Dr. Robert Kolb, professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, has published Luther’s Treatise On Christian Freedom and Its Legacy with Fortress Academic/Lexington Books, a division of Rowman & Littlefield.

Kolb provides a commentary on Luther’s treatise, On Christian Freedom, in its historical context. He traces the key ideas as they developed out of Luther’s medieval background, and as they continued to mature throughout Luther’s life, accentuating the reformer’s focus on the liberating power of justification by faith. Kolb’s contextual analysis of the treatise accompanies an overview of its use and impact throughout subsequent centuries.

Luther’s Treatise On Christian Freedom and Its Legacy is the newest volume in the Mapping the Traditions series, a collection of commentaries that focus on important theological works for use in universities and seminaries.

“When the editor of the Mapping the Traditions series asked me to take on Luther, his On Christian Freedom of 1520 sprang to mind. It is Luther’s best work on his understanding of justification by faith — and thus on what it means to be human,” Kolb said. “Neglected for many years, this treatise has become a focus of Luther studies in the past century, and now offers us in the early 20th century rich insight into the biblical message and guidance for bringing the gospel of Christ to our contemporaries.”

Michael Horton, the J. G. Machen Professor of Theology at Westminster Seminary California, has endorsed Kolb’s work, saying, “Anyone who thinks that Luther has nothing practical to say about the Christian life must read this informative and pleasurable work.”

Dr. Timothy J. Wengert, professor emeritus of Reformation history at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, praised the book as a “‘must read’ for pastors, students and interested lay persons —anyone who wishes to recapture the heart and soul of Luther’s reform of the church.”

Kolb retired from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 2009 after 16 years of distinguished service as missions professor of Systematic Theology. He also previously served as the director of the Seminary’s Institute for Mission Studies. He is the author of numerous other books, many that have been translated into other languages.

Luther’s Treatise On Christian Freedom and Its Legacy is part of the Mapping the Tradition series, and is available in hardback or as an eBook.

About Concordia Seminary

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). To learn more, visit csl.edu.