Both these works deal with parts of the ‘Lutheran Confessions’ in The Book of Concord (edited by Robert Kolb and Timothy J. Wengert, Minneapolis 2000). The ‘Smalcald Articles’ of 1537 are Martin Luther's theological testament, as it were, signed by the members of the Lutheran military Schmalkaldic League. The ‘Small’ and ‘Large Catechisms’ of 1529 represent Luther's efforts at popular education.

Führer's massive work provides everything one wants to know about the topic. He taught at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; he is now a synod official (Oberkirchenrat) in the Evangelical (Lutheran) Church in Germany (EKD). The book contains a historical introduction, a detailed commentary and a history of reception with an account of intra-Lutheran controversies after Luther's death in 1546. It ends with a list of various original texts; it offers an extensive bibliography, and indexes of biblical texts, names, subjects and Latin terms and formulations. What is new is the author's convincing correction of a misconception: the historical introduction to the ‘Smalcald Articles’ in the 1930 edition of The Book of Concord (p. xxv) by Hans Volz attributed the delayed process of the adoption of the Articles to the intrigues of Melanchthon who is, at times, portrayed as not being loyal to Luther. Führer demonstrates convincingly (pp. 56–7) that Melanchthon had nothing to do with the delay; it was the result of complicated diplomatic negotiations. Such attention to detail and expertise in leading the reader through the summation of Luther's theological reflections, focused on ‘the chief article’ of ‘justification by faith’, make this book an invaluable resource for the exploration of the ‘Smalcald Articles’.

Timothy Wengert is a world-class expert on Philip Melanchthon, currently teaching at the Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia. His exposition of Luther's catechisms is a refreshing addition to the many studies of them. Having translated them for the latest American edition of The Book of Concord, he is able to use word analysis to construct a new interpretation. He writes in an attractive style, with a sharp eye to contemporary issues in Christian education. Moreover, Wengert recovers the intention of Luther's popular educational tools, namely to become a source for communal spiritual formation at home, in the church and in the world, combating a ‘self-chosen spiritual formation’, popular today in ‘self-help’ literature that stresses individualism. In eight chapters the author digs up forgotten treasures: Luther's contribution to Christian education; ‘diagnosing’ the world through the Decalogue; Luther's down-to earth faith; prayer and human needs; children and baptism; daily absolution; treasuring the Lord's Supper; and the catechisms as a vocational school. Copies of sixteenth-century woodcuts, a select bibliography and an index enrich the book. Wengert may surprise some readers with the notion that the catechisms reverse the dogma of the Trinity, beginning with the work of the Holy Spirit. He also successfully combats a tradition that made these catechisms pre-confirmation educational tools rather than instruments for spiritual formation at any stage in life.