devotionals would be great options for a book club or small bible study group. Some things worth discussing within a group setting include the fact that this wasn’t a book written by Gerhard in the prime years of his professorship at Jena. No, this was a piece that he wrote at age 22-23 while discovering his identity as a theologian. Further this piece quickly spread across Europe, becoming one of the most popular devotional books in Europe during Gerhard’s time. It was translated into most European languages (including Arabic) within the saint’s lifetime.
In the company of others while reading this work, you could discuss why you think this was the case and if you think the work is still worth reading today. You could also talk about the ways in which Gerhard connects his readers to the faith and how he makes his meditations accessible to such a wide audience.
As each of Gerhard’s 51 meditations in the book is only a few pages, this study would be great to split up into sections to discuss as a group or to even go through over the course of the year, covering one meditation a week and then meeting to discuss a month’s or quarter’s worth all at once.
No matter how you decide to do it, we assure you that the works of St. Johann Gerhard are worth a closer look and that they can benefit both you and those around you. This saint has made a great impression on Lutheranism, and the reasons why are evident as soon as you explore him and his writings in a little more depth!
