Systematics

Apostolic Agenda: The Epistles of the Holy Apostle Paul to Titus and Philemon is the first full work of Friedrich Balduin (1575-1627) available in the English language. This significant Lutheran theologian of the early 17th century begins each chapter with a simple outline, then proceeds into his analysis and explanation. Next, he examines theological questions from the section. These questions are the heart of the work, often addressing false interpretations through the use of classical and patristic resources. Balduin then concludes each section with theological aphorisms, or summary statements of doctrines to be gathered from the text. In these pages, pastors will gain insight into how to apply the texts of Scripture to the lives of their congregations, and all Christians will learn about the heart of the faith--the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

A.G. Voigt's Biblical Dogmatics is a short and comprehensive account of Christian Theology from a Lutheran perspective. Voigt uses the traditional Loci method of Lutheran Scholasticism, while being sensitive to the best of early twentieth century Biblical scholarship. He covers all major topics in Christian theology, and does so in a manner that is readable and exegetically sensitive. This is an ideal introduction to Lutheran Dogmatics. Among the topics covered in this work are: Theology proper, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the nature of salvation, the sacraments, the church, and eschatology. Voigt's approach to these issues is Biblical and Confessional.

A helpful handbook on doctrinal theology Pieper's

The faithful practice of closed Communion is challenged in our day both culturally and ecclesiastically. As Western culture careens down a path of individualism and autonomy, the privatization of faith leads many to regard participation in the Sacrament as a matter of personal entitlement.

Essays examine the Formula of Concord in terms of its relevance and applicability to the church today.

The 18 essays in this volume offer a cross-section of Preus's research and commentary on the doctrine of justification and on the Lutheran Confessions and their application in the life of the church today. Also included in this volume are 4 reflections on the life and ministry of Robert Preus provided by David P. Scaer, John Stephenson, Kurt Marquart and Daniel Preus.

Preface and introduction written by Klemet I. Preus, Robert's son.

Post-Enlightenment theology has frequently rejected the historic Christian doctrine of substitutionary atonement. For theologians standing in the tradition of the Lutheran Confessions, rejection of substitutionary atonement is particularly problematic because it endangers the unconditional nature of the justification through faith. If one rejects vicarious satisfaction, then the only alternative is to make redemption dependent on what sinners do for themselves. In this study, Jack Kilcrease argues for substitutionary atonement within the perspective of what he calls the ""Confessional Lutheran Paradigm."" The author also critiques a wide variety of modern Lutheran theologians' understandings of atonement: Werner Elert, Gustaf Aulen, Gustaf Wingren, Robert Jenson, Eberhard Jungel, Wolfhart Pannenberg, and Gerhard Forde. As Kilcrease demonstrates, although these authors often give many fine theological insights, their distortion or misrepresentation of the doctrine of atonement carriers over to a problematic understanding of law, gospel, and justification through faith. ""Jack D. Kilcrease lays out the Lutheran teaching of the atonement beginning with the Reformer and discusses how his views on Christ's death have been adjusted by leading theologians, most recently Gerhard Forde. Those aware of the current controversy will want to give careful attention to Kilcrease's The Doctrine of Atonement. Hardly a peripheral issue, this is a 'must' read, especially for those who are new to the issue."" --David P. Scaer, Chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN ""Kilcrease offers a helpful survey, succinct yet insightful, of historic Lutheran positions on the atonement as well as a walk through later revisions and challenges. Accessibly written, this is a good introduction for the uninitiated as well as a springboard for further study for those well-versed in theology."" --Wade Johnston, Assistant Professor of Theology, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI Jack D. Kilcrease is Associate Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at the Institute of Lutheran Theology in Brookings, South Dakota. His articles have appeared in the academic journals: Logia, Lutheran Quarterly, Pro Ecclesia, Theofilos, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, Concordia Theological Quarterly, and Testamentum Imperium. He is also the author of the books: The Self-Donation of God: A Contemporary Lutheran approach to Christ and His Benefits (2013), Martin Luther in His Own Words (2016), and Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics: The Doctrine of Holy Scripture (forthcoming).

Many factors contributed to the Protestant Reformation, but one of the most significant was the debate over the doctrine of justification by faith alone. In fact, Martin Luther argued that justification is the doctrine on which the church stands or falls. This comprehensive volume of 26 essays from a host of scholars explores the doctrine of justification from the lenses of history, the Bible, theology, and pastoral practice--revealing the enduring significance of this pillar of Protestant theology.

The Christian does not live in a vacuum, says the author, but in a world of government, politics, labor, and marriage. Hence, Christian ethics cannot exist in a vacuum; what the Christian needs, claims Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is concrete instruction in a concrete situation. Although the author died before completing his work, this book is recognized as a major contribution to Christian ethics.

The root and ground of Christian ethics, the author says, is the reality of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. This reality is not manifest in the Church as distinct from the secular world; such a juxtaposition of two separate spheres, Bonhoeffer insists, is a denial of God's having reconciled the whole world to himself in Christ. On the contrary, God's commandment is to be found and known in the Church, the family, labor, and government. His commandment permits man to live as man before God, in a world God made, with responsibility for the institutions of that world.

Bo Giertz wrote Faith Alone in 1943. It is a prequel to his better-known novel, The Hammer of God. 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.

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.