Dr. Arthur A. Just Jr. Honored with Festschrift
FORT WAYNE, Ind., May 12, 2026—The Reverend Dr. Arthur A. Just Jr., professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), was prepared to talk about his new theological memoir, Ever to Emmaus (Wipf and Stock, 2026), at the weekly student convocation May 6. Before that presentation began, CTSFW Provost Charles A. Gieschen made a special announcement, surprising Just with a festschrift in honor of his faithful service and exemplary scholarship during his forty-two years at CTSFW.
“Scholars have a funny way of saying they love one another,” said Gieschen. “We don’t often use those words, but when a person has contributed a lifetime of service, scholarship, and teaching, what fellow colleagues and scholars often do is put together a book of essays in which they honor that person.”
The festschrift, entitled He Opened to Us the Scriptures: Essays in Honor of Arthur A. Just Jr., (CPH, forthcoming), includes twenty essays written by current and former CTSFW faculty members as well as several international Lutheran leaders, some of whom attended the May 6 convocation virtually. The essays are grouped in three areas that reflect Just’s interests and contributions as a theologian, scholar, and teacher of the faith: Scriptures of the church, worship of the church, and mission of the church.
Essays include “Luke: Beauty, Discipleship, and the Law’s Third Use” by Peter J. Scaer, “The Arrangement of the Divine Service in the Early Church” by John W. Kleinig, “Mission Perspectives from the Lutheran Perspective” by Andrew K. Pfeiffer, and a biography and bibliography by Indiana District President D. Richard Stuckwisch. The volume was planned and edited by Charles Gieschen.
Just, who earned his MDiv at CTSFW in 1980, has served on the Seminary faculty since 1984, teaching New Testament, liturgics, homiletics, catechetics, and pastoral theology. He has served as chairman of Exegetical Theology, dean of the chapel, director of the Deaconess Studies program, and co-director of the Good Shepherd Institute of Pastoral Theology and Sacred Music. His publications include Concordia Commentary: Luke 1:1-9:50 (CPH, 1996), Concordia Commentary: Luke 9:51-24:53 (CPH, 1997), Visitation (CPH, 2008) and Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service (CPH, 2008).
He has also spent significant time in the mission field, serving for more than twenty years with the Office of International Mission (OIM) of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in various capacities, including liaison between OIM and Spain (2012–2023), professor and associate director of Seminario Concordia “El Reformador” (SCR) in Santiago, Dominican Republic (2017–2023), and associate executive director of global theological education (2020–2023).
Dr. Paul Grime, dean of the chapel at CTSFW, has a long history with Just and didn’t hesitate when Gieschen asked him to contribute an essay to the festschrift. “I’ve known and respected Dr. Just since first meeting the new, young professor after I returned to the seminary from vicarage in 1985,” said Grime. “I’ve been privileged to work with him through these decades, especially during the development of Lutheran Service Book as he chaired the lectionary committee, and I was honored to follow him as dean of the chapel in 2007.”
After the festschrift announcement at the convocation, Just expressed his thanks for the surprise honor. “I’m overwhelmed. I had no idea. This is phenomenal. I love this,” he said, taking his place at the podium. He then used the remaining time to talk about Ever to Emmaus, a reflection on the many formative experiences that have shaped him and his theological interests.
He Opened to Us the Scriptures is expected to be available this June from Concordia Publishing House.