Book Review: Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions on CD-ROM

Format: CD-ROM for Libronix Digital Library System
Page Count:  N/A
Publisher: Concordia Publishing House
Publication Date:  2008
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758615515
ISBN-13: 9780758615510
List Price:  $29.99
Rating:  5 Stars!

Many thanks to Rosemary Parkinson & Paul T. McCain at Concordia Publishing House for the opportunity to review Concordia:  The Lutheran Confessions on CD-ROM – A Reader’s Edition of The Book of Concord.

Later this month on June 25th, Lutherans worldwide will be celebrating the 479th anniversary of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession and the 429th anniversary of The Book of Concord.  In honor of the occasion, I offer this review.

If you didn’t grow up in the Lutheran Church and you don’t rub shoulders in Lutheran circles, the question you’re probably asking right now is, “What exactly is The Book of Concord?”  Any guesses?  Could it be the long lost secret recipe for the concord grape wine used for practicing the sacrament of holy communion in the early Lutheran Church?  While that would certainly be interesting, it’s not even close.  The Book of Concord is a compilation of sorts, containing the authoritative statements of faith for the Lutheran Church that have been in place for the last four hundred plus years.  While many of us may have works like Luther’s small and large catechisms in our libraries, fewer of us will have works like the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, etc.  The Book of Concord has all of these and much more.  Below is a general list of the works included in this book:

•    The Three Universal or Ecumenical Creeds
o    The Apostles’ Creed
o    The Nicene Creed
o    The Creed of Athanasius
•    The Confession of Faith:  The Augsburg Confession
•    The Apology of the Augsburg Confession
•    The Smalcald Articles
•    The Power and Primacy of the Pope
•    Enchiridion:  The Small Catechism
•    The Large Catechism
•    The Formula of Concord:  Epitome
•    The Formula of Concord:  Solid Declaration

The text of the digital edition is based on the second edition of Concordia:  The Lutheran Confessions – A Reader’s Edition of The Book of Concord, which was released in 2006.  One of the strengths in this work is its accessibility for the modern reader.  The text has been updated to reflect changes in the English language.  Also, each major section begins with an editorial introduction, timeline, and outline.  In addition, there are insightful notes throughout the entire text.  These features go a long way in helping those less familiar with the material to better grasp the context and understand the content of what they’re reading.  A surprise feature in this volume are the more than one hundred beautiful illustrations that add to the overall appeal and beauty of the book as well as aid the reader in better understanding the material.  Regardless of your experience level with the Book of Concord; laypeople, teachers, and pastors alike will be educated and edified by Concordia:  The Lutheran Confessions.  This book is a must have for the library of every Lutheran home around the world.  If a digital edition is not right for you, you may want to consider buying this work in one of these additional formats:  paperback, hardback, bonded leather, and genuine leather.

Let me close with a brief word about digital books.  This digital edition of the Book of Concord is designed for use with the Libronix Digital Library System from Logos Bible Software.  Those of us who do a lot of reading and research tend to have mixed feelings about digital books.  While I don’t think digital editions will ever completely replace printed books, I do think digital editions have some important things to offer.  One of the best things about digital books is that they’re highly portable.  In fact, you can take a whole library’s worth of books anywhere you go on a single laptop.  This is especially important for students, seminarians, and pastors who by nature of what they do have a rather itinerant lifestyle and their “office” is wherever they are at the moment.  In addition to their portability, the ease of search and study that is possible when viewing this and other digital books in the Libronix Digital Library System can’t be beat.  As an added bonus, the digital edition of Concordia:  The Lutheran Confessions includes the ESV Bible, valued at $39.99.

Paul T. McCain is the general editor for Concordia:  The Lutheran Confessions – A Reader’s Edition of The Book of Concord.  He is an ordained pastor in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  Presently, he serves as Publisher and Executive Director of Editorial at Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis, MO.  Paul and his wife Lynn have been blessed with three children.  You can learn more about Paul at his web site:  www.cyberbrethren.com or by following him on twitter at:  www.twitter.com/ptmccain.

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