In the early years of the LCMS-the late 1800s-the issue of predestination was debated extensively. Still today, predestination remains a confusing and often misunderstood concept: Does God predestine some to salvation and others to damnation?

C. F. W. Walther believed that the doctrine of predestination was meant to be a great comfort to the children of God. He held fast that predestination was intricately related to other doctrines such as faith, justification, conversion, and the Means of Grace, and it was key for the Christian confession of the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit on behalf of sinners.

Any christian will appreciate Walther's commentary on this tricky subject, helping them answer the same question Lutheran theologians debated in the 1800s and still discuss today.

Table of Contents

Dogmatic History of the Teaching on the Relation of Faith to Election Translated by Nathaniel Jensen Proceedings of the General Pastoral Conference of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States on the Doctrine of Election Translated by Ed Suelflow Thirteen Theses on Election Adopted 1881 by the Missouri Synod Proceedings of the Second General Pastoral Conference of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States on the Doctrine of Election Translated by Nathaniel Jensen Review of Prof. Stellhorn's Tract on the Controversy Concerning Predestination Translated by August Crull The Controversy Concerning Predestination Translated by August Crull The Doctrine Concerning Election Translated by J. Humberger Sermon on Predestination Translated by Henry J. Eggold