In a time marked by confusion and change, the pathway to salvation for the Galatians seemed unclear. While the false teachers contended for circumcision and obedience to the law as necessary for justification before God, Paul presented the truth of the gospel and redrew the lines of salvation around the cross of Jesus Christ.

In this addition to the New Testament Theology series, scholar Thomas R. Schreiner addresses the conflict between Paul and his opponents in Galatia, examines the gospel itself, and shows what it looks like to live out the truth of the gospel in the new era. After examining the dominant biblical-theological themes of Galatians, readers will be reminded of the gift of grace Christ offers through his death on the cross―the only possible path to salvation and true unity among believers.

Spring '26
Required FLS textbook for Romans & Galatians course taught by Dr. Jarrod Hylden, Professor of New Testament.

The church’s worship has always been shaped by its understanding of the Gospel. Rich in theory and application, this book connects us to worship history and helps us think more clearly about what we communicate in the context of worship, promoting both confessional orthodoxy and vital piety.

Fall '25
Required FLBC textbook for Theology of Worship course, taught by Dr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Fall '24
Required FLBC textbook for Theology of Worship course, taught by Dr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

The Christian Difference details the basic history, personalities, and beliefs of the world's major religions:

• Judaism
• Islam
• Mormonism
• Jehovah's Witnesses
• Scientology
• Skepticism
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Confucianism
• Shintoism
• Sikhism.

Each of these religions is compared with Christianity, providing ideas for how to talk to neighbors, family members, fellow students, or co-workers who follow one or another of these beliefs. Each chapter was written by an expert author with a deep interest or experience with the specific religion, written with the intent to give you common ground for you to share your faith in Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ reaches out meaningfully to all who are hurting, suffering, and oppressed, giving them endurance and confidence to live in the present and hope for the future. All because Jesus Christ is different. That is the Christian difference.

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

Spring '25
Required FLBC textbook for Comparative Religions course, taught by Dr. Jason Gudim, Professor of Practical and Systematic Theology.

A classic handbook of doctrinal theology by J. T. Mueller based on Francis Pieper's Christliche Dogmatik. Presents the voluminous material in Pieper's work in a clear, concise, complete, and practical manner for use of theology students.

Spring '26
Required FLS textbook for Christ & Man course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.
Required FLS textbook for Introduction to Lutheran Thought course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.
You will need either this or Christian Dogmatics - Pieper.

Spring '25
Required FLS textbook for Introduction to Lutheran Thought course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.
You will need either this or Christian Dogmatics - Pieper.

Fall '24
Required FLS textbook for Soteriology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

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

Fall '23
Required FLS textbook for Theology and Anthropology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Spring '23
Required FLS textbook for Ecclesiology & Eschatology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.
You will need either this or Christian Dogmatics - Pieper.

Fall '22
Required FLS textbook for Soteriology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.
You will need either this or Christian Dogmatics - Pieper.

Spring '22
Required FLS textbook for Christology and Pneumatology course taught by Pr. Steven Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Fall '21
Required FLS textbook for Theology and Anthropology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Basic Principles of Theology/Doctrine of the Word course taught by Dr. Wade Mobley, President of FLBCS.
Required FLS textbook for Soteriology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology.

Spring '20
Required FLS textbook for Christology/Pneumatology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology.

What does the Bible teach about how to live in today’s world?

Best-selling author and professor Wayne Grudem distills over forty years of teaching experience into a single volume aimed at helping readers apply a biblical worldview to difficult ethical issues, including wealth and poverty, marriage and divorce, birth control, abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, business practices, environmental stewardship, telling the truth, knowing God’s will, understanding Old Testament laws, and more.

Fall '25
Required FLS textbook for Christian Ethics course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Fall '23
Required FLS textbook for Christian Ethics course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Fall '21
Required FLS textbook for Christian Ethics course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson.

Summer Institute of Theology 2021

Textbook for Ethics and the Followers of Christ course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson.

A deeper understanding of the grand history of mission leads to a faithful expression of God's mission today.

From the beginning, God's mission has been carried out by people sent around the world. From Abraham to Jesus, the thread that weaves its way throughout Scripture is a God who sends his people across the world, proclaiming his kingdom. As the world has evolved, Christian mission continues to be a foundational tradition in the church.

