For Luther, God’s action in creation, redemption, sanctification, justification, and prayer are inseparably tied together. The reformer develops his insights throughout his several different explanations of the Lord’s Prayer. This book shows what types of changes took place in Luther’s explanations before reaching the present form in the catechisms.

The German Edition of Commentary on Luther’s Catechisms by Albrecht Peters has long been the gold standard of research on the catechetical texts of the great reformer. This volume looks at Luther’s understanding of the Decalogue and its structure and arrangement, with commentary on each individual commandment.

Luther brings to light the important message of this often neglected portion of the New Testament for the church today. Emphasizes the eternal hope of the believer along with a call to radical Christian living. This volume is invaluable to those seeking a closer walk with Christ, as well as to the pastor or teacher seeking unique insights into God’s Word.

Summer Institute of Theology 2021

Textbook for First and Second Peter course taught by Pr. Gary Jorgenson.

Luther's most famous exposition of the epistle he loved most. This classic commentary is significant not only for its Biblical insights but also for its historical perspective. A valuable introduction to the study of Luther's own spiritual pilgrimage and the roots of the Reformation. Practical and easy to read, translated by J. T. Mueller.

Readers of the New Testament often encounter quotes or allusions to Old Testament stories and prophecies that are unfamiliar or obscure. In order to fully understand the teachings of Jesus and his followers, it is important to understand the large body of Scripture that preceded and informed their thinking. Leading evangelical scholars G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson have brought together a distinguished team to provide readers with a comprehensive commentary on Old Testament quotations, allusions, and echoes that appear from Matthew through Revelation.

Spring '25
Recommended FLS textbook for Hebrews/Unity of the Testaments course taught by Dr. Jarrod Hylden, Professor of New Testament.

Easily transportable. It can easily fit in a briefcase, purse, or glove department. Size: 5" x 7.25", 7.5-point type.

Do you ever wonder what the difference is between one denomination and another? Why are there so many kinds of Baptist or Presbyterian or Lutheran churches? Where do those names come from, anyway?

You can find answers in this concise but comprehensive guide. Learn about the leaders, teachings, and history of most of the church families in America. In addition to membership statistics, you'll find...

• a brief explanation of how the denomination began
• a short summary of its teaching on God, the Bible, the church, and other important topics
• a quick overview of some of its distinctive characteristics

Whether you're looking for a new church or enriching your fellowship with believers from other traditions, you'll be much better prepared with this revised and expanded edition of The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations.

Spring '24
Required FLS textbook for Comparative Symbolics course taught by Pr. Steven Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Dr. Maier tracks the leading men of Israel in the theological history of Kings in his Concordia Commentary on 1 Kings 1-11.

Dr. Maier continues his work on 1 Kings by following the leaders of Israel through the ebbs and flows of their faithfulness in his Concordia Commentary on 1 Kings 12-22.

As David from Bethlehem is anointed to be king of Israel, we are given a Christological type foreshadowing Jesus' ministry and sacrifice.

These epistles represent the singular voice of an extraordinary theologian. John, the last living apostle, writes to his "children." For decades he has served as the elder father of the house churches of Asia Minor, but during his exile, false teaching has persuaded some to abandon the faith and the life of the community of the beloved. At least one church's leader has presumed to advance his own teaching at the expense of the apostle's instruction. Knowing that his days are numbered, John sends a general epistle, 1 John, together with its introductory cover letter, 2 John. In order to address the errant leader's conduct, he also sends a situation-specific, personal and pastoral addendum, 3 John. Rallying the faithful so that none would be lost to the ongoing threat of deception, John urges his children to confess by the Spirit in this last hour the man Jesus as the Son of the Father, come in the flesh in truth and love. The fulfillment of God's historic dealings with his people of old is Jesus' atoning sacrifice of himself. Through his shed blood, a cleansing flood, God confers the life of the age to come.

