Digital Commons Network^™

Introduction To Sacred Theology, J T. Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Nature and Constitution of Sacred Theology.

The Purpose of Christian Theology

In the performance of his sacred functions the Christian theologian must at all times conscientiously keep in mind the true objective of his theological activity. The purpose of sacred theology, so far as it regards lost and perishing mankind, is not the spread of culture nor the establishment of civic righteousness on earth nor the satisfaction of the intellectual craving of the human mind nor the enrichment of human knowledge, but the eternal salvation of sinners.

Introduction To Sacred Theology, J T. Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Nature and Constitution of Sacred Theology.

Primary and Secondary Fundamental Doctrines.

The fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion may be divided into primary and secondary fundamental doctrines. Also this distinction is Scriptural, practical, and useful, for it helps the Christian theologian to discriminate rightly between the fundamental doctrines themselves. As we have learned, fundamental doctrines are such as constitute the foundation of the Christian faith; yet not all fundamental doctrines constitute this foundation in the same manner. Hollas rightly observes (53): "All the fundamental articles of faith must necessarily be known, but the grades of this necessity are different." …

Dr. Francis Pieper The Churchman, W H. Dau

Concordia Theological Monthly

''There is no such thing in the Christian Church as mere teaching; all teaching is to be reduced to practice. The Christian Church is not a philosophers' school, where only teaching is done, but a society of people who by faith in the Gospel and mortification of the flesh are traveling on the way to everlasting life and are commissioned to lead others into this way. True, there is also teaching done in the Christian Church, and this is done first and over continued. Doctrine is the basis for every activity of the Church. However, teaching is not the end, …

Introduction To Sacred Theology, J T. Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Nature and Constitution of Sacred Theology.

Christianity, the Absolute Religion

The Christian religion is the absolute religion, inasmuch as it is absolutely perfect, neither requiring, nor being capable of, improvement or supplementation. It is God-given and therefore precisely as God would have it to accomplish its beneficent purpose of "saving sinners." When we ascribe to the Christian religion perfection or absoluteness we do not mean to say that it is a "logically complete whole", or a logically complete and perfect system, in which there are no missing links of thoughts or doctrines. Considered from this viewpoint, the Christion religion …

Introduction To Sacred Theology, J T. Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Nature and Constitution of Sacred Theology.

The Two Sources (Principia Cognoscendi) of the Existing Religions.

As we have seen, there are but two essentially different religions, the religion of faith, or of the Gospel, and the religion of works, or of the Law. So also there are but two actual sources (principia cognoscendi, principles of knowledge) from which these two divergent religions are taken. The religion of works is of human origin; it is a man-made religion, having its source and origin in the human heart, in which God has inscribed His divine Law, so that also the heathen, …

Introduction To Sacred Theology, J T. Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Scriptural Viewpoint of the Christian Theologian.

Owing to the diverse views and tendencies prevailing among theologians to-day, it is necessary for the Christian theologian, before presenting to his readers his dogmatic treatise, to declare in clear and unmistakable terms from what viewpoint this has been written.

The viewpoint of the present-day modernistic theologian is that truth must be determined by human reason in the light of scientific research. The theological Liberalist therefore does not recognize Holy Scripture as the source and norm of faith, but bolds that this ancient standard of the Christian Church has been superseded by the …

Study On The Eisenach Epistle-Lesson For The Third Sunday In Lent, Th. Laetsch

Concordia Theological Monthly

In glowing language the apostle had pointed out to his troubled and sorrowing fellow-pilgrims through a dark and dreary world the bright and shining star of Christian hope, every word throbbing with intense longing for the realization of his glorious vision. He had spoken of a hope which is not content with the fleeting joys and pleasures of this world, with the passing honors and glories of this · time. No, Christian hope raises its eye to the world to come and expectantly looks forward to eternity for the realization of its desires. It looks forward to "an inheritance incorruptible …