Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe (1808-1872) was one of the pivotal nineteenth century theologians in the struggle to restore a confessional identity to the Lutheran churches of Europe and North America. In an age when the doctrine of the ministry was contended on both sides of the Atlantic, Loehe found himself in a protracted struggle with theologians of the State Churches of Europe and various synods in North America over the nature and work of the pastoral office. As the translator for the 1849 Aphorisms notes in his preface: "Both sets of Aphorisms are not to be seen in isolation, but rather...