The primary responsibilities of a pastor include caring for the congregation and interpreting the Bible. Scott Manetsch has devoted his scholarly attention to these two essential aspects of pastoral care through numerous publications on the history of the pastoral office and the history of exegesis in the Reformation era. This Festschrift honoring him explores the practice of pastoral care across various branches of the Reformation, illustrating how different traditions and historical contexts shaped the “care of souls.”

The work is organized into two parts. The first examines numerous pastoral care practices within the German, Swiss, French, English, and Genevan Reformations, highlighting Protestant emphases on the word of God, catechesis, sacraments, fasting, authority, and compassion. The second part analyzes how reformers interpreted and applied biblical texts to seek guidance, wisdom, comfort, forgiveness, resilience, and consolation. Each essay celebrates Manetsch’s important scholarly contributions and further expands our understanding of how Protestant leaders utilized Scripture to give and receive pastoral care in the Protestant tradition.