In this one-volume textbook, Edward Smither weaves together a comprehensive history of Christian mission, from the apostles to the modern church. In each era, he focuses on the people sent by God to the ends of the earth, while also describing the cultural context they encountered. Smither highlights the continuity and development across thousands of years of global mission.

Fall '25
Required FLBC textbook for History of Mission course, taught by Pr. Andrew Kneeland.

Fall '24
Required FLBC textbook for History of Mission course, taught by Pr. Andrew Kneeland.

This final volume of the People's Bible Teachings series explores Christian worship practices and the biblical principles that guide them. Pastor Johnold J. Strey uses the wisdom of God's Word to explain the guidelines for worship, the significance of each part of the church service, the church year, symbolism, and even more. Once you read this book, you'll never look at your weekly worship service the same way again!

Written by experienced pastors and professors, the People's Bible Teachings series covers the main, essential teachings of the Bible and offers practical applications for the Christian life. These topical books are written especially for Christians looking to further their study of God's Word, clarify their understanding of the faith, or discover what God says about controversial topics.

Fall '25
Recommended FLBC textbook for Theology of Worship course, taught by Dr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Fall '24
Recommended FLBC textbook for Theology of Worship course, taught by Dr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

The doctrine of theosis has enjoyed a recent resurgence among varied theological traditions across the realms of historical, dogmatic, and exegetical theology. In Christification: A Lutheran Approach to Theosis, Jordan Cooper evaluates this teaching from a Lutheran perspective. He examines the teachings of the church fathers, the New Testament, and the Lutheran Confessional tradition in conversation with recent scholarship on theosis. Cooper proposes that the participationist soteriology of the early fathers expressed in terms of theosis is compatible with Luther's doctrine of forensic justification. The historic Lutheran tradition, Scripture, and the patristic sources do not limit soteriological discussions to legal terminology, but instead offer a multifaceted doctrine of salvation that encapsulates both participatory and forensic motifs. This is compared and contrasted with the development of the doctrine of deification in the Eastern tradition arising from the thought of Pseudo-Dionysius. Cooper argues that the doctrine of the earliest fathers--such as Irenaeus, Athanasius, and Justin--is primarily a Christological and economic reality defined as "Christification." This model of theosis is placed in contradistinction to later Neoplatonic forms of deification.

Fall '25
Required FLS textbook for Christian Ethics course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Fall '23
Required FLS textbook for Christian Ethics course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Bruce Shelley's classic history of the church brings the story of global Christianity into the twenty-first century. Like a skilled screenwriter, Shelley begins each chapter with three elements: characters, setting, plot. Taking readers from the early centuries of the church up through the modern era he tells his readers a story of actual people, in a particular situation, taking action or being acted upon, provides a window into the circumstances and historical context, and from there develops the story of a major period or theme of Christian history. Covering recent events, this book also:

• Details the rapid growth of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity in the southern hemisphere
• Addresses the decline in traditional mainline denominations
• Examines the influence of technology on the spread of the gospel
• Discusses how Christianity intersects with other religions in countries all over the world

For this fifth edition, Marshall Shelley brought together a team of historians, historical theologians, and editors to revise and update this father's classic text. The new edition adds important stories of the development of Christianity in Asia, India, and Africa, both in the early church as well as in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It also highlights the stories of women and non-Europeans who significantly influenced the development of Christianity but whose contributions are often overlooked in previous overviews of church history.

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

Spring '23
Required FLBC textbook for History of Christianity course, taught by Pr. Steven Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Spring '22
Required FLBC textbook for Church History course, taught by Pr. Steven Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Spring '21
Required FLBC textbook for History of Christianity II course, taught by Pr. Robert Lee, Professor of Historical and Practical Theology.

Fall ’20
Required FLBC textbook for History of Christianity I course, taught by Pr. Robert Lee, Professor of Historical and Practical Theology.

Spring '20
Required FLBC textbook for History of Christianity: Reformation to the 21st Century course, taught by Pr. Robert Lee, Professor of Historical and Practical Theology.

