Concordia Academic

News from the CPH Professional & Academic Book Team

Archives for December 2015

What does St. Paul’s appeal for unity in Christ mean for the church today?

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popcomm1coThe following excerpt comes from Gregory Lockwood’s Concordia Popular Commentary: 1 Corinthians. In the excerpt, Dr. Lockwood discusses St. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 about divisions in the church and their meaning for us today.

Modern Denominations

How does the tendency Paul deplores in 1 Cor 1:10–17 manifest itself in the contemporary church? In response to this question, many scholars naturally think of our denominational divisions. It is indeed true—and it cannot be stated too strongly—that wherever Christians take a chauvinistic pride in their own denomination, there Paul’s warnings and judgment must be heeded. However, we cannot simply draw a straight line from Paul’s text to the modern denominational scene without some qualifications. [Read more…] about What does St. Paul’s appeal for unity in Christ mean for the church today?

Luther on Christ’s Genealogy

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LW67The following excerpt from Luther’s Annotations on Matthew 1–18 (found in volume 67 of the American Edition of Luther’s Works) provides the reformer’s commentary on Matthew’s genealogy of Christ found in the Gospel’s first chapter. [Read more…] about Luther on Christ’s Genealogy

The Christian Year of Grace [EXCERPT]

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CoverDesign6After Martin Luther’s Postils (sermons on the appointed Bible readings of the Church Year), Johann Spangenberg’s Questions & Answers were the premier Lutheran devotional book of the Reformation era. His explanations of the chief parts of Scripture, in question-and-answer format, taught and fed countless Evangelical-Lutheran people of all ages and vocations for centuries. Now for the first time, this entire work has been translated by Matthew Carver for modern believers to be built up in their knowledge of God, faith in Christ, and love for God and neighbor.

In this excerpt, Spangenberg expands on the biblical text of Luke 2 and ponders the difficulties that the Holy Family may have faced at Christ’s birth. Thereby he reminds us that Christ, even in His birth, experienced humility and suffering for our sake, on account of which the angels rejoice. [Read more…] about The Christian Year of Grace [EXCERPT]

Luther on the Development of the Creed

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155189Luther repeatedly pointed Christians old and new to the articles of the Apostles’ Creed as the simplest, most profound statement of faith. Not only did he address the Creed in his catechisms, but it found its way into his sermons with great frequency. The following excerpt from Luther’s 1535 Trinity Sunday sermon provides the reformer’s commentary on the development of the Creed and his use of the Creed to distinguish the persons of the Trinity and their unique works. For the complete sermon, see Volume 78 of the American Edition of Luther’s Works, due to release this month.

[Read more…] about Luther on the Development of the Creed

Announcing the Release of Vol. 78 of Luther’s Works

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155189The fourth volume in Concordia’s release of Luther’s Church Postil (sermons for the church year) offers Luther’s sermons for the Epistle and Gospel readings from Trinity Sunday through the Tenth Sunday after Trinity. Part of the ongoing translation of Luther’s Works, this volume also includes Luther’s Several Beautiful Sermons on 1 John, On Love (preached in 1532 and first published in 1533).

[Read more…] about Announcing the Release of Vol. 78 of Luther’s Works

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