author
Joseph Stump
1866–1935
A Lutheran theologian, pastor, and teacher, he wrote clear, practical books that helped generations of readers explore Christian doctrine and church history. His best-known works include studies of Luther's Small Catechism and a concise history of the Lutheran Church in America.
1 Audiobook
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
by Martin Luther, Joseph Stump
About the author
Born in Marietta, Pennsylvania, in 1866, Joseph Stump studied at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He was ordained in 1887 and went on to serve pastorates in Pennsylvania and New Jersey before moving into theological education.
Stump later taught at the Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary and at Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, where he also served as president. Alongside his work as a pastor and professor, he wrote books on Lutheran belief, Christian ethics, biography, and church history, including An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism, The Christian Faith, and A Brief History of the Lutheran Church in America.
His writing is remembered for being direct and useful, aimed at helping ordinary readers as well as students preparing for ministry. He died in 1935, leaving behind a body of work that still circulates in Lutheran libraries and historical collections.