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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Some Concerns About Current Confessional Statements, Horst W. Jordan
Some Concerns About Current Confessional Statements, Horst W. Jordan
Concordia Theological Monthly
Luther on occasion compared the world with a drunken peasant who when he was shoved into the saddle on the one side toppled out of it on the other so that it was impossible to help him, do what one would. The history of theology tempts one to use the same comparison. "What venturesome statements have men permitted themselves to make, statements that ultimately had to lead to disaster because the attempt was made to present a truth that was correct enough in itself but which was taught in a one-sided, undialectic form, with complete contempt and disapproval of its …
The Lessons Of Schwagerehe, Edward E. Busch
The Lessons Of Schwagerehe, Edward E. Busch
Concordia Theological Monthly
Traditional interpretations of Bible passages can have very long lives and can survive strong challenges if they are rooted deeply enough in the culture of a people. A case in point is the idea of Schruagerehe or marriage of in-laws.
The Future Of Christian Education In The Missouri Synod: A Matter Of Self-Understanding, Stephen A. Schmidt
The Future Of Christian Education In The Missouri Synod: A Matter Of Self-Understanding, Stephen A. Schmidt
Concordia Theological Monthly
Permit me to outline the remarks. I will trace briefly the historical benchmarks of our cultural and ecclesiastical past. Secondly, I will develop candid suggestions about the revitalization of that heritage for our present and future. Naturally in the second enterprise one ceases to be historian, risking rather the role of prophet, a dubious undertaking for any person doing history. But there is some comfort in the words of the British philosopher of history, W. H. Walsh, who writes: "Historians may not be prophets but they are often in a position to prophesy."
Rejoicing In Mercy: Unity In Diversity, John W. Constable
Rejoicing In Mercy: Unity In Diversity, John W. Constable
Concordia Theological Monthly
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has adopted an apt slogan to celebrate a century and a quarter of its existence: "Rejoicing in Mercy." The Lord has been good to our beloved Synod and has given us so much. A quarter of a century ago we celebrated "A Century of Grace;" a half-century ago we cried "Ebenezer" - "the Lord hath helped us hitherto."
Synodical Address-1848, C. F. Walther
Synodical Address-1848, C. F. Walther
Concordia Theological Monthly
(The 1848 Synodical Address of C. F. Walther, which is presented here in translation, clearly sets forth his views on the relationship between the congregations and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Dr. Walther's views were repeated almost verbatim in a "Brother to Brother" (Mein theurer Herr Amtsbruder} letter of Jan. 12, 1875, in which he assured the congregations of their freedom to accept or reject synodical resolutions, and then pleaded with them to "freely" accept a synodical resolution that called for a building fund collection for new construction at three synodical schools.
Doctrinal Emphases In The Missouri Synod, Erwin L. Lueker
Doctrinal Emphases In The Missouri Synod, Erwin L. Lueker
Concordia Theological Monthly
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has had the same doctrinal basis for 125 years. It is remarkable that within that period of time the loyalty of no group in Synod to that basis as given in the constitution could be seriously challenged. This, however, does not mean that there were no variations in emphases. This study is a brief synopsis of such variations. It is not concerned with difference, uniformity, contradiction, or inconsistency in doctrine (although some of these factors may be present) but with coordinating stresses. Examination of consistent adherence to basic insights is also beyond the scope of this …
Fundamentalism And The Missouri Synod, Milton L. Rudnick
Fundamentalism And The Missouri Synod, Milton L. Rudnick
Concordia Theological Monthly
Perhaps current tensions and polarization in the Synod have demonstrated the relevance of the study and desirability of updating it. On the other hand, 125th anniversary considerations may have prompted the request. Then again, since the request came rather late (only a month before the deadline), the unflattering truth may be that this article is a "filler" for other material which was cancelled at the last minute. Some questions are better left unanswered. (ED.: Ain't it the truth?)
Law-Gospel Reductionism In The History Of The Lutheran Church -Missouri Synod, Edward H. Schroeder
Law-Gospel Reductionism In The History Of The Lutheran Church -Missouri Synod, Edward H. Schroeder
Concordia Theological Monthly
This essay proposes to trace a segment of the history of hermeneutics in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod insofar as the distinction between Law and Gospel plays a role in that history. The study is important because in recent years one school of thought in the Synod has stated that some pastors and teachers are confusing the proper relationship between the two by practicing what these critics call "Gospel reductionism." This criticism seems to have been launched in the Synod in two conference papers that John Warwick Montgomery delivered to eight different audiences in the spring and fall of 1966.
