The Bible in the Lutheran Tradition

In The Bible in the Lutheran Tradition, Joy A. Schroeder introduces readers to essential Lutheran approaches to interpreting the Bible. She shows how the reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) profoundly influenced the way Lutherans interpret scripture. As he shaped the religious movement that bears his name, Luther emphasized the distinction between Law, which points out human sin, and Gospel, the promise of God's grace and forgiveness. Schroeder discusses the ongoing role of the Lutheran confessions, sixteenth-century documents that remain authoritative in Lutheranism, as the lens through which scripture is interpreted. She traces denominational history, introduces major figures, and outlines central historical developments, with attention to North American and global expressions of Lutheranism, including the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Lutheran World Federation. Addressing the anti-Judaism found in some Lutheran biblical interpretations, Schroeder offers guidance for reading the Bible with respect for the Jewish people, and further identifies both the opportunities and challenges Lutherans face when reading the Bible in a digital age. With sensitivity and balance, The Bible in the Lutheran Tradition explores contested issues in Lutheran biblical interpretation, including the role of modern biblical scholarship, historical-critical methods, verbal inerrancy of scripture, creationism, abortion, women's ordination, racial justice, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion.