Eric W. Gritsch
Eric W. Gritsch (originally Erich Walter Gritsch, April 19, 1931,
Early life and student years
Gritsch was raised in a Lutheran pastor's family in
Career
Gritsch's first teaching position was at
Since his early days in Gettysburg, he was active in the Christian-Jewish dialog. The Lutheran World Federation made him a board member of its Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, and for the ELCA he was a member of the American Lutheran-Catholic Dialog Commission (1971–1992). He also served on the board of the Lajos-Ordass-Foundation. Together with Robert Jenson, he produced Lutheranism. The Theological Movement and Its Confessional Writings, a widely used resource book.
Gritsch was part of a team that translated and edited the American edition of Luther's works. Assisted by his wife Ruth (1931–2009),[4] he translated and edited vols. 39 and 41. He also cooperated on the translation and edition of the Book of Concord (Kolb/Wengert edition).[5]
Later years
In retirement, Gritsch lived in
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and director of its Zion Forum for German Culture. His latest major works were a history of Lutheranism and his autobiography The Boy from the Burgenland. From Hitler Youth to Seminary Professor, which also contains a number of his articles.
Works
- Reformer Without a Church. The Life and Thought of Thomas Müntzer (1488?-1525). Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1967.
- (with Robert W. Jenson) Lutheranism. The Theological Movement and Its Confessional Writings. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1976.
- Born Againism. Perspectives on a Movement. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1982.
- Martin - God’s Court Jester. Luther in Retrospect. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983.
- Thomas Müntzer. A Tragedy of Errors. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989.
- Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994.
- Hungarian Edition: Lutheranizmus. [Budapest]: Magyarországi Luther Szövetség, 2000
- A History of Lutheranism. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002.
- A Handbook for Christian Life in the 21st Century. Dehli, NY: American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, 2005.
- The Wit of Martin Luther. Facet Book. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006.
- The Boy from the Burgenland. From Hitler Youth to Seminary Professor. West Conshohocken, PA: Infinity Publishing Company, 2006.
- Toxic Spirituality. Enduring Temptations of Christian Faith. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2009.
- Martin Luther's Anti-Semitism: Against His Better Judgement. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2012
- Good Friday's Good News: Meditations for the Mean Meantime. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2014.
References
- ^ Biographical information in this article is from his autobiography The Boy from the Burgenland, West Conshohocken, PA: Infinity 2006
- ^ Gritsch, Boy from the Burgenland, p. 23
- ^ Colloquy History[permanent dead link]
- ^ Obituary in the Gettysburg Times
- ^ Robert Kolb and Timothy J. Wengert, eds. and trans., The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000
External links
- Zion Lutheran Church Archived 2008-12-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Augsburg Fortress