With more than 60 years of ministry between them, Harold Senkbeil and Lucas Woodford have come to understand that everything in ministry―even administration, leadership, and planning―revolves around the ancient tradition of the care of souls. Pastors are entrusted with the care of a flock by the Good Shepherd and are called to be faithful to this task. But pastoring seems to be getting more and more difficult. Based on a sound theological framework, Senkbeil and Woodford present a set of practical tools for church leadership and strategy. Calling on their vast experience, they encourage pastors to protect, guide and feed their flock as Jesus would, bridging the eternal wisdom of the word of God with the everyday practicality of hands-on leadership.

An updated edition is available under the title Pastoral Leadership: For the Care of Souls.

Spring '22

Required FLS textbook for Discipleship and Servant Leadership course taught by Dr. Wade Mobley, and Dr. James Molstre.

Summer Institute of Theology 2020

Textbook for Christian Leadership and Strategy for the Care of Souls course taught by Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford.

Spring '20

Required FLS textbook for Discipleship/Leadership course taught by Pr. Wade Mobley, and Dr. James Molstre.

Meet nine classic thinkers who helped shape Christianity

There exists a treasure trove of champions of the faith—one that overflows from the pages of the Bible into history itself. Kenneth Richard Samples has made this rich legacy accessible to all in a compact, powerful apologetics resource. A true beginner’s guide, Classic Christian Thinkers offers a concise yet meaningful look at nine of these timeless truth-seekers and how their insights bolster the case for Christian faith today.

Fall '25
Required FLBC textbook for Introduction to Christian Thought course taught by Dr. Jason Gudim and Pr. Adam Osier, Dean of FLBC.

Fall '24
Required FLBC textbook for Introduction to Christian Thought course taught by Dr. Jason Gudim and Pr. Adam Osier, Dean of FLBC.

Christianity could be defined as a “cold case”: it makes a claim about an event from the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence. In Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace uses his nationally recognized skills as a homicide detective to look at the evidence and eyewitnesses behind Christian beliefs. Including gripping stories from his career and the visual techniques he developed in the courtroom, Wallace uses illustration to examine the powerful evidence that validates the claims of Christianity.

Spring '24
Recommended FLBC textbook for Apologetics and Christian Thought course taught by Dr. Wade Mobley.

Spring '23
Recommended FLBC textbook for Apologetics and Christian Thought course taught by Dr. Wade Mobley.

Spring '22
Required FLBC textbook for Apologetics and Christian Thought course taught by Dr. Wade Mobley.

Spring '21
Required FLBC textbook for Apologetics and Christian Thought course taught by Dr. Wade Mobley.

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Basic Principles of Theology/Doctrine of the Word course taught by Dr. Wade Mobley.

Spring '20
Required FLBC textbook for Apologetics and Christian Thought course taught by Dr. Wade Mobley.

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.

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.

Succinct, easy-to-use chapters provide an excellent guide to understanding Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Taoism, Confucianism, Animism, Shintoism, and the New Age.

Spring ’20 J-Term

Required FLBC textbook for J-Term: World Religions course, taught by Pr. Robert Lee.

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.

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.

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

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

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, 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.

The lowly and simple majesty of John’s language calls the reader to become a disciple of the Word became flesh, and so to share in that which he himself is: eternal life. In John, the voice of the Word is heard; the Paraclete is speaking. God makes himself known, proffers himself, and so becomes our God. Thus, the Gospel invites us to see and to hear what apart from the Gospel cannot be seen and cannot be heard: the Father of Jesus, who is the true and divine Son. And in seeing the Father in that we see the Son, we can truly pray with Jesus, “Our Father.”

This commentary contains Dr. Weinrich’s original translation of John 1:1–7:1, a painstaking verse-by-verse analysis of the Greek text of these chapters, and theological exposition of the Gospel’s message, both for the apostolic church in its original context, and for the life of the Christian church today. His expertise in the early church fathers demonstrates how this Gospel was understood from the earliest times in the infant Christian church. Another unique aspect of this commentary is the interwoven extensive knowledge of the interpretation history of the Gospel of John. Dr. Weinrich explores both classic scholarship and modern interpretations of the book.

