Lecture Speaker Dr. Adam Francisco Reveals Luther’s Role as Apologist

Dr. Adam Francisco continued the 500th Reformation Celebration lecture series on Monday, Jan. 23. Photo by Morgan German.

by Morgan German

Concordia University Irvine’s Dr. Adam Francisco confronted the notion that Martin Luther should not be considered an apologist in a lecture in Concordia’s 500th Reformation Celebration series on Monday, Jan. 23.

Francisco received his doctorate of philosophy in historical theology and Christian–Muslim relations from the University of Oxford and has written multiple books, including, “Martin Luther and Islam: A Study in Sixteenth-Century Polemics and Apologetics.” He is the Chair of the Department of History and Political Thought at Concordia University Irvine.

Apologetics is employing of reason to defend and prove the objectivity of the Christian faith. Francisco said the belief that Luther was not an apologist is based on a quote from Luther himself, in which Luthor said that he considered reason “to be deceitful and even dangerous to faith and theology.” Because of this quote, many people believe that Luther focused  on theological differences among Christians rather than on apologetics.

Francisco pointed to Luther’s use of reason to debate and preaching to members of other religions as proof of Luther’s status as an apologist.

“(Luther’s) apologetic against Judaism was singularly focused around the person of Jesus and whether He was the promised Messiah,” Francisco said.

This was done through the use of Old Testament scriptures, as Jews would not accept the Gospels as evidence for Christianity.

Luther also worked to defend the Christian faith against the advances of Islam.

“Luther hoped that his arguments might be able to bring Muslims who were led astray by the Quran and Islam back to God,” Francisco said.

Luther did this by pointing out the internal contradictions in the Quran and its teachings.

After these contradictions were pointed out, Luther moved on to show Muslims the Christian theology that lacked the contradictions of the Quran.

Francisco pointed out that apologetics was not just something that was around in Luther’s time, but is still important for Christians to understand and practice in modern times.

“All Christians should be prepared to give a reason for the hope within them,” Francisco said, paraphrasing 1 Peter 3:15.

Francisco also quoted Luther from the Small Catechism: “God has given me my reason and all my senses, and still preserves them.”