Eric W. Gritsch

Eric W. Gritsch (originally Erich Walter Gritsch, born April 19, 1931 in Neuhaus am Klaus Bach, † December 29, 2012 in Baltimore) was a native of Austria American church historian and Luther researchers.

Gritsch grew up in Bernstein im Burgenland in an evangelical parish family and studied in Vienna Protestant theology. In 1954 he was a Fulbright fellowship at Yale University and a PhD here at Roland H. Bainton with a dissertation on Thomas Müntzer.

He first taught at Wellesley College and was from 1961 until his retirement in 1994 Professor of Church History at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg. He was active in Christian-Jewish dialogue, was a member of the advisory board of the Ecumenical Institute of the Lutheran World Federation in Strasbourg, in the Lutheran- Catholic Dialogue Commission (1971-1992) the U.S. as well as in Lajos Ordass Foundation.

Gritsch one of the translators of the works of Luther into English. For the American edition of Luther 's Works, he worked, in collaboration with his first wife Ruth (1931-2009), the volumes 39 and 41

Retired Gritsch lived in Baltimore. He was a member of the Lutheran Zion Church and director of the Zion forum for German culture.

Writings (selection )

  • Reformer Without a Church. The Life and Thought of Thomas Müntzer ( 1488? -1525 ). Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1967.
  • ( with Robert W. Jenson ) Lutheranism. The Theological Movement and Its Confessional Writings. Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1976.
  • Born Againism. Perspectives on a Movement. Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1982.
  • Martin - God 's Court Jester. Luther in Retrospect. Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1983.
  • Thomas Müntzer. A Tragedy of Errors. Fortress Press, Minneapolis 1989.
  • Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism. Fortress Press, Minneapolis 1994.
  • A History of Lutheranism. Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 2002.
  • A Handbook for Christian Life in the 21st Century. American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY, 2005.
  • The Wit of Martin Luther. Facet Book. Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 2006.
  • The Boy from the Burgenland. From Hitler Youth to Seminary professor. Infinity Publishing Company, West Conshohocken, PA, 2006.
Neuhaus am Klausenbach Fulbright Program Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Integrated Authority File
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