Friends for Life is an entire podcast devoted to the intersection of church and life issues, theology and how it informs our personal caring of ourselves and our neighbors. Now 8 episodes in, we pause to answer some foundational questions, including “What does it mean to be pro-life,” “Is there a better term to use than the politically charged term pro-life?,” and “How does our Christian theology lead us to be a life-affirming people?” Professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary, Dr. Jeff Gibbs, joins us to give his Gospel-centered answers and to challenge listeners to rethink their motivation when it comes to involvement in the life arena. Because the Gospel. Changes. Everything.

Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life.

Find Matthew – Concordia Commentary by Dr. Jeffrey A. Gibbs at cph.org/p-685-Matthew-11-111-Concordia-Commentary.aspx.

Find the resource "Gracious and Multi-Faceted - When Theology Drives Involvement in the Life Arena" in Winter 2020 issue of Concordia Journal by clicking this link. (Article Copyright Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 2020. Linked with permission.) Subscribe to the Concordia Journal at csl.edu/resources/publications/concordia-journal.

Bio: Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs is a professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He retired in 2020 after 28 years of distinguished service. His areas of interest and expertise include the Synoptic Gospels, New Testament eschatology and Matthew. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va. (1995). He earned a Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) and Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind. (1988, 1979). After graduating from Concordia Theological Seminary, Dr. Gibbs was ordained in 1979 and was called to two congregations in northwestern Oregon. He served there for 10 years. His writing works include Jerusalem and Parousia: Jesus’ Eschatological Discourse in Matthew’s Gospel (Concordia Publishing House [CPH], 2000); Matthew 1:1—11:1, Concordia Commentary (CPH, 2006); Matthew 11:2—20:32, Concordia Commentary (CPH, 2010); and Matthew 21:1-28:20, Concordia Commentary (CPH, 2018). Dr. Gibbs and his wife, Renee, live in St. Louis and are active in life-affirming ministry, especially on behalf of unborn children. They have four grown children and more than a dozen grandchildren, the total number of which is happily beyond their control.