Spring '26
Required FLS textbook for Gospel of John course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.
You will need this OR Concordia Commentary: John 7:2-12:50

Spring '25
Required FLS textbook for Gospel of John course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.
You will need two of the following:
Concordia Commentary: John 1:1-7:1
Concordia Commentary: John 7:2-12:50
Luther's Works, Vol. 22: Sermons on the Gospel of St. John, Ch. 1-4
Luther's Works, Vol. 23: Sermons on the Gospel of St. John, Ch. 6-8
Luther's Works, Vol. 24: Sermons on the Gospel of St. John, Ch. 14-16

Spring '24
Required FLS textbook for Gospel of John course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.
You will need either this or Concordia Commentary: John 7:2-12:50.

Spring '23
Required FLS textbook for Gospel of John course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.
You will need either this or Concordia Commentary: John 7:2-12:50.

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

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Gospel of John course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson.

Fall '19
Required FLS textbook for Gospel of John course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson.

This second commentary volume on the Gospel of John continues in John 7 with verse two reading as a heading for the new section. The four chapters of John 7–10 present the central narrative of Jesus’ public ministry in Jerusalem, characterized throughout by his presence in or near the temple. John 11 and John 12 serve as the “last section” of the account of Jesus’ public ministry. It contains the “final sign” and three scenes which mark “the close” of Jesus’ public work. Weinrich explores essential imagery, significant narrative devices, and historical interpretation of the Book of Signs.

Featuring Excursuses on:

• John 7:37-39: Punctuation and Meaning
• Does John 9 Refer to Baptism?
• Early Christian Interpretations of John 10:30
• John of Damascus on the Two Wills of Christ
• and many more.

Spring '26
Required FLS textbook for Gospel of John course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.
You will need this OR Concordia Commentary: John 1:1-7:1

Spring '25
Required FLS textbook for Gospel of John course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.
You will need two of the following:
Concordia Commentary: John 1:1-7:1
Concordia Commentary: John 7:2-12:50
Luther's Works, Vol. 22: Sermons on the Gospel of St. John, Ch. 1-4
Luther's Works, Vol. 23: Sermons on the Gospel of St. John, Ch. 6-8
Luther's Works, Vol. 24: Sermons on the Gospel of St. John, Ch. 14-16

Spring '24
Required FLS textbook for Gospel of John course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.
You will need either this or Concordia Commentary: John 1:1-7:1.

Spring '23
Required FLS textbook for Gospel of John course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.
You will need either this or Concordia Commentary: John 1:1-7:1.

This commentary interprets the narrative of Jonah as true history that reveals the God of Israel as gracious toward all who repent and believe in him. The introduction discusses the historical setting, archaeological evidence, and themes in the book. An original translation is based on the textual notes, which explain all the grammatical features of the Hebrew, revealing the literary artistry of Jonah’s author. The commentary clearly expounds the book’s message in harmony with the rest of the Scriptures. Ironically, Jonah the Israelite begrudges God’s abundant grace, while Gentiles are converted to saving faith through the power of the preached Word. Excursuses cover evangelism in the OT, “The Sign of Jonah” in the Gospels, death and resurrection motifs from Jonah 2 in Christian Baptism, and God changing his verdict from judgment to salvation. The commentary’s focus is on the “one greater than Jonah”: Jesus Christ, the Savior of all peoples.

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 fifth Gospel.” He 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. Pericopes from chapters 40–55, which include the Suffering Servant Songs, permeate the lectionary throughout the church year.

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 Pr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

The brief and practical book of Philemon has long been a favorite of Christians. This commentary expounds Philemon in light of its theological purpose and its setting in the Greco-Roman world. It probes the specific circumstances under which Paul wrote the letter; how Philemon fit in with Paul’s missionary travels; and who Philemon and Onesimus were within the Christian community.

The apostle Paul addresses a crisis: Onesimus has robbed and fled from Philemon, whose house was the place of worship for a Christian church in Colossae. Paul’s letter has both a private and a public cast. He speaks to the relationships within a congregation through all the problems and sorrows—yet also adventures and joys—that attend faithful pastoral ministry. Christ himself serves as the pattern for how Christians relate to one another in forgiving and reconciling love.

Unique features of this commentary include its depth; its detailed consideration of ancient Greek and Latin literature that sheds light on Philemon; and its theology, which emphasizes Jesus Christ, God’s Word and Sacraments, and the doctrine of vocation, whereby each Christian is called to serve God faithfully in his or her particular role in life.

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

Fall '20
Recommended FLS textbook for Captivity Epistles course taught by Pr. 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