"Disagreement on ethical issues overlays a lack of consensus today on even deeper issues of method and authority in ethics. Yet, argues theologian William Lazareth, a major ecumenical resource and model for Christian social ethics in Martin Luther's use of Scripture as ethical source and norm." "Lazareth rescues Luther's Christocentric reading of Scripture and his ethics from largely quietistic interpretations current through the Nazi period and sets his sights on how Luther's principles of biblical interpretation fueled his understanding of the church's life and mission. From this base Lazareth reinterprets the much-contested "two kingdoms" teaching, the twofold rule of God in creation and redemption, the function of law and justification, and sanctification in individuals and society." "This user-friendly, informative historical theology also challenges contemporary Christians at affirm common biblical ground for theological ethics and to facilitate more public social witness."--BOOK JACKET.

Pt 1. Ethical strife and Biblical norms. Survey : the post-Nazi recovery of Lutheran public responsibility. -- Ethics : captive to God's Word. -- pt. 2. The world's two kingdoms (God or Satan). Adam and Eve : God's command of love. -- Satan : God's foe, human woe. -- pt. 3. God's twofold rule (Caesar and Christ). Cain and Abel : law judges before God. -- Noah and Moses : law preserves in society. -- Jesus Christ : gospel justifies before God. -- Holy Spirit : gospel sanctifies in society.