The Book of Concord 1911 Henry Eyster Jacobs Version

17 Jun 2025·

Henry Eyster Jacobs

· 6 min read

This is a highly readable, modern English version of the classic volume of Protestant Biblical theology. The translation of the Augsburg Confession is that of Charles P. Krauth, the Small Catechism by Charles F. Schaeffer, the Large Catechism by Rev. A. Martin, Professor of the German Language and Literature in Pennsylvania College, the Apology, the Smalcald Articles and the Formula of Concord were translated by Henry Eyster Jacobs.

Book Contents

PREFACE TO THE CHRISTIAN BOOK OF CONCORD.

Part 1. The General Creeds

1 THE APOSTLES’ CREED.
2 THE NICENE CREED.
3 THE CREED OF ATHANASIUS.

Part 2. The Augsburg Confession

Preface
1 Chief Articles of Faith
1 Of God
2 Of Original Sin
3 Of the Son of God
4 Of Justification
5 Of the Ministry of the Church
6 Of New Obedience
7 Of the Church
8 What the Church is
9 Of Baptism
10 Of the Lord’s Supper
11 Of Confession
12 Of Repentance
13 Of the Use of Sacraments
14 Of Ecclesiastical Orders
15 Of Ecclesiastical Rites
16 Of Civil Matters
17 Of the Return of Christ to Judgment
18 Of Free Will
19 Of the Cause of Sin
20 Of Faith and Good Works
21 Of the Worship of Saints
2 Articles in Which are Enumarated the Abuses Corrected
22 Of Both Kinds
23 Of the Marriage of Priests
24 Of the Mass
25 Of Confession
26 Of the Distinction of Meats, and of Traditions
27 Of Monastic Vows
28 Of Ecclesiastical Power
Conclusion

Part 3. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession

Melanchthon’s Preface
1 Of the First Article
Chapter 1. Of Original Sin
2 Of the Second Article
3 Of the Third Article (Concerning Christ)
Chapter 2. Of Justification
4 Of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Twentieth Articles. What is Justifying Faith? Faith in Christ Justifies. Remission of sins obtained by Faith Alone in Christ
Chapter 3. Of Love and the Fulfilling of the Law
Chapter 4. Of the Church
5 Of the Seventh Article
6 Of the Eighth Article
7 Of the Ninth Article (Baptism)
8 Of the Tenth Article (The Holy Supper)
9 Of the Eleventh Article (Confession)
Chapter 5. Of Repentance
10 Of the Twelfth Article
Chapter 6. Of Confession and Satisfaction
Chapter 7. Of the Number and Use of the Sacraments
11 Of the Thirteenth Article
12 Of the Fourteenth Article (Ecclesiastical Orders)
Chapter 8. Of Human Traditions in the Church
13 Of the Fifteenth Article
14 Of the Sixteenth Article (Civil Order)
15 Of the Seventeenth Article (The Return of Christ to Judgment)
16 Of the Eighteenth Article (Free Will)
17 Of the Nineteenth Article (The Cause of Sin)
18 Of the Twentieth Article (Good Works)
Chapter 9. Of the Invocation of Saints
19 Of the Twenty First Article
Chapter 10. Of Both Kinds in the Lord’s Supper
Chapter 11. Of the Marriage of Priests
Chapter 12. Of the Mass
Chapter 13. Of Monastic Vows
Chapter 14. Of Ecclesiastical Power

Part 4. The Smalcald Articles

Preface of Dr Martin Luther
Part 1. Of the Trinity and the Person of Christ
Part 2. Of the Articles Concerning the Office and Work of Jesus Christ, or our Redemption
1 Of the Merit of Christ, and the Righteousness of Faith.
2 Article of the Mass
3 Of Chapters and Cloisters.
4 Of the Papacy
Part 3. Articles concerning which we are able to treat
1 Of Sin.
2 Of the Law
3 Of Repentance.
4 Of the Gospel.
5 Of Baptism.
6 Of the Sacrament of the Altar.
7 Of the Keys.
8 Of Confession.
9 Of Excommunication.
10 Of Ordination and the Call.
11 Of the Marriage of Priests.
12 Of the Church.
13 How Man is Justified before God, and of Good Works.
14 Of Monastic Vows.
15 Of Human Traditions.
APPENDIX. Treatise Concerning the Power and Primacy of the Pope
1 Of the Fictitious Authority of the Pope
2 Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

Part 5. The Small Catechism

Preface of Dr Martin Luther
1 The Ten Commandments
2 The Apostles’ Creed
3 The Lord’s Prayer
4 The Sacrament of Baptism. Of Confession
5 The Sacrament of the Altar
Appendix 1. Morning and Evening Prayer
Appendix 2. Blessing at Table
Appendix 3. Table of Duties

Part 6. The Large Catechism

First Preface of Dr Martin Luther
Short Preface of Dr Martin Luther
Part 1. The Ten Commandments
1 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
3 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
4 Honor thy father and thy mother.
5 Thou shalt not kill.
6 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7 Thou shalt not steal.
8 Thou shalt not bear false witness.
9-10 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.
Part 2. Of the Creed
1 I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and of earth.
2 And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord…
3 I believe in the Holy Ghost…
Part 3. Of Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
1 Hallowed be thy name.
2 Thy kingdom come.
3 Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
4 Give us this day our daily bread.
5 And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
6 And lead us not into temptation.
7 But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Part 4. Of Baptism
Of Infant Baptism
Part 5. Of the Sacrament of the Altar.

Part 7. The Formula of Concord

PART FIRST. EPITOME.
Introduction. On the Standard of Doctrine
1 Of Original Sin
2 Of the Free Will
3 Of the Righteousness of Faith before God
4 Of Good Works
5 Of the Law and the Gospel
6 Of the Third Use of the Law
7 Of the Lord’s Supper
8 Of the Person of Christ
9 Of the Descent of Christ to Hell
10 Of Ecclesiastical Ceremonies
11 Of God’s Eternal Predestination and Election
12 Of other Heresies and Sects
PART SECOND. SOLID DECLARATION.
Introduction. Of the Standard of Doctrine. Of the Antithesis, or Rejection of False Doctrine
1 Of Original Sin
2 Of the Free Will, or Human Powers
3 Of the Righteousness of Faith before God
4 Of Good Works
5 Of the Law and the Gospel
6 Of the Third Use of the Divine Law
7 Of the Holy Supper
8 Of the Person of Christ
9 Of the Descent of Christ to Hell
10 Of Ecclesiastical Ceremonies
11 Of God’s Eternal Predestination and Election
12 Of other Heretics and Sects

Part 8. Analyses and Indexes to the Book of Concord

1 Analyses
2 Indexes
Scriptural Texts quoted in the Book of Concord
Subject Index

Publication Information

Lutheran Library edition first published: 2019-04-23
Updated: v5.1 2020-03-14
Copyright: CC BY 4.0

Last updated on 18 Jun 2025