Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Theology Of Acts, Robert H. Smith

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author argues that Luke-Acts must be read as a single work in two volumes, whose author is a brilliant theologian. Acts 28:17-31 provides a window through which the reader can begin to penetrate and to ponder the theological message of Luke-Acts.

The Secret Of God's Plan: Studies In Ephesians Part Four, Martin H. Scharlemann

Concordia Theological Monthly

This fourth and final study in the Letter to the Ephesians depicts the scope of God's secret plan for the universe. It follows the previous expositions of the content and implementation of the divine mystery as well as the opposition to God's purpose of restoring the universe by gathering up all things under the lordship of Christ.

The Secret Of God's Plan: Studies In Ephesians, Martin H. Scharlemann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Verse 9 of chapter 1 of Ephesians provides a good general tide to highlight one basic theological emphasis of the letter. There the Greek, literally translated, makes reference to "the mystery of His will." The Revised Standard Version in this case retains just that wording from the Authorized Version.

The Church In God's Eternal Plan: A Study In Ephesians 1:1-14, Victor A. Bartling

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Church was in the world long before our days. It existed in Ephesus before Paul wrote his Letter to the Ephesians. Essentially the church, like Christ, never changes. Its foundation, its goals, its means and resources, its message to men always remain the same. But since the church is made up of men, it necessarily reflects, in its historical manifestations, the social and cultural aspects of its historical environments. Within these environments, however, it must function according to God's unchanging design. There is always the temptation that the church may so much lose itself in its own given historical …

Light From Galatians 3:1 On Pauline Theology, Paul G. Bretscher

Concordia Theological Monthly

The interpretation of this impassioned verse from an impassioned epistle has for some time ceased to be a problem for commentators. "New evidence," reported by George Milligan in 1923, came by way of a 17-century-old scrap of papyrus. It told of the parents of a wayward son who notified the governor that they would no longer be responsible for the son's debts and asked that a public announcement to this effect be "placarded up" (πϱογϱαφῆναι) where all might read it.

Galatians 2:1-10 And The Acts Of The Apostles, Robert G. Hoerber

Concordia Theological Monthly

No doubt the chief crux in the comparison of Paul's Epistle to the Galatians with the Acts of the Apostles is the relating of Gal. 2:1-10 to the account of Acts. To equate Gal. 2:1-10 with Acts 15 raises such serious difficulties in the judgment of many scholars that they have proposed various explanations.

Galatians-A Declaration Of Christian Liberty, William F. Arndt

Concordia Theological Monthly

For our orientation it will be advisable briefly to survey the passages in which the word "freedom" or "free" occurs. It is early in the Epistle that Paul first touches on this topic (2:3-5). In the historical sketch of his career he relates what happened when he and Barnabas, accompanied by Titus, went to Jerusalem.

The Place Of Prayer In The Sanctification Of Christian Life, James G. Manz

Concordia Theological Monthly

Prayer, in and by itself, makes no one holy. It is only the person who is already holy in Christ who truly prays. One's whole conception of Christianity can be perverted if one begins to speak about prayer without first relating it to the Word of the Gospel. A word of warning from Luther is in place as we begin to consider the subject of this paper: But I would counsel you, if you wish to pray, fast, or establish some foundation in the Church, take heed not to do it in order to obtain some benefit, whether temporal or …

Lnstructions To The Weak And The Strong According To Romans 14, C. A. Gaertner

Concordia Theological Monthly

Eternal vigilance is the price of Christian liberty which was restored to Christendom through the Lutheran Reformation. Legalism and license always have been and still are the implacable foes of Christian liberty and ultimately of the Gospel itself. Since the Apostolic days church history is replete with instances where entire church bodies fell victim to one or the other. And the pity is that only too frequently matters of indifference, so-called adiaphora, served as the starting point from which either legalism or license sabotaged the priceless boon of Christian liberty. The Lutheran Church must therefore guard with especial care its …

God's Grace The Preacher's Tool. A Homiletical Study Of Titus 2:11-14, Richard R. Caemmerer

Concordia Theological Monthly

Most pastors read the Christmas Epistle during the holidays. Many preached on it as a text for a Christmas message. As they prepared that sermon, they probably realized that this text speaks only secondarily to congregations. Primarily it is addressed to a pastor, a pastor who is training other pastors. It does not speak specifically of Christmas, but of the redemption of Jesus Christ in general; not specifically of the moods and joys of Christmas, but of the objective of good works in Christian people. Hence the text speaks to pastors about their own ministry to people, especially the ministry …

The Forgotten Epistle, Otto E. Sohn

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Epistle to Philemon may fitly be called one of the forgotten books of the New Testament. Along with 2 and 3 John it has received but little attention in our synodical literature. And is there anyone among us who has ever preached a sermon on it or on a portion of it?

