He was educated at Capital University and its Theological Department, which were institutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio.
He was ordained as a pastor in that synod in 1887, and served congregations in Baltimore, Maryland, and in Trenton, Springfield, and Anna, Ohio.
He also served the Joint Synod of Ohio as president of its Western District for a number of years.
[3] Lenski's major work was a 12-volume series of commentaries on the New Testament, published originally by the Lutheran Book Concern.
Each contains a literal translation of the Greek texts and commentary from a traditional Lutheran perspective.