The Augsburg Confession is the single most-important confession of faith among Lutherans today. However, it is often taught either from a historical perspective or from a dogmatic one. Yet the context out of which it arose was far more practical and lively: marked from the outset as confessions of faith in the face of fierce opposition and threats. The original princely signers, while clearly outlining the teaching of their churches, were also staking their lives on the witness to the gospel that had been emanating from Wittenberg since 1517, when Martin Luther first published his Ninety-Five Theses. By situating both the history and the theology of this document within the practice and life of faith, Timothy J. Wengert shows just how relevant the Confession's witness is for today's Lutheran parishes and their leaders by unlocking how its articles can shape and strengthen the church's witness today.
Timothy J. Wengert is emeritus professor of church history at the United Lutheran Seminary. A parish pastor for seven years in Minnesota and Wisconsin with a doctorate from Duke University, he taught on Philadelphia's faculty from 1989 to 2013. He has written extensively on the Reformation, was coeditor of the English edition of The Book of Concord (Fortress, 2000) and translated Luther's Small Catechism, used throughout the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In addition to books on Philip Melanchthon and Martin Luther, he coauthored with Susan Wood a book on Lutheran/Roman Catholic relations, Shared Spiritual Journey (2016), and currently serves on the US Lutheran/Roman Catholic dialogue. He lives in Long Valley, New Jersey.
"In this commentary on the Augsburg Confession, Timothy Wengert shares personal and pastoral vignettes to illustrate the timelessness of this foundational document. Wengert connects us to our faith ancestors in new and refreshing ways. This is a helpful resource for those who work in congregations today." --Tracie Bartholomew, bishop, New Jersey Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America "Combining the best of Reformation scholarship with a passion for the health of Christian communities, Wengert shares the vibrant and inspiring faith of the Augsburg Confession in ways that will reward readers every time they pick it up. It points beyond itself--and even beyond its worthy historical subject--to explore the living relationship with Christ that started a Reformation centuries ago and provides the foundation for Christian freedom and holy service today." --Martin Lohrmann, Wartburg Theological Seminary "In a most effective manner, Wengert combines stories from parish life with solid historical description of the context in which the text of the Augsburg Confession originated, while helping readers see the relevance of Melanchthon's theology for today--readers are taken into the Confession in such a way that it becomes their own for use in daily life." --Irene Dingel, Leibniz-Institut fur Europaische Geschichte, Mainz
