A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: The Descent of Christ to Hell
IX. The Descent of Christ into Hell STATUS CONTROVERSIAE. Chief Controversy concerning This Article. 1 It has also been disputed among some theologians…
Author: Dr. Paul Edmon
Dr. Paul Edmon is from Seattle, Washington and now resides in Boston, Massachusetts. He has his B.S. in Physics from the University of Washington in 2004 and Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of Minnesota in 2010. He is professional staff at Harvard University and acts as liaison between Center for Astrophysics and Research Computing. A life long Lutheran, he is formerly a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Seattle and University Lutheran Chapel in Minneapolis. He now attends First Lutheran Church (FLC) of Boston where he teaches Lutheran Essentials. He sings bass in the FLC choir and Canto Armonico. He was elected to the Concordia Seminary St. Louis Board of Regents in 2016. He is single and among his manifold interests are scotch, football, anime, board games, mythology, history, philosophy, and general nerdiness. The views expressed here are his own and do not represent Harvard University or Concordia Seminary.
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: The Person of Christ
VIII. The Person of Christ 1 From the controversy concerning the Holy Supper a disagreement has arisen between the pure theologians of the…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: The Holy Supper of Christ
VII. The Lord’s Supper 1 Although the Zwinglian teachers are not to be reckoned among the theologians who affiliate with [acknowledge and profess]…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: The Third Use of God’s Law
VI. The Third Use of the Law 1 STATUS CONTROVERSIAE. The Principal Question In This Controversy. 1 Since the Law was given to…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: Law and Gospel
V. Law and Gospel STATUS CONTROVERSIAE. The Principal Question In This Controversy. 1 Whether the preaching of the Holy Gospel is properly not…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: Good Works
IV. Good Works. STATUS CONTROVERSIAE. The Principal Question In the Controversy concerning Good Works. 1] Concerning the doctrine of good works two divisions…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: The Righteousness of Faith Before God
III. The Righteousness of Faith Before God. STATUS CONTROVERSIAE. The Principal Question In This Controversy. 1] Since it is unanimously confessed in our…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: Free Will
II. Free Will. STATUS CONTROVERSIAE. The Principal Question in This Controversy. 1] Since the will of man is found in four unlike states,…
Life on Venus?
Let me answer the click-bait question above immediately by saying that life has not been found on Venus. At least not yet. I…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: Original Sin
I. Original Sin. STATUS CONTROVERSIAE. The Principal Question in This Controversy. 1] Whether original sin is properly and without any distinction man’s corrupt…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: The Summary Content, Rule, and Norm
Comprehensive Summary, Rule and Norm According to which all dogmas should be judged, and the erroneous teachings [controversies]that have occurred should be decided…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Epitome of the Formula of Concord: Preface to the Christian Book of Concord
Note: This is the fifth series of posts providing commentary on the Book of Concord adapted from my Lutheran Essentials Class Notes. I…
The Top Ten Reasons to use the Historic Lectionary
Written in collaboration with Dr. Jonathan Wessler, Kantor at First Lutheran Church of Boston. Jonathan is a super awesome Lutheran organist who has…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope: The Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops
60] [In our Confession and the Apology we have in general recounted what we have had to say concerning ecclesiastical power. For] The…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope: The Marks of the Antichrist
39] Now, it is manifest that the Roman pontiffs, with their adherents, defend [and practice] godless doctrines and godless services. And the marks…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope: A Contrast Between Christ and the Pope
32] Accordingly, that Christ in His passion is crowned with thorns and led forth to be derided in royal purple, this signified that…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope: Refutation of Roman Arguments
22] But they cite against us certain passages, namely, Matt. 16:18f : Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope: Testimony of History
12] VI. The Council of Nice resolved that the bishop of Alexandria should administer the churches in the East, and the Roman bishop…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope: Testimony of Scripture
7] In the first place, therefore, let us show from the [holy] Gospel that the Roman bishop is not by divine right above…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope: Introduction
Note: This is the fourth series of posts providing commentary on the Book of Concord adapted from my Lutheran Essentials Class Notes. I…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Smalcald Articles: Human Traditions
Part III, Article XV. Of Human Traditions. 1] The declaration of the Papists that human traditions serve for the remission of sins, or…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Smalcald Articles: Monastic Vows
Part III, Article XIV. Of Monastic Vows. 1] As monastic vows directly conflict with the first chief article, they must be absolutely abolished….
Christianity in Space
Goofy title aside, this is actually a question for serious consideration. Namely the question of what should the shape of Christian piety take…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Smalcald Articles: How One is Justified before God and Does Good Works
Part III, Article XIII. How One is Justified before God, and of Good Works. 1] What I have hitherto and constantly taught concerning…
A Laymen’s Commentary on the Smalcald Articles: The Church
Part III, Article XII. Of the Church. 1] We do not concede to them that they are the Church, and [in truth] they…