A Review of
By Philip Bartelt
12/12/25
8mins

A Review of "Life Under the Cross: A Biography of the Reformer Matthias Flacius Illyricus" by Wade Johnston

Wade Johnston, Life Under the Cross: A Biography of the Reformer Matthias Flacius Illyricus, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis: MO, 2025.
A Tale of Two Mothers
Matthew L. Rubinstein
Matthew L. Rubinstein
12/11/25

A Tale of Two Mothers

This ancient “tale of two mothers” concerns far more than theological semantics—it is the difference between a God who sends and a God who comes.
Christmas with the Herdmans: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Sam P. Schuldheisz
Sam P. Schuldheisz
12/10/25

Christmas with the Herdmans: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

This story points us from our unlikely heroes to the even more unlikely, and joyous, good news that Jesus’ birth for us was just as unlikely and unexpected.

All Articles

Ryan Couch
Ryan Couch
01/03/25

New Year, Same You

It's a new year, and you are still the same you: a sinner who is simultaneously perfect in every way because Christ declares it to be so.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/25/24

Conflict and Belief at Christmastide

Belief at Christmas is neither neat nor safe. It is the path that leads to the manger and, from there, to the cross.
Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi
12/16/24

Life in the Bleak Midwinter

The love of God is creative, always giving, always reviving.
1517 Staff
1517 Staff
12/13/24

Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

While Christmas may or may not have pagan roots, it will certainly have a pagan future if Christians lose sight of what it is all about.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/03/24

An Advent Meditation: Does God Want Us To Reject Modernity?

The world rushes forward, lighting up screens and decking out storefronts in a mad sprint toward the next thing, but Advent pulls us back.
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson
12/02/24

Too Soon for Tinsel? Why November Christmas Lights Might Be More Than Holiday Hype

In Scripture, laments are raw expressions of grief, but they always point to hope. What if our culture’s obsession with holiday lights is an unconscious way of crying out, “We need good news, and we need it now”?
1517 Staff
1517 Staff
11/29/24

An Excerpt from His Gospel is Peace

Below is an excerpt from the personal devotional included in this year’s 1517 Advent Resources.
Kathy Morales
Kathy Morales
11/28/24

What it Means to be Thankful

The Lord’s provision doesn’t rest on the strength of our gratitude.
Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi
11/20/24

A Review of 'To Gaze upon God'

This is the basic argument of To Gaze upon God: that we who now see as if behind a veil will one day enjoy the unveiled splendor of God himself, who will dwell with us forever.
Wade Johnston
Wade Johnston
11/15/24

The Widow's Lesson

What do we learn from the widow? We learn how to be dependent upon God.
Jason Oakland
Jason Oakland
11/14/24

Christ is the Ultimate

Christ is always the ultimate for God's children, but we sometimes struggle with things that come before.
Scott Keith
Scott Keith
10/16/24

Essential Reading for Lutheran Theology: The Thinking Fellows List

Below is the Thinking Fellows Essential Reading List with contributions from each of the Thinking Fellows hosts.
1517 is a Christian non-profit (501(c)3) multi-media organization. Our mission is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free on account of the death and resurrection of Jesus alone.
1517.org
Search
Academy
Donate

1517 grants permission for our free online resources to be printed, photocopied, and otherwise used freely for private and church use. We require that authorship and source (1517.org) are referenced and maintained. These resources may not be sold or included in any publications for sale.