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An Examination Of The Left, Right And Center Parties In The American Lutheran Controversy Of The Mid-Nineteenth Century, Philip Hendrickson

Master of Art Theology Thesis

James Voelz recently published a two-part essay in Concordia Journal entitled, “Contemporary Americans Make Poor Confessional Lutherans."! In his essay, Dr. Voelz points out that the rampant liberty that permeates American life is constantly at odds with the desire of Lutherans to remain confessional, doctrinal and liturgical. He states, "All of the factors involved in such a church, viz., doctrinal formulations, confessional statements, and uniform liturgical practices, are restrictive and non-libertarian. They rub against the grain of every contemporary American. Which means that to embrace them is to be truly counter-cultural.”

This tension between being Lutheran and being American is …

Integrity And Integration In Ecclesiastical Historiography: The Perspective Of Mosheim And Neander, Paulo Buss

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

This investigation attempts to apply the motif of integrity and integration in an examination of Lutheran ecclesiastical historiography. This is not a comprehensive survey involving all the significant Lutheran historians of the past but rather focuses on selected Lutheran historians of different centuries to determine possible tendencies in their views of integrity and integration. Although these terms themselves are not employed as such by the theologians/historians analyzed here, this study starts with the hypothesis that the concepts expressed by these terms are not unfamiliar to them.

In a study of Lutheran historiography the question about Luther's view of history deserves …

Theology Of The Pain Of God: An Analysis And Evaluation Of Kazoh Kitamori's (1916- ) Work In Japanese Protestantism, Akio Hashimoto

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The overall negative appraisal of Kitamori must be considered as a critical reaction to various aspects of his own theology. Perhaps not one or two aspects of his theology alone are responsible for this. The reason for the negative responses is surely of a composite nature. However, it is not the main concern of this study to find answers individually to the questions raised above. The intention of this study is to analyze and assess Kitamori's theology as a whole. But to try to find the answers to the questions is useful for the purpose here: they provide methodological clues.

Watchman Nee And The Priesthood Of All Believers, Wai Man Ng

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

It is the thesis of this study that the priesthood of all believers serves to undergird the seemingly unrelated loci of his theological scheme, namely, personal sanctification and the doctrine of the church. We shall examine Nee's teaching of the priesthood of all believers with reference to his spiritual theology and the doctrine of the church. And since Nee's teaching of the priesthood of all believers has historiographical implication in that the apostasy of the church is indicated by what he considers the intermediary class of clergy and the decline of the universal priesthood, we shall examine the development of …

The Theology Of St. Irenaeus A Survey, Timothy Endean

Master of Art Theology Thesis

In this paper we shall attempt a general survey of Irenaeus’ theology. We will use the typical systematic categories and order(which Irenaeus himself tends to follow), yet we will constantly keep in mind the Gnostic theology and philosophy which he fought and, as Church history and even the very existence of Church history shows, successfully opposed.

Of Congregational And Synodical Authority, John Constable

Concordia Theological Monthly

It is the blessing and the bane of the church in the 20th century that it is both the inheritor and the victim of its own organization. Among people who cry for the ''good old days" of simple truths, simple faith, and simple organization there is always the specter of complex reality. Gone are the days, we are told, when a member of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod could quote a father of the first, 16th or 19th century to support a proper thesis. Yet all seem to do it to underpin a modern position. Paul, Luther, and Walther are cited …

Division And Reunion In The Presbyterian Church In Korea 1959-1968, Bong Rin Ro

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

This study is basically a historical investigation based on sources from both Korea and America. Since the controversial matter in the thesis can be problematical, the writer attempted to select source materials which give a fair representation of both opposing factions. Most of the primary sources in Korean were brought either directly from Korea or made available from Presbyterian missionaries in America who worked in Korea. A brother of the writer, a Presbyterian minister and a seminary student were also instrumental in Korea collecting necessary materials such as the minutes of the General Assembly meetings, official statements of various church …

Tribute To John W. Behnken: Ministry In The Acceptable Time, Alfred O. Fuerbringer

Concordia Theological Monthly

In our worship this morning two lines of thought converge. In the first place, it's the beginning of a new academic quarter, the last of this year. That raises questions: How are we doing? Are we reasonably close to schedule? Are we able for another three months to take the mounting pressures and to finish our courses? If we are concerned about the long-range and not just about today or tomorrow, next week or next May, what about our ministry?

The Canonist "Panormitanus" And The Problem Of Scriptural Authority, Hermann Schessler

Concordia Theological Monthly

The ecumenical discussions of recent years have made it apparent that one of the major issues-if not the major issue- between Roman Catholics and Protestants is still the problem of Scriptural authority. In the dialog with Roman Catholics we are confronted with what appears to be a dilemma. Roman Catholics will ask this question: How is it possible to preserve the purity and plenitude of revelation and even the very authority of the Scriptures without the magisterial authority of the church?

