Concordia Theology

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“And they will all be taught of God”: Martin Luther’s Biblical Translation at 500
It is now 500 years since Luther’s translation of the New Testament first appeared. It is no exaggeration or hyperbole to praise Luther’s German Bible as not only one of the most important works in the German language but also as one of the great literary achievements of Western history. It is well known that ..
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Who Has Ever Even Heard of the Missouri Synod?
Paul Raabe reflects on the label “Lutheran” and how, in some contexts, it does not communicate to most Americans. We need to be able to explain ourselves to outsiders in ways intelligible to them. Maybe a church sign should say: “A Gospel-Baptism-Lord’s Supper-Bible-Creedal-Liturgical Church - Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.” These descriptions are the markers of our church body
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Pious Nonsense: “The Ancient Name of God Is the Sound of Our Breathing”
I’m writing this post for two reasons. First and generally, it is simply not helpful when Christians pass along claims about what something in the Bible “really means” when those claims are based on faulty or inaccurate information. Truth matters, and good information is important. Christians should avoid saying things that are inaccurate, if for ..

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ICYMI: The Rites of Faith Formation

Kent Burreson’s latest thoughts on faith formation, the adult catechumenate, and congregational education

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Jeffrey Gibbs, “Christ is Risen, Indeed”

Browse the interactive version above, download here as a pdf, or purchase print copies at the online store. About “Christ Is Risen, Indeed: Good News for Him and for Us,” Jeff Gibbs writes: Good Friday and Easter (along with Ascension and Pentecost) go together, one event, in a sense. Different New Testament texts invite us ..

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Conversations in Preaching: A New Book Series

We are delighted to announce that Concordia Seminary Press has launched a new series on homiletics entitled “Conversations in Preaching.” Dr. David Schmitt, the series editor and the seminary’s Gregg H. Benidt Endowed Memorial Professor in Homiletics and Literature, writes in the introduction: “The Conversations in Preaching series is an opportunity for preachers to reflect ..

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When Talking with Non-Lutherans

(Editors Note: Paul R. Raabe is Professor Emeritus at Concordia Seminary and Professor in Biblical Studies at Grand Canyon University) Someone asked me how to talk with non-Lutherans. That is a good question. Here are some thoughts for the readers of ConcordiaTheology.org to consider. On a daily basis I chat with Christians who are non-Lutheran. ..

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Concordia Journal Summer 2021

Browse the interactive version above or download this issue as a pdf. The full catalog of back issues of the Concordia Journal (1975-present), along with the indexed volumes of its predecessor Concordia Theological Monthly (1949-1974), are available online at AtlaSerials® (Atlas®). Atlas is an online full-text collection of major religion and theology journals used by ..

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REVIEW: REDEEMING TRANSCENDENCE IN THE ARTS, by Jeremy Begbie

Editor’s note: this review originally appeared in the Winter 2020 issue of the Concordia Journal. We reprint it here in anticipation of this year’s Theological Symposium, “Whatever is Lovely”: The Role of Beauty in Theology and Ministry, September 21-22, 2021. For more information and to register, go to https://www.csl.edu/resources/continuing-education/theological-symposium/. REDEEMING TRANSCENDENCE IN THE ARTS: Bearing ..