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Products>Confessing the Gospel: A Lutheran Approach to Systematic Theology, vols. 1 & 2

Confessing the Gospel: A Lutheran Approach to Systematic Theology, vols. 1 & 2

Publisher:
, 2017
ISBN: 9780758651860
(2)
Logos Editions are fully connected to your library and Bible study tools.

$94.99

Overview

Confessing the Gospel: A Lutheran Approach to Systematic Theology is the culmination of a project that began over three decades ago to present the gospel taught in Scripture and confessed in the Lutheran Confessions in light of ecclesiastical developments of both the past and the present.

The first dogmatics published by the Missouri Synod in nearly a century, this book seeks to demonstrate this Lutheran approach to confessing the gospel not only with respect to its content, but also with respect to the method of its presentation. Each chapter in this two-volume set is structured around five building blocks—scriptural foundation, confessional witness, systematic formulation, historical and contemporary developments, and implications for life and ministry.

Resource Experts

Key Features

  • Explains the gospel as taugh in Lutheran Confessions and Scripture in a comprehensive manner
  • Discusses a wide variety of dogmatic topics through a system of building blocks
  • Features contributions from more than 50 Lutheran theologians

Contents

  • Volume One
    • Prolegomena
    • God
    • Creation
    • Anthropology
    • The Person of Christ
    • The Work of Christ
    • The Holy Spirit
  • Volume Two
    • Holy Scripture
    • Holy Baptism
    • The Lord’s Supper
    • The Church
    • The Ministry
    • Christian Life
    • Last Things
    • Election

Top Highlights

“Theology is the church’s sanctified, disciplined reflection on and articulation of the gospel (justificatio sola gratia, propter solum Christum, per solam fidem), in ‘teaching and in all the articles of the faith’ (FC SD XI, 31); arising in faithful response to the Word of God; for purposes of proclamation, confession, catechesis, liturgy, and diakonia. Such theology is to be drawn from and normed by the inspired Holy Scripture (sola Scriptura as norma normans), stated in conformity with the church’s confessions (as norma normata), attentive and sensitive to the tradition of the church catholic, and expressed in language appropriate to the total milieu to which the kerygma is addressed.” (Page 1)

“The Pentateuch, Prophets, and poetical and historical writings implicitly develop three recurring sets of contrasts. Each set suggests a tension that is only resolved in the New Testament. They are (1) the tension between transcendence and immanence; (2) the tension between the holy judgment upon sin and the compassionate forgiveness of sin and sinners; and (3) the tension between God as the ‘God of Israel’ and the God of all.” (Page 49)

“Conversion does not depend on the degree of one’s contrition nor on the strength of one’s faith. Even a weak faith, a longing for the grace of God in Christ, is saving faith and evidence of conversion. Indeed, it is not the strength of faith that saves but the certainty of God’s promises (Ps 31:21–22; Isa 1:18–19).” (Page 558)

“According to Holy Scripture, there is only one way: by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. Through the good news announced in the gospel and imparted in the sacraments, the Holy Spirit does for sinners what they cannot do for themselves: he awakens them from spiritual death, illumines their understanding, changes their will, turns them to Christ in faith, and through that faith justifies them and makes them children of God and heirs of all the treasures promised in the gospel.” (Page 519)

Primary Loci Contributors

  • David A. Lumpp
  • John F. Johnson
  • William C. Weinrich
  • Jerrold A. Eickmann
  • Jerald C. Joersz
  • Thomas E. Manteufel
  • Daniel L. Mattson
  • Joel P. Okamoto
  • Gottfried Hoffmann
  • Henry A. Hamann
  • Howard W. Tepker
  • Samuel H. Nafzger
  • Robert A. Kolb
  • J.A.O. Preus III
  • Eugene F. Klug
  • William J. Schmelder
  • Jobst Schöne
  • Milton L. Rudnick
  • Martim C. Warth
  • Edward G. Kettner
  • Paul R. Raabe

Sample Pages from the Print Edition

Reviews

2 ratings

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  1. Glenn Crouch

    Glenn Crouch

    11/26/2018

    I was quite pleased to see a decent sized Lutheran Systematic Theology being released, and even more pleased now that I have completed reading it. Whilst it is most definitely Lutheran, I would point out that it is Missouri Synod Lutheran - which of course has differences from other Lutheran Synods, including my own Lutheran Church of Australia. However, these 2 volumes have been designed so that they are both easy to read (as I did from cover-to-cover) and also good reference works. Each major topic is examined for both Old Testament and New Testament foundations - and then a close examinations through the Creeds and Confessions of the Lutheran Church (ie Book of Concord). I found this especially rewarding! A Systematic Analysis then follows - which is then followed by a Historical look (Church Fathers / Medieval / Reformation / 17th - 19th / 20th Century). Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the Historical look - sometimes it was a bit too brief as most of the topics could easily fill a good book when it comes to how it has been viewed throughout Church History - and though the footnotes are good, further reading suggestions would be good - in fact a nice bibliography for each topic would be a great addition for the next edition ;-) Personally I though the Topic on Election was very well done (given my Lutheran bias of course) - however I thought other issues like Ordination of Women whilst discussed, weren't really dealt with well. Similarly Young Earth Creationism is presented as the only option for interpreting Scripture - with a Naturalistic Evolutionary approach seen as the only alternative - which I found a bit disappointing (as someone much more comfortable with Old Earth Creationism). This was a good read, and a valued addition to my library!
    Reply
  2. Rev. Robert Sundquist

$94.99