These two concise epistles confess a rich theology of the end times. They warn against libertine heretics who condone promiscuity as an acceptable expression of the Christian life, and who scoff at Christ’s second coming because of his apparent delay. These inspired books of Scripture recall OT events such as the fallen angels’ rebellion, the sexual abomination and destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Balaam’s seduction of Israel. God’s earlier acts of judgment and salvation guarantee that he will indeed act again. Christ will return, destroy the present corrupted world, raise all baptized believers, and bring them into the new creation characterized by righteousness. The final day is also the time of severe judgment against the false teachers. This message about the downfall of evildoers provides Gospel comfort to the church, which will be vindicated.

Building off his monumental commentary on 1 Samuel, Steinmann continues his work on this single Hebrew book with Concordia Commentary: 2 Samuel.

This prophet is often interpreted as a manifesto for social justice, political activism, and economic change. But Dr. Lessing expounds Amos as a book that proclaims God’s Law and his Gospel in Jesus Christ. The prophet condemns propensities that all sinners have. He preaches justification by grace alone, and righteousness through faith alone. Yahweh roars from Zion as a Lion (1:2; 3:4, 8, 12; 5:19) to terrify and console. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah who died and is alive forevermore (Rev 1:18; 5:5). The roar in Amos awakens people from apathetic slumber and judges dishonest business dealings, abuse of the poor, idolatry, and immorality. Yahweh sends fires and earthquakes, locusts and drought, and a nation bent on destroying Israel in his fury against those whom he calls “my people” (e.g., Amos 7:15; 8:2; 9:10). Yet in the last oracle he promises to resurrect the tabernacle of David and restore a remnant gathered from both Israel and the Gentiles that shall live in the abundance of the new creation forever (9:11–15). These promises point to the feast Jesus instituted in Holy Communion, in which the baptized are forgiven of all their sins and celebrate that death has been swallowed up in victory (Is 25:6–9; 1 Cor 15:54).

The rhetorical method of this commentary highlights that Amos is a master at Hebrew poetry—radical, subversive, affrontive. Key excursuses include “Amos’ Use of Earlier Biblical Texts,” “The Church’s Response to Ethical Issues,” “The Relationship between the Prophets and Israel’s Worship,” “The Quotation from Amos 9 in Acts 15,” and “Preaching Like Amos.”

Spring '23
Required FLS textbook for Minor Prophets course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Minor Prophets course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

The letter to the Colossians is rich in Christology, to which all the articles of faith are intimately connected. One might even argue that Colossians possesses the most profound Christology in all the New Testament. A true, biblical Christology, centered in the cross and the empty tomb, gives life and meaning to all theology.

Colossians has much to say about the doctrine of creation. Moreover, the letter relates its teaching on creation directly to its Christology. In this way Colossians unites the presupposition of all theology (creation) with the heart and center of all theology (Christology). Colossians is also strongly eschatological. The eschatology of the letter extends beyond those verses that speak of the life to come, for its message is constantly given with an eye on eternity. The true doctrine of Christ, who is the exalted Lord over the entire creation, refutes the false christologies that were circulating in Colossae, variations of which continue to compete against the true Gospel in the world today.

For all of those reasons, Colossians is a rich source of Christian theology that contributes a number of unique insights to the church’s faith and life.

Spring '26
Required FLBC textbook for Captivity Epistles course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Fall '24
Required FLS textbook for Captivity Epistles course taught by Dr. Jarrod Hylden, Professor of New Testament.

Fall '22
Required FLS textbook for Captivity Epistles course taught by Dr. Jerry Moan, Professor of New Testament.

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Captivity Epistles course taught by Dr. Jerry Moan, Professor of New Testament.

Fall '18
Required FLS textbook for Captivity Epistles course, taught by Dr. Nathan Olson.

