Apology of the Book of Concord

After Martin Luther’s death, many theological issues were addressed in the Book of Concord in 1580. A mere three years later, a defense of the Book of Concord was required in order to refute attacks on the theology presented there—thus the Apology of the Book of Concord was written.

Martin Chemnitz, Timothy Kirchner, and Nicolaus Selnecker prepared this project, clearly presenting the theology of the person of Christ and the Lord’s Supper in addition to defending doctrine.

As Friedrich Bente said, “Alongside the Formula of Concord, there is no other book of that period in which the pure doctrine of the Lord’s Supper, the person of Christ, and original sin, along with related doctrines, is presented so clearly and convincingly and defended against the objections of the false teachers.”

Translated by James Langebartels and published by Concordia Publishing House

After the Book of Concord was published in 1580, it was attacked. This book is the defense of the Book of Concord against the attack of Christoph Pezel, one of the Crypto-Calvinists expelled from Wittenberg by Elector August.

Translated and published by James Langebartels

After the Book of Concord was published in 1580, it was attacked. This is the defense of the Book of Concord against the attack made by Christoph Irenaeus, who defended Matthias Flacius Illyricus' false teaching regarding original sin.

Translated and published by James Langebartels

After the Book of Concord was published in 1580, it was attacked. This is the defense against the attack especially against the original Augsburg Confession, prepared by Nikolaus Selnecker, one of the original authors of the Formula of Concord.

Translated and published by James Langebartels