Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Introductory essays. General introduction / editors -- What is catechism? / Gerhard H. Bode -- Martin Luther's approach to the Bible / Erik H. Herrmann -- The large catechism as a handbook for prayer and meditation / John T. Pless -- The large catechism in Africa / Moses Keya Okoyo -- Luther's large catechism in regions of Asia and Oceania / Alexey Streltsov, Henry Roold, Wilando T. Roa, Eben Ezer Aruan, Gregory Lockwood, Damodhar Christu Das -- The large catechism in Europe / Werner Klun -- The large catechism in Latin America / Robert E. Bustamante -- Luther's large catechism and the Lutheran churches in North America / Lawrence R. Rast -- Martin Luther's prefaces to the large catechism : introduced and annotated / Robert Kolb -- The ten commandments : introduced and annotated / Charles P. Arand -- Essays on the ten commandments. The ten commandments today / Gilbert Meilaender -- The first commandment : idolatry today / Michael A. Lockwood -- The first commandment and apologetics / Angus J. L. Menuge -- The second commandment and the divine name / Charles A. Gieschen -- The second commandment : contemporary Christians and honoring the name of God / Ruth Ang-Onn Whiteford -- The third commandment : remember the sabbath day to keep it holy / Steven Paulson -- The third commandment : Word, worship, and adiaphora / Charles P. Arand -- The fourth commandment : authority in the home, state, and church / Carol Geisler -- The commandments and social justice / Leopoldo A. Sanchez -- The fifth commandment : legalized murder / Tiffany Manor -- The fifth commandment : lawful lethal force / Joel D. Biermann -- The fifth commandment : hatred as murder / Warren L. Malueg-Lattimore -- The sixth commandment : marriage as the first of institutions / Gilbert Meilaender -- The sixth commandment : sexual purity / Andrea Schmeling -- The sixth commandment : divorce and cohabitation / Matthew Rueger -- The sixth commandment : encouragement for Christians with gender dysphoria and homosexual attraction / Stephen N. Lee -- The seventh commandment : honesty and work / Ricardo Willy Rieth -- The seventh commandment : you shall not steal / Robert Benne -- The seventh commandment : Martin Luther on poverty / Wade Johnston -- The eighth commandment : reputation and truth-telling in a changing world / Thomas D. Park -- The ninth and tenth commandments : justice for all, exemptions for none / John Arthur Nunes -- The ninth and tenth commandments : coveting and contentment / John T. Pless -- The close of the commandments / Thomas J. Egger -- The close of the commandments : wrath of God, fear of God / Larry M. Vogel --

The apostles' creed : introduced / Charles P. Arand -- Essays on the apostles' creed. What is a creed? / Jack D. Kilcrease -- The holy trinity / James G. Bushur -- Essays on the first article. I believe in God the Father / John T. Pless -- God as creator / Richard J. Serina -- God the creator : objections and denials / Joel D. Heck -- Our stewardship of creation / Charles P. Arand -- Essays on the second article. The person of Christ / Jacob Corzine -- Martin Luther on the atonement / Robert Kolb -- Christ and the ecumenical councils / Joel C. Elowsky -- The fall into sin / Robert Kolb -- What is "gospel"? / William M. Cwirla -- Saving faith, confessing faith / Samuel H. Nafzger -- Essays on the third article. The person and work of the Holy Spirit / Leopoldo A. Sanchez -- The church / Naomichi Masaki -- The mission of the holy catholic church / Larry M. Vogel -- Future eschatology / Paul R. Raabe -- The resurrection of the body / Herbert C. Mueller -- The life everlasting / Edward G. Kettner -- Virtual Christianity / A. Trevor Sutton -- The Lord's prayer : introduced and annotated / John W. Kleinig -- Essays on the Lord's prayer. What is Christian prayer? / Larry M. Vogel -- The Lord's prayer as a model / Carol Geisler -- The theology of the cross in the Lord's prayer / James Arne Nestingen -- The first petition : hallowing God's name / Peter C. Bender -- The second petition : mission as the expansion of the kingdom of God / Klaus Detlev Schulz -- The second petition : the two kingdoms / Joel D. Lehenbauer -- The third petition : the will of God / Roland Ziegler -- The third petition : the holy cross in Christian life / Harold L. Senkbeil -- The fourth petition : prayer for "our entire life" / Paul W. Robinson -- The fifth petition : praying as sinner and saint / Timo Laato -- The fifth petition : the Christian life, forgiven and forgiving / Joshua C. Miller -- The sixth petition : temptation / John T. Pless -- The seventh petition : evil, the foe(s) / Esko Murto -- The seventh petition : deliver us from evil, on suicide / Stephen Pietsch -- The seventh petition : evil, persistent and personal / Robert H. Bennett -- The seventh petition : a good, blessed death / Peter J. Brock --

The means of grace. The word of God : the chief thing in the sacraments / Joel D. Lehenbauer, Larry M. Vogel -- Baptism : introduced and annotated / Robert Kolb -- Essays on baptism. Martin Luther's baptism texts / Jerald C. Joersz -- The baptism of Jesus / Leopoldo A. Sanchez -- Infant baptism and saving faith / Mark D. Tranvik -- Election / Robert Kolb -- Baptism and the Christian life / Gene Edward Veith -- The sacrament of the altar / introduced and annotated by Roland Ziegler -- Essays on the sacrament of the altar. The presence of Christ / Naomichi Masaki -- Closed communion / Larry M. Vogel -- Frequent, worthy reception / Bryan Wolfmueller -- Brief exhortation to confession : introduced and annotated / John T. Pless -- Essays on confession and absolution. Holy absolution / Matthew C. Harrison -- Why private confession? / Brent W. Kuhlman.

"Alongside the Large Catechism (using the translation as found in Concordia: Reader's Edition), the book include provides historical background for the writing and use of the Large Catechism. Extensive annotations of Luther's text address terminology, translational challenges, biblical support, cross-references to the Small Catechism and other confessional documents, and historical context, as well as highlight contemporary applications through cross-references to supporting essays. Topical essays follow each of the chief parts of the Large Catechism and further explicate the doctrine, making contemporary and personal applications"-- Provided by publisher.