In the face of the plague’s extreme suffering, Philipp Nicolai provides a beacon of hope in this small and quick resource for clergy and laity alike. The Joy of Eternal Life was written by the great Lutheran hymn writer for the church militant in the midst of the battle. Our synod’s experience with Nicolai has been limited to his well-known hymns. Wachet Auf (LSB 516) and Wie Schön Leuchtet (LSB 395) put to song the great salvific Word that calls us to eternal life. In The Joy of Eternal Life, we are provided an additional experience of Nicolai’s application of that same Word of Life in small and easily-applied readings.
The book, which is well-translated into understandable and beautiful English, is divided into three sections, the third section being an appendix of hymns. The first part, “What Eternal Life Is,” is a thorough introduction of the article of eternal life and its living comfort and joy. The second part, “How God Readies Us for It,” gives a picture of where eternal life comes from and how the Holy Spirit readies us for it.
Each chapter is subdivided into smaller sections. Those sections are headed with their own individual topics and references both to Holy Scripture and to church fathers. The organization is comparable to a devotional or set of meditations. Individual sections within each chapter can be used and applied to personal situations and conversations. The inclusion of references from Holy Scripture makes these subsections easily taken up as family devotion or congregational Bible study.
Steven Cholak
Assistant Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church and School
Houston, TX