The Concordia Commentary series serves as a Lutheran standard for exegetic and systematic soundness. In walking through the text verse by verse, it first analyzes the syntax of the original language, followed by a Lutheran commentary on the passage. It is a relatively new commentary series and not every volume has been completed yet, but it is certainly worth starting to add to your library.
—Dr. Nathan Olson

Dr. Steinman interprets the history, visions, and narrative of Daniel in this Concordia Commentary.

Dr. Adolph L. Harstad provides an original translation and explanation of the Book of Deuteronomy and the final three sermons of Moses within.

Dr. Bollhagen works through the laments and hopes of Solomon and shares the childlike faith encouraged by the text in this Concordia Commentary on Ecclesiastes.

Ephesians is a veritable compendium of St. Paul’s theology and a candidate for his most influential epistle. In it we learn of the reconciliation of the cosmos and our eternal election in Christ, as well as:

• Salvation by grace through faith apart from works
• The mystery of salvation also for the Gentiles
• One Lord, one faith, one Baptism
• The divine gift of the Holy Ministry
• The Church as Christ’s bride and body
• The Christological meaning of marriage
• The resplendent armor of God.

We today, no less than the Ephesians recently converted from their pagan lifestyle, need to appropriate these teachings because of the spiritual peril of the environment in which we live. Dr. Winger’s commentary unfolds the mysteries of the Gospel by his meticulous analysis of the Greek text and his reverent exposition of the epistle’s proclamation of Christ and His gifts for the sake of His Church.

Spring '26
Required FLBC textbook for Captivity Epistles course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Fall '22
Required FLS textbook for Captivity Epistles course taught by Dr. Jerry Moan, Professor of New Testament.

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Captivity Epistles course taught by Dr. Jerry Moan, Professor of New Testament.

Fall '18
Required FLS textbook for Captivity Epistles course, taught by Dr. Nathan Olson.

The Concordia Commentary series serves as a Lutheran standard for exegetic and systematic soundness. In walking through the text verse by verse, it first analyzes the syntax of the original language, followed by a Lutheran commentary on the passage. It is a relatively new commentary series and not every volume has been completed yet, but it is certainly worth starting to add to your library.
—Dr. Nathan Olson

This scholarly commentary covers the first eighteen chapters of the biblical book of Exodus. This book is foundational for the message of both the Old and New Testaments as it presents the paradigm of God's redemption of his people from slavery. The author affirms the Mosaic authorship and historicity of the narrative. He devotes careful attention to the Hebrew text and ancient versions, translation theory, literary structure, inner-biblical exegesis, and the history of interpretation in both Jewish and Christian traditions, with excursuses on prominent themes, including doctrinal and ethical issues. He expounds the book's theological message of salvation by grace alone that culminates in Jesus Christ

Ezekiel contains some of Scripture's most mysterious visions and oracles. This book explains the first 20 chapters in light of its fulfillment in Christ for the benefit of the Church.

This commentary expounds upon the later chapters of Ezekiel according to the book's classic prophetic outline.

Dr. Steinman pairs Ezra and Nehemiah together in his Concordia Commentary.

Paul's fiercely passionate letter to the Galatians offers a rare glimpse into the early history of the emerging Christ-believing movement. Paul is seething with righteous indignation over the events at Galatia even as he conveys his hope that the Galatians might be coaxed back to the true Gospel.

The Galatians' young faith was grappling with issues that would prove to be a watershed. Do gentile Christians need to adopt Moses’ Law and be circumcised as Jews in order to worship the God of the Jewish Savior? Or does Baptism incorporate every manner of person—without distinction—into Christ? Does faith alone suffice for salvation? Across the divide of two thousand years of time and cultural space, the letter to the Galatians is an authoritative witness to the catholic Gospel of salvation by grace alone, for all people alike.

Spring '24
Required FLS textbook for Romans and Galatians course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.
You will need either this or Concordia Commentary: Romans 1-8 or Concordia Commentary: Romans 9-16.

