Courses Taught for the Weidner Institute:
Jordan Cooper is an ordained Lutheran pastor in the American Association of Lutheran Churches, a Professor of Systematic Theology, the Executive Director of Just and Sinner, and the President of the American Lutheran Theological Seminary. He has also held positions in multiple Christian organizations on campus at Cornell University. Cooper has authored several books, including his ongoing A Contemporary Protestant Scholastic Theology series, as well as theological articles in a variety of publications, including: Credo, Modern Reformation, Logia, Conspectus, Sapientia, the Issues Etc. Journal, Rowan and Littlefield's Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation, and more. He has hosted the Just and Sinner Podcast since 2012, and also has a popular YouTube channel. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his wife Lisa and their two sons.

Contact
Speaking requests can be sent to [email protected].
You can contact Dr. Cooper directly at [email protected]. Note that due to the large number of emails he receives, you might not receive a response if you contact him directly.

Publications

Articles and Papers
  • "Ten Questions on Natural Theology" Credo (2023) (Link)
  • "Why Have We Lost Transcendence?" Credo (2023) (Link)
  • "A Defense of the Objectivity of Beauty" presented to the Cornell Political Union (2023)
  • "Luther's Contribution of the Two Kinds of Righteousness," presented at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (2022)
  • "A Review of From Plato to Christ" Sapientia (2022) (Link)
  • "What Exactly is Protestant Scholasticism and Why Does it Matter?" Credo (2022) (Link)
  • "Obedientia Christi Activa: The Imputation of Christ's Active Obedience in the Lutheran Tradition and Scripture" The Doctrine of Justification: Theological Essays from the Weidner Institute. (2021)
  • "The Fullness of Deity in Bodily Form: A Lutheran Approach to the Incarnation" Modern Reformation (2020) (Link)
  • "Luther Contra Scholasticos?" Modern Reformation (2020). (Link)
  • "The Use of Linguistic and Relational Ontology in Contemporary Lutheranism." Conspectus: The Journal of the South African Theological Seminary. no. 27 (2019). (Link)
  • "The Use of Classical Greek Philosophy in Early Lutheranism." Conspectus: The Journal of the South African Theological Seminary. no. 26 (2018). (Link)
  • “Predestination, Grace, and Free Will in the Thought of St. Prosper of Aquitaine and C.F.W. Walther: A Comparison and Evaluation.” LOGIA: A Journal of Lutheran Theology (2013). (Link)
  •  “The Lutheran Doctrine of Original Sin in Light of Other Christian Traditions.” LOGIA: A Journal of Lutheran Theology. no. 4. (2013:13-20). 
  •  “A Lutheran Response to Justification: Five Views.” LOGIA: A Journal of Lutheran Theology (2012). (Link)
Books
  • In Defense of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful: On the Loss of Transcendence and the Decline of the West. Ithaca, NY: Just and Sinner, 2021.
  • Union with Christ: Salvation as Participation. A Contemporary Protestant Scholastic Theology Volume 6. Ithaca, NY: Weidner Institute, 2021.
  • Prolegomena: A Defense of the Scholastic Method. A Contemporary Protestant Scholastic Theology Volume 1. Ithaca, NY: Weidner Institute, 2020. (Link)
  • Liturgical Worship: A Lutheran Introduction. Watseka, IL: Just and Sinner, 2018. (Link)
  • Lex Aeterna: A Defense of the Orthodox Lutheran Doctrine of God’s Law and Critique of Gerhard Forde. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2017. (Link)
  •  Hands of Faith: A Historical and Theological Study of the Two Kinds of Righteousness in Lutheran Thought. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2016. (Link)
  • Baptized into Christ: A Guide to the Christian Life. Watseka, IL: Just and Sinner, 2016. (Link)
  • The Great Divide: A Lutheran Evaluation of Reformed Theology. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2015. (Link)
  • Christification: A Lutheran Approach to Theosis. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2014. (Link)
  • The Righteousness of One: An Evaluation of Early Patristic Soteriology in Light of the New Perspective on Paul. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2013. (Link)

                                           Contributor
  • Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation. Edited by Mark Lamport. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2017. (Link)
  • "Does God Forgive Past, Present, and Future Sins at the Moment of Conversion? A Lutheran Perspective," in The Cleansing Flood. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock (upcoming).
​

Education

  • Ph.D., Theology, South African Theological Seminary
    • Dissertation: A Defense of the Scholastic Method and Critique of Radical Lutheranism
    • Avisor: Daniel Lioy
    • Dissertation earned the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing
  • M.A. in Theology, South African Theological Seminary
    • Thesis: A Defense of the Orthodox Lutheran Doctrine of God's Law and Critique of Gerhard Forde
    • Advisor: Daniel Lioy
  • M.Div. (previously identified as an MTS), American Lutheran Theological Seminary
  • Master of Theological Studies, Wittenberg Institute (with honors)
    • Thesis: An Evaluation of Early Patristic Soteriology in Light of the New Perspective on Paul
    • Advisor: Scott Keith
  • B.A. Biblical Studies, Geneva College (with honors)​

Experience

After completing a vicarage in Western Massachusetts, Jordan Cooper was called to the Office of the Holy Ministry in the American Association of Lutheran Churches. He was pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in Brighton, IA, from 2012-2014. He then served as pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Watseka, IL from 2014-2018. In 2018, he moved to Ithaca, NY, where he served as Ministry Fellow with Christian Union at Cornell University until the Summer of 2020. 

Following this season of full-time campus ministry, Jordan Cooper began to work full-time with Just and Sinner. His time is devoted to publishing, writing, teaching, podcasting, and marketing.

Along with his work for Just and Sinner, Jordan Cooper was called by the AALC to serve as the President of the American Lutheran Theological Seminary in the Fall of 2020. Along with teaching systematic theology, he is leading the Seminary through the process of accreditation.

Jordan is also the Campus Minister in Residence with the Cornell student organization Lutheran Student Fellowship, where he leads a weekly Bible study. He also speaks to various other Cornell student organizations, including: CRU, Intervarsity, The Cornell Political Union, and the G.K. Chesterton House.