CPH is pleased to announce the twenty-second volume in the Concordia Commentary series, which will be released in June, 2012. The new commentary covers both of the biblical books of 2 Peter and Jude. The author, Dr. Curtis Giese, is a professor in the Theology Division of Concordia University Texas, located in Austin. We interviewed Dr. Giese about his new book.

What are some of the unique features of your commentary?
“The commentary discusses noteworthy aspects of these canonical books such as the usage of material from the extrabiblical books of 1 Enoch and the Assumption of Moses, the destruction of the present, corrupted world and introduction of the new creation, the condemnation of the rebellious angels, and the authorship of 2 Peter.”

How will your book impact the life of the church?
“2 Peter and Jude assure first-century Christians that the false teachers in their midst will not prevail but will suffer the dire judgment of evildoers long ago. Similarly, Christians today receive the comfort from these books that all who oppose the Church will ultimately receive divine judgment, and the Church will be vindicated.”

Who will most want to read your book?
“The Concordia Commentary series is intended for pastors, Bible translators, professors, and other teachers of sacred Scripture. Such scholars will want to have this particular volume in the series because it delves into two New Testament books that offer great riches of divine revelation.”

Why will they benefit from your book?
“This commentary contains a thorough study of the Greek text of 2 Peter and Jude, an overview of contemporary scholarship, and a theological exposition that deeply respects these two books as inspired Scripture.”

How did you come to be interested in these particular books of the Bible?
A portion of my Ph.D. studies at Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, concerned Jewish literature of the Second Temple Period. Since Jude uses material from two extra-biblical texts of this genre, I immediately welcomed the opportunity to write a commentary on Jude. Additionally, my longtime admiration of the apostle Peter plus 2 Peter’s connection with Jude made me eager to write on this epistle as well.

What are your thoughts upon the publication of your book?
“I was truly enriched in the research and writing of this commentary. The imminent publication of this volume brings great excitement, knowing that over five years of labor are coming to fruition. I pray that the Word of God in 2 Peter and Jude, which this commentary seeks faithfully to expound, will edify the readers and bring them to a deeper understanding of God’s mercy in Jesus Christ.”

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When the Old Testament strikes a leak, the water soon flows in to the New Testament. — Norman Nagel (Australian Lutheran theologian).

“How can Christ with these words [Matt. 6:14] base the forgiveness of sins on our work? He says: If you forgive your neighbor, you shall be forgiven. That certainly does not sound like basing forgiveness on faith. Answer: The forgiveness of sins, as I have often said, occurs in two ways: (1) through the Gospel and the Word of God, which is accepted inwardly in the heart, before God, by faith, and (2) externally through the works, of which St. Peter speaks (2 Pet. 1:10): ‘Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.’ He means that we should prove that we have faith and forgiveness of sins, that is, that we give evidence by works, so that one can tell the tree by the fruit, the fruits proving that it is a good, not a bad, tree. For where there is true faith, there good works surely also follow. In this wise a man is godly and righteous both externally and internally, both before God and before the people. For this is the result and fruit, whereby I become sure and make others sure that I really believe.” (St. L. VII:511.)

“We are all equal in Christ through faith. Though St. Peter has a stronger faith than I, still it is the very same faith in Christ. The Father has given the same Christ to all men, asking them to lay hold of Him. Whoever receives Him, receives Him entirely, no matter whether He receives Him with a strong or a weak faith.” (St. L. XI:1840.)

Note: this is humor, only humor, and nothing but humor.

“The faith that we obtain the forgiveness of sins solely for Christ’s sake by faith has been the faith of the Fathers and prophets and all saints from the beginning of the world; and it has been the doctrine and teaching of Christ and the Apostles, who were commissioned to spread it in all the world. And it is to this day, and will be to the end, the unanimous understanding and voice of the whole Christian Church, which always in one mind and with one accord has confessed and fought for this article, that only in the name of the Lord Jesus forgiveness of sins is obtained and received. And in this faith they have been justified before God and saved.” (St. L. XII:494 f.)

According to Your gracious will, grant healing to those who are sick (especially ___________), or give them strength to bear their infirmities with patience and grace. Comfort those who suffer from depression, disability, or loneliness, reminding them that they are never alone in Christ Jesus.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Source: LCMS “Let Us Pray”

Consider using a great resource from Concordia Publishing House on Father’s Day, titled Peak Performance. Here’s some of its benefits

-Great gift to hand out to every man in your congregation for Father’s Day, or great to give out at Men’s Ministry events

-Two different covers – one that says Happy Father’s Day, one that does not. The content is the same in each.