Vatican Council Ii Addresses Protestantism, Carl S. Meyer

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Second Vatican Council made no overt bid to all Christians to return to Rome. It did not condemn those outside the Roman Church. Instead, the Council spoke kindly to those who are not under the jurisdiction of the Pope. The pronouncements of the Council about nonRoman-Catholics are earnest and deserve serious attention. Although they are not addressed directly to Protestantism, they speak about Protestantism and in that sense they may be regarded as being addressed also to Protestants.

The Braunschweig Theses On The Teaching And Mission Of The Church, Paul M. Bretscher (Translator)`

Concordia Theological Monthly

In an accelerating tempo, theologically and doctrinally false teachings are infiltrating the life and proclamation of the These teachings claim that since they derive from a so-called "existential interpretation" of Biblical passages, they are the only way in which the proclamation of the Gospel can be made relevant and do justice to man's current understanding of the present world.

Christianity And Nichiren In Japan, Donald Neiswender

Concordia Theological Monthly

There is a force building up in Japan which has a most threatening aspect, no matter whether one views it from East or West, from the base of the church or the base of communism. The throbbing nationalism of this force is antithetical both to the unity needed among free nations and to the enforced internationalism of communism. And since this force is preeminently a religious force, it must appear terribly anachronistic to a believing and practicing communist who believes that man is outgrowing his need of religion. It is also a heart-breaking phenomenon to behold from the viewpoint of …

The Ecumenical Century And The Parish, Alvin N. Rogness

Concordia Theological Monthly

I am not audacious enough to think that I can say anything new or solve any of the many problems which our day enforces upon us. I hope I may call into focus some of the issues that face us now and others that assuredly will be upon us in acute shape in the years ahead. At the outset I want in all candor to say that I am more terrified than exhilarated by the ministry which my son and his generation must face in the next 40 years. And it follows that I must confess that I have no …

Scripture And Tradition In The Council Of Trent, Richard Baepler

Concordia Theological Monthly

This study deals with the historical circumstances surrounding the Roman Catholic doctrinal decision at the Council of Trent regarding the authority of Scripture and tradition. By examining this decision in the light of events which led to its formulation as well as in the light of its subsequent fate, we shall be introduced to an issue which has become very much alive in both Roman Catholic and Protestant thought.

Career Of The Reformer, Theodore Hoyer

Concordia Theological Monthly

Under this subtitle four volumes of the new American edition of Luther's Works will be issued; the first one, Vol. :31, has just come from the press. (The earlier volumes [1-30], four of which have appeared to date, will contain Luther's expositions of various Biblical books.) These four volumes (31-34) will contain what are usually called Luther's Reformation writings: "All the significant and representative writings of Luther which are concerned with his career as a reformer" (31, x f.). The purpose is to show in his own words why and how he became the Reformer, what he did for the …

Labor, Industry, And The Church, David S. Schuller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The church stood amazed before the rising form of the industrial giant. Its size was frightening enough, but its two heads of unionism and management struck terror into her heart. The church felt she should say something to the monster. But then what could she say? It certainly didn't look like a membership prospect. And so the church pretended she didn't see it. But the church's heart continued to pound. And way down deep she felt guilty. She had a message - even for such two-headed giants. And she should be speaking.

Anglican And Orthodox Reunion, Milton Rudnick

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Progress in These efforts is apparent particularly since the last decade of the Nineteenth Century. This paper will study the Anglican-Orthodox relations with regard to reunion. The first section will deal with the factors which encourage reunion efforts. Then we will briefly sketch the actual negotiations themselves, as they have taken place since the Seventeenth Century. The next section will discuss the doctrinal issues involved in Anglican-Orthodox Reunion. Our concluding section will deal with the principal problems which are raised by Anglican-Orthodox Reunion Attempts.

The Reformation And Nationalism, Thomas Coates

Concordia Theological Monthly

From Constantine to Charlemagne to Charles V the relationship of Church and State determined the course of history and affected every aspect of Western civilization. The interplay between this problem and the emerging nationalism of the Middle Ages provides a most interesting phase in the study of the Protestant Reformation.

The Archeology Of The Sacraments, P. E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

The boundary between history and archeology is somewhat indefinite, but for the purpose of this short discussion the following distinction may be of value. History is a more or less orderly narration of events, either in the form of a chronicle which notes down occurrences from day to day or week to week, like a diary, or in logical arrangement, presenting events in units as the historian understands the incidents which he presents. Archeology, on the other hand, and, in this instance, Christian archeology, is the science of Christian antiquity, an orderly presentation not so much of historical events as …

Gnosticism And Its Conflict With Christianity, Gerhardt Nitz

Bachelor of Divinity

The study of such a movement as Gnosticism is doubly important to the student of' theology. This is a phase of history which greatly influenced the church in its infancy. It has left marks upon the church which will never be erased. Moreover, a study of this heresy is essential for the proper understanding of the New Testament. Again, the influence of Gnosticism, as will be pointed out later continued for many centuries. Such a deeply rooted, powerful, paganistic tendency cannot be lightly passed by.