THE LUTHERAN’S LUTHERAN

I did not need to wake up to this news this morning:

Gerhard Forde, a retired Luther Seminary professor and one of the world’s leading Lutheran theologians, died Tuesday of pneumonia in St. Paul after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 77.

Forde taught theology at Luther Seminary for more than 30 years before retiring in 1998.

Calling Dr. Forde “one of the world’s leading Lutheran theologians” is sort of like calling New York “a prominent American city.” The man taught me what I know about the theology of the cross, the doctrine of the atonement, justification by grace through faith, sanctification, and just a couple other minor things I use on a daily basis.

Praise God, Dr. Forde left behind a nice pile of books so his teaching will outlive not merely him but also his students. I count myself blessed to be among the latter.