Confessional Lutheran Sources

‎Thanks to Ken Howe for these Confessional Lutheran Resources, especially as a locus of inquiry in relation to the English Reformation. Ken is a brother predestined before the ages, elected by His Majesty's sovereign decree, justified by Christ's imputed merits alone, a recipient of the the sovereign and unilateral judgment of mercy, and a Lutheran brother in His Majesty's grace and service. We differ at some very significant points, but not very many. Updated 22 Dec 2010. This list will grow. We would like to develop this bibliography and produce a 20-30 page digest on Confessional Lutheran thought--after all, the Germans gave us Englishmen the Gospel again in the English Reformation. Lest we forget. Thanks, Ken.

Augsburg Confession--the definitive statement of Lutheran doctrine, showing that Lutherans teach the catholic faith.

Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession--Melanchthon's expansion of the Augsburg Confession, responding to criticisms that the Roman church had raised against the former document.

Bainton, Roland H. Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2009). 441 pages.

---The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century (Boston: Beacon Press, 1959). 304 pages.

---Age of the Reformation (Krieger Publishing, 1983), 192 pages.

Concordia Triglotta--3-language edition of the Book of Concord (an English-only edition is available from CPH)

Chemnitz, Martin. Examination of the Council of Trent (Three Volumes)
---Loci Theologica
---Enchiridion
---The Lord's Supper

Elert, Werner. The Morphology of Lutheranism

Formula of Concord Epitome--the "executive summary" of the document that resolved fundamental issues within Lutheranism and responded to some Reformed contentions.

Formula of Concord Solid (or Thorough) Declaration--the full Formula of Concord. Absolute must-reads in it are the articles on free will and on the Lord's Supper.

Johann Gerhard, A Comprehensive Explanation of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Grisar, Hartmann, Luther, Martin, 1483-1546 (London : K. Paul, Trench, Trübner, 1916). 616 pages.

Krauth, Charles Porterfield. The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology.

Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians
--Small Catechism--a very simple presentation
--Large Catechism--still very much in laymen's terms, presents catechetical material in more detail
--Commentary on Romans

Marquart, Kurt. Anatomy of an Explosion

Oberman, Heiko. Luther: Man Between God and the Devil. (New York: Image Books, 1992), 363 pages.

Paulk, Wilhelm, Ed. Melancthon and Bucer: Library of Christian Classics (Westminster John Knox Press, 1981). 432 pages.

Pieper, Francis. Christian Dogmatics (Three Volumes). (St. Louis: Concordia Press).

Preus, Robert . The Theology of Post-Reformation Lutheranism
--Justification and Rome
--A Contemporary Look at the Formula of Concord

Quenstedt, J.A. The Church

Sasse, Hermann. We Confess

Schaff, Philip. Creeds of Christendom.
---A History of the Christian Church, 1517-1530, Vol. 8 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997), 774 pages.

Edmund Schlink, Theology of the Lutheran Confessions

Spitz, Lewis W. and Kenan, William R., ed. The Protestant Reformation: Major Documents (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Press, 1997). Pages 36-76 (40 pages). Includes the Preface to the Book of Romans, Ninety-five Theses, Appeal to the Ruling Class of German Nationality, Treatise on Christian Liberty, and Melancthon’s Funeral Oration over Luther.

Sheldon, Henry. History of the Christian Church, Vol.3 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), pp. 45-119. (74 pages).

Smalcald Articles--a more forceful statement; Melanchthon had been polite in the Augsburg Confession. Luther, in the Smalcald Articles, wasn't so polite.

Raymond Surburg, Principles of Biblical Interpretation

Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope--the definitive piece on Lutheran ecclesiology

Walther, Carl F.W. Walther, Church and Ministry
---Law and Gospel