The Table Talk of Martin Luther

By: Martin Luther

Narrated by: Bob Souer

"The Bible is alive," declared Martin Luther, "it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me." The Protestant Reformation's seminal leader possessed a gift for evocative speech, and he was as articulate and outspoken in private as he was in public. Fortunately for posterity, some of Luther's loyal followers took note of his informal speeches.

The Table Talk of Martin Luther consists of excerpts from the great reformer's conversations with his students and colleagues, in which he comments on life, the Church, and the Bible. Collected by Johannes Aurifaber, Anton Lauterbach, and other close associates of Luther, these absorbing anecdotes reveal the speaker's personality and wisdom. This text is based on the English translation by lawyer and author William Hazlitt, son of the celebrated essayist.

Public Domain (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Interesting

He was, and continues to be, a great theologian. Obviously he also was a man of his times (this original book was published in 1566). Keep in mind, as you read, here is a great man that changed the world. But like other men, of course he had some world views that we would interpret as archaic today. That doesn't change his greatness.
Overall, the book is like a long book of Proverbs in most places and a political discourse in others. Quick paragraphs of thought on a particular subject, some with Bible reference, some without. The book was very interesting, listening to the thought pattern of a great authority 500 years ago. His unpacking of Biblical truth is exceptional and he has an ability to make some great points, in very modern language. It's also interesting as you read, knowing what we know now, that even Martin Luther could not see the future, didn't get it all right, and had the same biases we see today. But, preached the gospel, had faith in the saving power of Jesus death and reserection and explains to all that we can, and need to, accept this power and make Christ our primary thought and motivation in this life.

Talking at the Table is a good thing

This listen was most informative. The text was clearly delivered with appropriate emphasis where needed.

Martin

I love this audio my spirit is 1 with Martin Luther glad I studied him

Excellent written but incomplete audio

The writings of Martin Luther is a must for any Protestant Christian or someone who is seeking the meaning of Protestantism.

The audio quality is good and the narrator is excellent. However, for anyone who own the book, Table Talk, you will notice that many sections have been omitted by the audio version. Important parts on the Pope and Catholicism are left out for an unexplained reason. Perhaps it is just the day in which we are living with ecumenism at the order of the day.

It remains a audio worthwhile having but I would encourage any serious reader or researcher to buy the hard copy.

God bless

very helpful and supportive to my Christian faith.

the narration and clatiry was great .
i sped it up to 1.10.
thank you again.

Inside the mature mind of Luther

Probably wouldn’t be a good read for those with little Christian understanding and fairly good knowledge of bible. But one looking for a well aged bottle will find this satisfying. I listened twice.

Timeless

Listening to this book, you cannot believe that Martin Luther lived hundreds of years ago. This book gives me hope, knowing that long ago the same issues concerned Luther. I am on my 3rd round of this book.

Historically Interesting

Too much hellfire and damnation for me. I didn’t finish it. I thought it was interesting that he castigated Jerome for working alone translating the Bible from Greek to Latin (The Vulgate)—“Where.two or three are joined together in my name, there am I l’m the midst of them”— and then he translated the Bible from Greek to German working alone.

I love reading original historical sources for the glimpse into the culture. For example he explains which diseases can be cured using horse dung, which can be cured by pig feces and which can be cured by cow manure.

I liked his classification of the Psalms and his frequent quoting of them.

Luther’s seriously flawed narcissistic personality shines through his writing. Fortunately he fought against a seriously corrupt Catholic Church.