Over the past few years, SynopticText has published two series of books on the atonement, one series about the atonement in the Age of Lutheran Orthodoxy and the other about atonement in confessional Lutheran theology. Some of them are translations into English of treasures previously inaccessible to many who do not read Latin or German. That work, and more like it, should have been done in any event, but it also has been timely because of contemporary undermining and weakness within our circles and church on the truth of the atonement.
A great deal of credit goes to those who have been integral parts of a loosely formed team contributing to these works, including: Matthew Carver, Jack D. Kilcrease, Timothy R. Schmeling, Burnell F. Eckardt, Jr., Martin R. Noland, Kyle Richardson, Susanne Russell, Neil Carlson, and Marcus J. Baikie.
Matthew Harrison was the first to point me to the value of Johannes Questedt and the benefit to the Church that could be realized by translating him into English. A 1961 article by Robert D. Preus, “The Vicarious Atonement in John Quenstedt,” provided detailed evidence proving what Rev. Dr. Harrison had said. With encouragement from Rev. Dr. Eckardt and Dr. Kilcrease, the decision was made to invest money, labor, and time into the first volume in the series about atonement in the Age of Lutheran Orthodoxy focusing on Questedt.
With that beginning, we have now published eight titles on atonement, confessing a positive construction of the Scriptural truth and refuting the stock recurring errors and heresies that continue to plague the Church in repackaged forms. It has been constantly heartening to have the support of our Montana District President, Rev. Terry Forke, and the pastors of the Eastern and Southern Circuits of the Montana District.
Given the money, labor, and time that has gone into this work, it is humbling to have the encouragement of a formal commendation from the Wyoming District of the The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. At its 21st convention May 1-3, 2025, the district adopted Resolution 08a, “To Commend Faithful Resources on Atonement and Justification against Antinomianism,” (Convention Proceedings, p. 169). The text of the Resolution says:
Whereas, The error of antinomianism destroys the Doctrines of Justification and Atonement in Christ, therefore be it
Resolved, that the Wyoming District in convention commend for reading by LCMS pastors and laity faithful resources on Justification and Atonement in Christ:
Article IV of the Augsburg Confession and the Apology of the Augsburg Confession,
Formula of Concord, Articles I-VI
Without the Shedding of Blood by Rev. Dr. David Scaer, published by Ad Crucem
Recent titles by Synoptic Text Information Services such as but not limited to:
- Atonement in Confessional Lutheran Theology: Franz Pieper
- Atonement in Confessional Lutheran Theology: Chorus of Voices
- Atonement in Lutheran Orthodoxy: Baier-Walther
- Atonement in Lutheran Orthodoxy: Johannes Quenstedt, 2nd ed.
- Atonement in Lutheran Orthodoxy: Abraham Calov
Coming from the pastors and lay delegates of the Wyoming District, who labor with vigor and fidelity, this means much to us and we express our touched, heartfelt thanks.
Additional titles include:
- Atonement in Confessional Lutheran Theology: Jack D. Kilcrease
- Atonement in Confessional Lutheran Theology: Harnack, Thomasius, and Philippi
- Vicarious Satisfaction in Lutheran Catechisms, Confessions, and Hymns
