This title offers an introduction for students and lay readers to doing theology in the Lutheran tradition. Lutheran theology found its source, and so its name in Martin Luther in the 16th century. The theology that emerged identified two essential matters for the relationship between humans and God, the law and the gospel. It made a simple but extremely unusual and controversial claim - that it was not the law that made a person right before God's final judgment, but the gospel of Christ's death on the cross for sinners. This book will lay out the implications of having all theology, and so all that can be said of God, humans and creation confessed and delivered in two parts: I, the sinner; and God, the justifier. Doing Theology introduces the major Christian traditions and their way of theological reflection. These volumes focus on the origins of a particular theological tradition, its foundations, key concepts, eminent thinkers and historical development. The series is aimed readers who want to learn more about their own theological heritage and identity: theology undergraduates, students in ministerial training and church study groups.

First published in 1983, Principles of Lutheran Theology has guided students into theological reflection on the landmarks of Christian faith as understood in the Lutheran confessional heritage for a generation. The book sets forth the main principles of classical Lutheran theology but with an eschatological accent. Canon, confession, ecumenicity, Christ-centeredness, sacrament, law/ gospel, and two kingdoms are all examined not only in terms of their original meaning and historical development but also in light of current reflections. In this new edition, Braaten takes stock of the research and reflection of the last twenty-five years and also adds a chapter on the distinctive, Archimedean Lutheran insight into the hiddenness of God as a fount or ground of all theologizing. This new edition, cross-referenced to key readings in Luther's Works and The Book of Concord, will both equip and facilitate the search for a contemporary articulation of Christian identity in light of the church's historic commitments.

This modern dogmatics text is invaluable for Lutheran pastors, teachers, professors and Christians who desire to arrive at a deeper understanding of the Lutheran confession of the faith.

The first of its kind, this book is a systematic presentation of Lutheran feminist, womanist, and mujerista theologies: systematic, in that it addresses classical loci of systematic theology; contemporary, in that it is resoundingly constructive and relevant for the contemporary church; and feminist, in that the contributors write from a feminist perspective although they reflect a variety of positions within feminist discourse. The contributors to this multi-authored work share a common commitment to Lutheran theology as a continual process of reform. Luther is a partner in the conversation because of his theological insights and commitment to faithful criticism, which the writers seek to continue, not because his voice "settles a debate." The book focuses on central themes that Luther addressed and that are representative of Lutheranism today, including justification by grace through faith and Luther's theology of the cross. From diverse contexts, these Lutheran theologians, like Luther, seek reformation by giving voice to new perspectives in theology that continue to transform the church and the world. Along with Mary J. Streufert, contributors include: Krista E. Hughes, Kathryn A. Kleinhans, Kristen E. Kvam, L. DeAne Lagerquist, Mary E. Lowe, Lois Malcolm, Anna Mercedes, Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Cheryl M. Peterson, Mary (Joy) Philip, Caryn D. Riswold, Deanna A.Thompson, Marit Trelstad, Alicia Vargas, and Beverly Wallace. "A remarkable addition to the rich history of Lutheran theology. Not only have these theologians opened doors to fresh, new worlds of Lutheran thought, they've done so in a way that honors the pastùby extending it forward. I can't wait to use Transformative Lutheran Theologies in class. I've been waiting twenty years for a text like this. Imagine teaching Luther's thought and placing it by side with these cutting-edge essays. Luther would no doubt be proudùmaybe even a bit envious."-Serene Jones, President and Roosevelt Professor of Systematic Theology, Union Theological Seminary, New York

Since the sixteenth century, the Protestant tradition has been divided. The Reformed and Lutheran reformations, though both committed to the doctrine of the sinners justification by faith alone, split over Zwingli and Luther's disagreement over the nature of the Lord's Supper. Since that time, the Reformed and Lutheran traditions have developed their own theological convictions, and continue to disagree with one another. It is incumbent upon students of the reformation, in the Lutheran and Reformed traditions, to come to an understanding of what these differences are, and why they matter. In The Great Divide: A Lutheran Evaluation of Reformed Theology, Jordan Cooper examines these differences from a Lutheran perspective. While seeking to help both sides come to a more nuanced understanding of one another, and writing in an irenic tone, Cooper contends that these differences do still matter. Throughout the work, Cooper engages with Reformed writers, both contemporary and old, and demonstrates that the Lutheran tradition is more consistent with the teachings of Scripture than the Reformed.

Carl Braaten’s memoirs tell the story of his life as a theologian, from his early years as a missionary kid in Madagascar to his years of study at the universities of Paris, Harvard, Heidelberg, and Oxford to his decades of teaching. Throughout the book, he delves into the many theological movements, controversies, and personalities that shaped his thinking and writing. Braaten’s fight for the faith is reflected in his theological work―spoken and written―that tangles with the “isms” of the surrounding culture of American religion. Because of Christ is more than simply a biography; it is a chronicle of the chief theological conflicts of the twentieth century that put the integrity of the gospel to the test.