Sermon Study For Good Friday, 2 Cor. 5:14-21, Th. Laetsch

Concordia Theological Monthly

Over against the calumnies of his opponents and the misunderstandings of his beloved Corinthians, Paul defends in chaps.1-7 of his Second Letter to the Corinthians the sincerity of his purpose and the genuineness and glory of his apostolic calling. As the prophets of the Old Testament had been called mad fellows, 2 Kings 9:11; Jer. 29:26 f.; as Christ had been similarly stigmatized, Mark 3:21,22; John 7:20, so, in order to disparage Paul's person and message, his opponents had charged him with being a madman, out of his senses, a visionary and deceiver. In v.13 Paul had assured his readers …

Lectures On Galatians, Wm. Dallmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Paul gloried in the Cross of Christ, in nothing but the Cross of Christ. By that he means the Gospel, by which we are saved, "Christ died for our sins." "We are justified by His blood." 1 Cor. 15:2, 3; Rom. 5:9.

As the sun radiates beams of light in all directions, so the Cross sheds light on all important things. It is a pillar of light flaming with unspeakable glory.

The Cross preaches God's love. There we see and feel His heart beating for us. The Cross in bright light shows God so loved the wicked world that He …

Sermon Study On Rom. 8:24-28, Th. Laetsch

Concordia Theological Monthly

The theme of the first part of Paul's Letter to the Romans is the very heart of the Christian religion, the doctrine of the justification of sinners by grace, for Christ's sake, through faith, chap. 1:18-5: 21. Beginning with chap. 6, the apostle speaks of the necessary fruit of justification, sanctification of life, and admonishes his readers to unflagging zeal in striving for holiness. This sanctification requires a constant struggle of the spirit, the new man, which delights in the Law of God, against the flesh, in which dwelleth no good thing, chap. 7.

An Etymological Study Of ΔιχαιοσύΝη, Martin Scharlemann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Few words reveal the unique depth of Biblical thought more clearly than the New Testament concept of righteousness. It has been said of Paul that he used the language of his time but gave many of its terms a more profound spiritual significance. What is true of Paul in this respect applies equally to the New Testament as a whole: its terminology is largely that of the Koine current in the first century of the Christian era; many an individual word, however, has a reach equal only to the scope of the hope born of the Christian faith itself.

Outlines On The Eisenach Epistle Selections, W. Arndt

Concordia Theological Monthly

Peter had nearly reached the end of his career, 2 Pet. 1, 14. Sees much in the world that disturbs him. Prevalence of false teaching, 2, 1. General corruption of society, Vv. 10-12. Greater apostasy in days to come, Vv. 2. 20-22. Inspired by the Holy Ghost, 1, 21, he writes to his beloved Christians, of whom he says that they had obtained like precious faith with him, 1, 1, and issues to them a call to holiness, progressive holiness, and an admonition to stand by the Scriptures as the sure Word of Prophecy.

Sermon Study On 2 Cor. 7,4-10, Theo. Laetsch

Concordia Theological Monthly

In the first section of his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, chap. 1-7, the apostle rejoices over the obedience of the Corinthians to the various instructions of the First Letter. At the some time he, as a faithful pastor, admonishes them to still greater zeal in sanctification. He concludes this section with a hymn of joy and gratitude, laying bare his very heart, his conflicting emotions, with a frankness possible only to one who places fullest confidence in his readers. The Eisenach Epistle for Laetare Sunday is part of this conclusion, which really begins with v. 2.

Sermon Study On Phil. 1, 12-21, Theo. Laetsch

Concordia Theological Monthly

The letter to the Philippians is addressed to a congregation to which the apostle was especially attached. Philippi had been the first city in Europe in which the apostle had magnified his Lord Jesus by preaching the Gospel, Acts 16, 12. 13; by establishing a congregation, vv. 14. 33-40; by suffering for the cause of the Gospel, vv. 19-24. In the dark, dreary dungeon of this city he and Silas at midnight burst forth in a song of praise for the content of which we may compare Acta 5, 41; 14, 27. To these Philippians the letter is addressed. Again …

Sermon Study On 2 Cor. 4, 3-6;, Theo. Laetsch

Concordia Theological Monthly

We shall not be able to understand this beautiful passage without a knowledge of the preceding context. The apostle had begun to defend the divinity and the glory of his office and the blamelessness of his personal character against the scurrilous attacks mode against both by his opponents in Corinth.

Sermon Study On 1 Tim. 2, 1-6, Theo. Laetsch

Concordia Theological Monthly

Timothy, to whom this letter is addressed, had been left by Paul in charge of the large and influential congregation at Ephesus. Though still a young man, 1 Tim. 4, 12, Timothy was by no means a novice. Ho had been n "work-fellow'' of the apostle, Rom. 16, 21, for a number of years, had been entrusted with a number of important missions, and was one of the most trustworthy associates of Paul, Phil. 51, 20.

What Is Meant By "All Fulness," Col. 1, 19?, L. T. Wohllfeil

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Authorized Version translates: "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell," while the Revised Version renders it: "For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him should all the fulness dwell.''

Whom has “it pleased"? This is not expressly stated in this verse if one translates as does the Authorized Version, the Revised Version, the Vulgate, and Luther.

Sermon Study On Acts 20, 17-38, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

Paul had celebrated the Passover festival of the year 58 at Philippi, Acts 20, 6. His intention was to spend Pentecost at Jerusalem, although we are not told the reason for this wish. Time pressed, and hence Paul decided not to stop at Ephesus since he feared that the trip to this city might unduly delay him. At Miletus, however, his ship lay over for several days, perhaps to unload, or take on, cargo. This apparently unforeseen delay gave him an occasion to send for the elders of Ephesus.