Friday, January 3, 2020
Essential Books for Lutherans
Lutheran Librarian print books are found here.
Lutheran Library ebooks are found here.
A large collection of free Lutheran books and sources can be found on this Ichabod the Glory link.
Luther’s Sermons, Lenker Edition, can be navigated here on Ichabod the Glory.
The links for live and saved Ustream worship services and educational programs are found here.
Someone asked me for a list of best books to read in theology. This is what comes to mind.
Luther’s Sermons, Lenker edition, for regular reading, one per week at the least.
Luther’s Galatians Lectures. The editors of the Book of Concord recommended it. Those OJists who have not studied it should be “deprived of food, driven out of town, baited with dogs, and pelted with manure.” (Luther, Large Catechism)
Luther’s Large Catechism. There is no evidence that anyone in the Synodical Conference has read this, let alone studied it.
Melanchthon’s Apology of the Augsburg Confession. The section elaborating Justification by Faith is an example of clarity and Biblical eloquence.
Chemnitz’ Examination of Council of Trent. For those who want to become theologians, this is perfect for content and for learning his method.
Augustine is rather difficult, but a good introduction to his work is his Confessions. The City of God is more of an encyclopedia, but worth having and looking into.
John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress should be read, heard, studied, enjoyed. He loved Luther’s Galatians, so I would put him above the entire Synodical Conference in doctrinal discernment.
- Print Edition – Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress
- Free Online edition – Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress
Henry Eyster Jacobs, A Summary of the Christian Faith. He teaches Biblical, Lutheran doctrine with clarity and genuine Biblical references.
- Print Edition – Jacobs’ Summary of the Christian Faith
- Free Online edition – Jacobs’ Summary of the Christian Faith
- Free Online edition – Krauth/Jacobs’ Book of Concord
Krauth, The Conservative Reformation. His barbs against false teachers are almost equal to Luther’s.
- Free Online edition – Krauth/Jacobs’ Book of Concord
- Free Online edition – Biography of Krauth, by Beale Melanchthon Schmucker (note the middle and last names)
Theodore Schmauk,The Confessional Principle. He was the last, lost voice of the Muhlenberg tradition (General Synod, General Council) – teaching against compromise with the Calvinists.
- Print edition – Schmauk’s The Confessional Principle
- Free Online edition – Schmauk’s The Confessional Principle
Matthias Loy’s Doctrine of Justification is a clearly written treatment of the subject.
- Print edition – Loy’s The Doctrine of Justification
- Free Online edition – Loy’s The Doctrine of Justification
- Free Online edition – The Story of My Life – By Matthias Loy
The Error of Modern Missouri is an excellent, but lengthy treatment of Walther’s effort to inject even more Calvinism into the Synodical Conference.
Lenski’s Commentaries are so good, ELCA will not let them go. WELS always says, “Lenski is not good on Justification,” which means – “He teaches Justification by Faith, which we attack and abhor at every opportunity.”
