Lives and Writings of the Great Fathers of the Lutheran Church

by Concordia Publishing House, Timothy Schmeling (Editor), Robert Kolb (Editor)

The wisdom and biblical teaching of the early Lutheran Church has been locked away in German and Latin for centuries. A key to this locked treasure, Lives & Writings of the Great Fathers of the Lutheran Church is a handbook that introduces the chief confessional Lutheran theologians from the era of Lutheran Orthodoxy (1580–1700). Short biographical sketches reveal the little-known life stories of these pastors and theologians, while selections of many of their best writings are presented in first-time English translations. Each chapter also lists all English translations of their work, along with their greatest writings in the original languages. “This volume is offered as a means for familiarizing readers with a too-often neglected, if not maligned, period in the history of God’s people and perhaps also to entice some into moving into the deeper waters just described. Taking these fellow believers as conversation partners cannot help but deepen and expand our knowledge of how the Christian faith has come to us as we experience it in our time.” —Robert Kolb, Introduction

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2016

Reviews

[Michael Heidle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical insights and inspiration

I first obtained this book not just because I buy every CPH book (!) but because i realized I knew less about the Lutheran age of orthodoxy than any other era in Christian history and wanted to supplement my understanding of the Lutheran fathers. Not was I in for insight and inspiration!! Having completed this book I count it nothing less than the very hand of God that allowed confessional Lutheranism to survive the plague and the devastation of the Thirty Years War!! Imaging restoring a flock during the plague and conducting an average of twenty to thirty funerals per day!! The selections of writings was even more impressive than the histories of these respected pastors and hymnists!
I highly recommend this book to everyone who needs a thorough lesson (like me) in the age of Lutheran orthodoxy, but also to anyone who thinks they know this era quite well (I definitely plan to read this again in the future) as a review!
My hope is that a similar work may be produced to exhibit confessional Lutheranism's survival of Pietism and Rationalism!!

[Scot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a week long intensive at Concordia Seminary on ‘Lutheranism in the Era of Orthodoxy’. Unfortunately I had to read some of the sections very quickly due to time constraints and class schedule but this was a great book.

I hope to return to this book in the future and reread this compendium.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief biography of many of the leading Lutheran theologians in the 16th and 17th centuries with excerpts from their writings-- I must say that I had not heard of some of these but now am intrigued in learning Latin and/or German so I can better engage with their works. A great little volume.

[Seth Kasten · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an introduction to some of the greatest figures of Lutheran orthodoxy and getting a taste of their writings, this is a top notch volume. Excellent scholarship and much needed for the Lutheran landscape today.