Spring '22
Required FLS textbook for Romans and Galatians course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Fall '19
Required FLS textbook for Galatians course taught by Dr. Phil Haugen.

The Book of Hebrews is one of encouragement, hope, and confidence. Jesus Christ is shown to be our great High Priest, the greater Moses, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies, the sacrifice for the world’s sins. By faith, we, like those listed in the well-known passage in chapter 11, place our hope in God.

This commentary is built on the common agreement that this book is a written sermon by an unknown speaker. John Kleinig, the author of this Concordia Commentary, proposes an interpretation of the text that uses a new kind of liturgical rhetoric, a new method of discourse analysis, and a new consideration of the context and purpose of the homily.

Spring '25
Recommended FLS textbook for Hebrews/Unity of the Testaments course taught by Dr. Jarrod Hylden, Professor of New Testament.

Spring '23
Required FLS textbook for Hebrews/Unity of the Testaments course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Spring '21
Required FLS textbook for Hebrews course taught by Dr. Phil Haugen, Professor of New Testament.

Spring '19
Required FLS textbook for Hebrews/James course taught by Dr. Phil Haugen, Professor of New Testament.

This series from Concordia Publishing weaves together NIV text with in-depth commentary to enrich your understanding of the Bible.

Fall '21
Required FLS textbook for Corinthian Epistles course taught by Dr. Phil Haugen.

Spring '19

Required AFLTS textbook for Corinthian Epistles course taught by Dr. Phil Haugen, Professor of New Testament.

This scholarly commentary on Isaiah 1-12 begins with an introduction that discusses the literary structure and message. For each passage it provides an original translation, textual notes that analyze lexical and grammatical issues in the Hebrew text and ancient versions, followed by historical and theological commentary. Each section explains how the passage relates to the rest of Isaiah 1-66 and concludes with theological reflections on the interconnections within Scripture as a whole. The author interacts with the full range of biblical scholarship. The prophet Isaiah was inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak the Word of God, relevant for the people of God throughout the centuries for contemporary reflection and application. Isaiah 1-12 focuses on Immanuel, "God with us," the Word now become flesh in Jesus Christ.

Fall ’25
Required FLS textbook for Major Prophets course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Isaiah 13–27 includes ten prophetic burdens on nations surrounding Israel and an extended prophetic discourse of universal judgment and salvation. This commentary expounds their historical context, fulfillment in Jesus Christ, relevance for the church, and consummation at the return of Christ.

Isaiah, it has been said, is the Old Testament evangelist par-excellence. While every book in the Old Testament points to Christ as the fulfilment in the New Testament, few do so as overtly or as insistently at the book of Isaiah. The text became a framework for Christology, ecclesiology, and missiology in the early church, and along with the Psalms it remains most quoted scripture in the New Testament.

In this volume on chapters 40-55, Dr. Lessing’s scholarly expertise and decades of service as a seminary professor and pastor are evident as he meticulously expounds the text, historical setting, theology, Christology, and pastoral applications of the 40-55^th chapters of “the fifth Gospel.” Using a faithful, Christo-centric hermeneutic, he focuses on the Isaiah’s visions of “shalom” and Israel’s peaceful homecoming from the Babylonian exile and explains why the prophet’s saving message, soaring language, and unforgettable imagery are so tightly woven into the fabric of Christian hymnody, liturgy, and prayer. He also features the four “servant songs,” espousing the traditional interpretation that they sing of Christ and addressing alternatives that have emerged in recent academia.

Essays

• The Literary, Historical, and Canonical Context of Isaiah
• A History of Studies on Isaiah
• The Servant Songs in Isaiah

Fall '25
Required FLS textbook for Major Prophets course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Spring '24
Required FLS textbook for Major Prophets course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Spring '22

Required FLS textbook for Major Prophets course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Isaiah 56–66 is the culmination of the prophet’s message condemning humanity’s sin and promising the Suffering Servant.