Faith Alone - by Bo Giertz (Paperback)

About the Book

Martin and Anders both studied to become priests before their paths diverged with the advent of the Reformation. Now, as Sweden emerges from anarchy in a pitched rebellion against tyranny these two brothers navigate fields of battle as they fight to maintain faith through a dark night of the soul. Civil war tears them apart, but the gospel brings them together when God's word becomes a lamp for their feet and a light to their paths.

Book Synopsis

Faith Alone, written in 1943, is a prequel to Bo Giertz's better-known novel, The Hammer of God.

This is Bo Giertz's masterpiece-written with the doctrinal clarity and purpose of G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis, the historical acumen of Bernard Cornwell, and the psychological insight of Kafka. The result is a Scandinavian Noir that cuts open the soul and lays it at the foot of the cross.

The novel begins in 1540 and ends in 1543, during which time the largest peasant revolt in the history of Scandinavia occurred under the leadership of Nils Dacke. The Dacke Rebellion, as it is known, started in the county of Småland but bled over into the Ydre district on Östergötland's southern border with Småland.

The plot follows the story of two brothers, Anders and Martin. It was the wish of their mother that these two brothers would become priests in the Catholic Church, and so they were both sent to study for the priesthood in the town of Linköping, Sweden, when they were quite young.

It was at this time that the Reformation began in Germany, and Sweden fought for independence from Denmark, breaking the Kalmar Union. German mercenaries hired by King Gustav Vasa to fight Danish troops brought Reformation literature with them. So, Martin became a Lutheran and left for Stockholm to work for King Gustav Vasa as a scrivener. His brother Anders continued with his studies and became a Catholic priest.

When the king has to pay his debt to Lubeck for the mercenaries he hired for the war, he confiscates the church's land, bells, silver, and gold to do so. With this he firmly declares his cause with the Reformation doctrine of Martin Luther. However, the people of Småland are fond of Roman Catholicism and chafe at Lubeck's measures. So, they rebelled. Anders takes up with their cause and joins with Nils Dacke and his men. Martin stays with the king, before becoming disillusioned and falling in with a group of Schwärmerei, or pre-Pentecostal legalists. As the war comes to an end both brothers are brought back to the Reformation faith through the patient shepherding of a Lutheran priest named Peder.

Review Quotes

Set in the early 1540's as the Reformation was taking root in Swedish soil, Bo Giertz paints a picture of the rawness of life in the forest, the treachery and carnage of war, and the struggle of polluted souls to find the certainty of peace with God. There are battles going on, not the least of which has to do with the Word which alone creates faith and secures the church. Lutheran theologian that he was, Bo Giertz recognizes that God works "under opposites" (sub contrario), and as an author he skillfully narrates the ways of God in wrath and grace, law and gospel. Faith does not live by piety or works but the sheer promises of God given and kept for the sake of Christ. We may be grateful to Bror Erickson for rendering this novel into English, assuring it a place in our circles alongside The Hammer of God as a work of enduring strength demonstrating why the Lutheran Reformation still matters.
John T. Pless, M.Div.; D.Litt.
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Indiana

About the Author

Bror Erickson currently serves as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Farmington New Mexico where he lives with his wife, Laura. He graduated from Concordia University, Irvine, in 2000 where he studied apologetics under Dr. Rod Rosenbladt. Subsequently, he attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne Indiana, and graduated in 2004. He has translated many works by Bo Giertz, but he also enjoys hunting upland game and ducks with his dog, Grinner.
Bo Giertz (1905-1998) spent his youth as a militant atheist before his conversion in college set him to become an apologist for the Christian faith, a beloved novelist, pastor and bishop in the church of Sweden. These commentaries were written in retirement after a long life carefully studying both the scriptures and the human soul.