-Tiered pricing allows it to be as low as $0.99 each (when purchased in quantities of 49 or more).

-Here is the link to look inside: https://www.cph.org/pdf/370149.pdf

-Perfect size to fit in a pocket or in your Bible cover (3.5” x 5.5”)

-There are free resources for Father’s Day and Men’s Ministry online here.

-Cover images and a couple inside pages are attached.

-Here is the back cover copy:

Are you operating at peak performance?

 Are you giving your best, reaching your goals, and striving for excellence? Or are you stuck, unable to take the next step in your life? God never promised life would be easy, but He did promise never to leave us and to work for good in every situation. With a coach like that, how can we go wrong? Let God’s Word speak to you. Read about athletes who faced challenges, won and lost, overcame obstacles with God’s help, and celebrated great victories.

We are hearing, reading and talking a lot about same-sex marriage these days, particularly in light of the fact that the President of the United States of America has made it known that he personally supports extending to homosexual persons the right to enter into legally binding and legally recognized marriages. I’m  pretty much convinced that same-sex marriage is inevitable, and it is just a matter of time before it becomes legal, or “civil unions” that are akin to marriage. The question appears not to be “if” this will happen, but only “when.” I have heard some Christians, even those who oppose same-sex marriage, personally. give a verbal shrug about the issue, resigning themselves to the invetibaility of it. But, even if it is something that will become part of our culture and society, the Church must continue, vigorously, to oppose it. There are many reasons, of course and there are many and various opinions being expressed.

I do not however often hear observations that take into account how, and why, same-sex marriage represents a fundamental perversion of the relationship between Christ and His Church. To me, this is the most significant reason to oppose same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage does more simply than corrupt the divinely instituted state of marriage as the life long union of one man and one woman. Nowhere in Scripture are sexual relationships, of any kind, condoned outside this “one flesh” union, as Christ Himself refers to it (see Mt 19:3-9; Mk 10:2-12).

But why? Further revelation through the Apostle Paul clarifies this question, quite precisely: because marriage, ultimately, is intended to be a one-flesh union between man and woman that typifies, or pictures to the world, the relationship between Christ and His church. It is through the fruit of marriage, children, that God blesses the whole world and provides for Himself more people for the kingdom of Christ and His Church. It may truly be said that marriage is sacramental, of a sort: through physical and tangible relationships between men and women, in marriage, God is pouring out His gifts and blessings on the whole world.

Same-sex marriage represents a profoundly corrupt and evil distortion of the relationship between Christ and His Church. For it is precisely that relationship that Christian marriages are instituted and called upon to reflect: both within the marriage itself and as a witness to others around the Christian married couple. St. Paul speaks of this unique and special aspect of Christian marriage in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter five. Consider with me, very carefully, how Paul discusses the nature of human sexuality, and human sexual relationships, in these words:

Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things yhe wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water jwith the word, o that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ecause we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Do you notice how St. Paul frames his words? “Be imitators of God” and concluded with the comment it is precisely in Christian marriage that we see this “imitation of God.” How so? Wives are to submit to their husbands, as the Church submits to Christ, and husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.

When a man and a man enter into a sexual relationship it represents both a perversion of God’s original Creation and the New Creation that is made ours through Christ as we are drawn into relationship with Him through the Church. The nature of homosexual acts themselves reflect the deep self-centered perversion of human sexuality that St. Paul condemns here in this text as “impure.” It represents a complete falling away from what was both created “in the beginning” as Christ asserts and what has been recreated by Christ Himself through the washing of water with the Word.

And so, as we consider same-sex marriage, let’s also consider the unique meaning of marriage for Christian people and how God intends marriage to be the public witness to the world of the relationship between Christ and His Church. Such a witness is both physically and spiritually impossible when homosexuals indulge in those things that “must not even be named, as is proper among the saints.”

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Luther on “faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6): “Paul does not say: Faith which justifies through love, nor does he say: Faith which makes one acceptable through love. Such a text they [the Roman Catholics] have fabricated and forced it upon this passage. Much less does he say: Love makes acceptable. But he says: Faith which operates through love; works are done out of faith through love. He does not say that a man is justified by love …. But who is so dull a grammarian that he should not understand from the meaning of the words that ‘to be justified’ is something else than ‘to do works’?” (St. L. XII:494 f.)