The title page from the 1529 edition of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.

Want to know more about the Reformation and what Lutherans believe? This short list of books will help you dig deeper into the faith of the Reformers and their heirs today. Consider it a crash course on Lutheran theology and its early history.

Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland H. Bainton
This bestselling biography of Martin Luther was first published in 1950 and remains a classic to this day. A great option for those wanting a scholarly but accessible introduction to the man and the Reformation he helped start. After this, you might want to check out Bainton’s other book, The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century.

The Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals by Gene Veith
In this book, Veith introduces the faith of the Lutheran church in an eminently readable, winsome way. Always wanted to know what Lutherans believe, but weren’t sure where to start? This is the book for you.

The Small Catechism by Martin Luther
This small book by Luther summarizes Reformation theology in simple terms so that they could be taught by parents to their children. It focuses on six aspects of Christian belief specifically: The Ten Commandments, The Apostle’s Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession and Absolution, and Holy Communion. While simple, it is not simplistic, and Christians will benefit from lifelong study of the book. [Read it online here or purchase a copy from Concordia Publishing House. Read an introduction to the Catechism here.]

The Augsburg Confession by Philip Melanchthon
This was the first Lutheran confession of faith, and was presented to Emperor Charles V by the Evangelical princes of Germany. It demonstrates how Reformation theology was in keeping with Scripture as well as the history of the church, and articulated recent abuses in the church that they opposed. [Read a traditional translation of the book here, or purchase an up to date translation in the Book of Concord – Reader’s Edition from Concordia Publishing House. Read an introduction to the Augsburg Confession here.]

The Book of Concord
When you’ve read Luther’s Small Catechism and the Augsburg Confession, you’ll want to move on to the other works in the Book of Concord. There’s Luther’s Large Catechism and Melanchthon’s Apology (or Defense) of the Augsburg Confession. You’ll also find the three historic creeds of the church (the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed), along with other documents, including The Smalcald Articles, The Power and Primacy of the Pope, and the Formula of Concord. Together, these works stand as the authoritative expression of Lutheran theology. [Read a traditional translation of the Book of Concord here, or purchase an up to date translation in the Book of Concord – Reader’s Edition from Concordia Publishing House. Read an introduction to all the texts in the Book of Concord here.]

Looking for even more? Try this expanded book list for even more reading ideas on the Reformation, with books suggestions in a number of categories, including children’s books, biographies of Luther, history, women of the Reformation, and more.