I mentioned a while back that the new edition of Walther’s magnificent and important work on Law and Gospel was being issued in a fresh, vibrant new translation, in a special reader’s edition. I’m happy to tell you that it is now in stock and ready for shipping. You can obtain copies for only $20 each if you, or your congregation, place an order for five or more copies. That’s a wonderfully good price, so, batch up those orders and send them on in. By the way, this is the latest volume in The Essential Lutheran Library.

Here is the web link to the book. You can take a look at a substantial sample of the book by clicking this link. The PDF file will download to your computer.

I can not understate the importance of this book for all Christians. Simply put, unless and until one understands the distinction between the Law and Gospel, the Bible remains a closed book, no matter how many times it is read.

Here are more details about the book, from Rev. Edward Engelbrecht, the General Editor of The Lutheran Study Bible. He posted this note on his blog site last week.

This is just a brief note to say that the new translation of Walther’s Law and Gospel reached my desk this week. My book was part of an advance shipment, the main shipment is still in process. The book should be ready for sale later this month, though it is possible to pre-order a copy on the CPH website.

The book includes numerous, noteworthy supplemental essays, visuals, time lines, and other content that make it a remarkably improved book over the earlier editions. Congratulations to the general editor, Charles P. Schaum, who is my close colleague here at CPH; to the assistant editors, John P. Hellwege Jr. and Thomas E. Manteufel; and especially to the translator, Christian C. Tiews. These brothers have done the Church a marvelous service in making Walther’s lectures more accessible than ever so that pastors and laymen can read together and discuss how to apply the two chief doctrines of Holy Scripture: Law and Gospel. Here are ways the book will benefit different readers:

(1) Laymen. Walther’s presentation is clear and direct, making the lectures a joy to read in this modern English translation. He speaks as a pastor to a group of young men studying to be pastors. His style is learned but not dull or stuffy. His constant reference and quotation of Scripture make this a valuable commentary for the layman. The Scripture index at the back means you can easily look up passages.

(2) Church workers. Applying Law and Gospel is what you do day in and day out. This new edition will give you a very fresh look at the challenges and benefits of ministering God’s Word. After seeing the manuscript, a pastor explained to us that he had read the Dau edition many times but this edition was like seeing the work in a whole new light.

(3) Scholars. The editors have built a remarkably handy tool for exploring the history of theology and the Lutheran Church in the nineteenth century when Walther delivered the lectures.