Dr. David Luy's calling has always been to teach theology within the church and for the church's benefit. He believes theology belongs most fundamentally to the church, where sound doctrine is critical to every aspect of corporate life, especially the preaching and catechesis offered by ministers. His theological journey afforded him opportunities to engage with a broad range of ecclesial traditions, and ecumenical conversation partners continue to enrich his thinking. As NALS Academic Director, he is deeply grateful for Trinity's hospitality in welcoming the North American Lutheran Seminary as an embedded partner on the Ambridge campus—a beautiful expression of the church's unity amid important differences, opening invaluable opportunities for mutual edification.
Dr. Luy's goal is to help form theologically literate pastors who are committed to and take delight in the orthodox faith "once delivered unto the saints." He believes spiritual formation is rooted in relationships mediated by mutual fellowship with Christ and shaped by rich abiding in the word of Christ. While professors play an important role in mentoring, the deepest source of formation is the living word of God at work in the steady rhythms of prayer and worship.
What Dr. Luy treasures most is working with students—the thrill of introducing them to new subjects and seeing that light come on. He is thrilled to be part of an educational context where residential students experience the thick, "life together" pastoral formation Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes. His hope is that students will emerge utterly captivated by the riches of the catholic and apostolic faith, and that this love for God will inspire lifelong learning as a wellspring nourishing every aspect of their ministry. He enjoys music, backpacking, and all kinds of fishing.
Dr. Luy's research extends to a wide variety of topics but has focused especially upon the historical development and modern appropriation of Reformation theologies. He has published a book-length study of Luther's Christology entitled Dominus Mortis: Martin Luther on the Incorruptibility of God in Christ (Fortress Press, 2014) and served as co-editor for a volume of essays collected under the title Evil and the Doctrine of Creation (Lexham Press, 2020). Dr. Luy has contributed to several journals, including Luther Digest, The International Journal of Systematic Theology, and Modern Theology. He has also contributed essays to the Oxford Encyclopedia of Martin Luther (2017), the Oxford Handbook of the Reception of Aquinas (2021), and the Oxford Handbook of Deification (forthcoming). His current book project, The Fate of Christocentrism in Modern Theology, will appear as a volume in the Changing Paradigms in Historical and Systematic Theology series with Oxford University Press.
The Fate of Christocentrism in Modern Theology. Changing Paradigms in Historical and Systematic Theology. Oxford University Press, forthcoming.
Dominus Mortis: Martin Luther on the Incorruptibility of God in Christ. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 2014.
Evil and Creation: Historical and Constructive Essays in Christian Dogmatics. Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology. Edited with Matthew Levering and George Kalantzis. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020.
“Deification and Christology.” In The Oxford Handbook of Deification, edited by Matthew Levering, Paul Gavrilyuk and Andrew Hofer. Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming.
“Evil in Christian Theology” (with Matthew Levering). In Creation and the Problem of Evil, edited by David Luy, Matthew Levering and George Kalantzis. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020.
“Joseph Ratzinger’s Ecumenical Christocentrism.” In Joseph Ratzinger and the Healing of the Reformation-Era Divisions, edited by Matthew Levering and Emery de Gaal. Emmaus Academic Press, 2019.
“Martin Luther and Late Medieval Christology.” In The Medieval Luther. Spätmittelalter, Humanismus, Reformation. Edited by Christine M. Helmer. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2020.
“Simplicity and Language: Bonaventure’s Semiotic Asymptoticism.” Modern Theology 35 (2019): 481-95.
“Luther and the General Priesthood: An Embedded Account.” In The Reformation and the Ministry of the Word. Edited by Scott Manetsch. Downer’s Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2019.
“Martin Luther’s Reception of Aquinas.” In The Oxford Handbook of the Reception of Aquinas. Edited by Matthew Levering and Marcus Plested. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021.
“A Wondrous Strife: Luther’s Baroque Soteriology.” In Savior and Lord. Edited by Paul Hinlicky and David Nelson. Delhi, NY: American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, 2018.
“Disputation.” In The Oxford Encyclopedia of Martin Luther. Edited by Derek Nelson, Paul Hinlicky, Johannes Zachhuber, Risto Saarinen, Anna Vind, Lois Malcolm and Mickey Mattox. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017.
“Dying for the Last Time: Martin Luther on Christian Death.” In Christian Dying: Witnesses from the Tradition. Edited by George Kalantzis and Matthew Levering. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books, 2018.
“The Aesthetic Collision: Hans Urs von Balthasar on the Trinity and the Cross.” The International Journal of Systematic Theology 13 (2011): 154-69.
Trinity is to be an evangelical seminary in the Anglican tradition. To this end we develop Christian leaders who can plant, renew, and grow churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.
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