Walther's Theology Of The Word, Carl S. Meyer
Walther's Theology Of The Word, Carl S. Meyer
Concordia Theological Monthly
C. F. W. Walther (1811-1887), the premier theologian of the Missouri Synod, was a dogmatician who relied heavily on the writers of Lutheran Orthodoxy of the 16th and 17th century. He made little use of the historical-exegetical method. John Philipp Koehler, the historian of the Wisconsin Synod, points out, for instance, regarding the proposal to have one joint theological seminary within the Synodical Conference in 1878: “Walther's hobby, the Latin disputation, with Latin the medium of instruction, as embodied in the Missouri proposals for the joint seminary was as antiquated scholasticism and besides would have kept the whole study of …
The Orders Of Creation-Some Reflections On The History And Place Of The Term In Systematic Theology, Edward H. Schroeder
The Orders Of Creation-Some Reflections On The History And Place Of The Term In Systematic Theology, Edward H. Schroeder
Concordia Theological Monthly
In this article, he argues that the concept associated, with the term "orders of creation" in current Missouri Synod, discussions of the ordination of women is not Lutheran but Calvinist in origin, and not a Biblical concept.
Possible Courses Of Action Involving A Disaffected Or Dissident Individual Or Group Of Individuals In The Church,, Arthur Carl Piepkorn
Possible Courses Of Action Involving A Disaffected Or Dissident Individual Or Group Of Individuals In The Church,, Arthur Carl Piepkorn
Concordia Theological Monthly
This study was not designed for publication. The staff of CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY requested the author to prepare it as the basis for a discussion out of which an in-house position paper might come. After receiving and discussing the draft, the staff adopted it as its own with minor modifications and secured the author's permission to publish it.
Mission: Life, John S. Damm
Mission: Life, John S. Damm
Concordia Theological Monthly
It has become almost a truism to say that we are currently living in a time of crisis. The word "crisis" is now rather easily applied to a wide range of social, economic, political, educational, environmental, and technological phenomena that make up much of the context of contemporary life. This pervasive sense of crisis certainly has not left untouched the realm of Christian education.
The Edifying Word: The Word Of Hope, Paul G. Bretscher
The Edifying Word: The Word Of Hope, Paul G. Bretscher
Concordia Theological Monthly
Psalm 130 serves as the basis for this exhortation to the church to edify one another in the hope of the Gospel, whose word of promise alone establishes our election, our eschatology, and our ethos. The author places liberal theology and form criticism into proper historical perspective and suggests ways for the church, especially his own synod, to turn contemporary turmoil into blessing.
In God For The World, John H. Tietjen
In God For The World, John H. Tietjen
Concordia Theological Monthly
Thank you, those of you who shared just now in the official inauguration act. I am deeply grateful to you for your kind words and your warm encouragement. Thanks to all of you who have come here today, some representing educational institutions and ecclesiastical organizations, others simply representing yourselves. I am grateful to all of you for honoring Concordia Seminary and its presidential office with your presence. I am personally overwhelmed by the occasion and by the honor I have of serving as president of a seminary with so distinguished a history.
Theses On Ecumenical Truth And Heresy, John George Huber
Theses On Ecumenical Truth And Heresy, John George Huber
Concordia Theological Monthly
Out of love and zeal for both truth and unity, the following theses are presented to my beloved colleagues in the Southern California District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as a constructive contribution to the current debate on altar and pulpit fellowship. They do not represent an official policy, but are only a personal, unofficial opinion offered for exploratory discussion. They reflect the "hernial stance" of one who lives in the tension of obedience to Jesus Christ while simultaneously remaining a responsible member of a changing synod and a changing world.
The Authority Of Scripture, Kent S. Knutson
The Authority Of Scripture, Kent S. Knutson
Concordia Theological Monthly
We in the American Lutheran Church hope and pray that The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Denver will take that step which is necessary for full altar and pulpit fellowship with the American Lutheran Church. As we understand it, you have already decided in convention assembled that the basis for such fellowship exists, but you must take this one more step. We are all acquainted with the complexities of American Lutheranism in the last hundred years, and we all know some of the misunderstandings and some of the real disagreements which have been among us in the decades of the past. …
Changes In The Missouri Synod, Arthur C. Repp
Changes In The Missouri Synod, Arthur C. Repp
Concordia Theological Monthly
Have there been doctrinal changes in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod? Few questions have disturbed that Synod more during the past quarter of a century. Both negative and affirmative answers have been staunchly maintained. ''Missouri has not changed its doctrinal stand" was the repeated claim made by Theodore Graebner, though few men changed their doctrinal position as much as he did in so short a time.
Rectilinear Or Typological Interpretation Of Messianic Prophecy?, William J. Hassold
Rectilinear Or Typological Interpretation Of Messianic Prophecy?, William J. Hassold
Concordia Theological Monthly
The purpose of this article is not to argue directly for the correctness of the one or the other interpretation, though the writer's preference will, no doubt, become clear; rather it is to give a historical survey of the exegetical literature of the two synods dealing with Messianic prophecy and to show how these two contrasting approaches were held by men who were in church fellowship with each other in The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America, all the while disagreeing with one another on this issue. By presenting the argumentation of both sides of the problem, this study …
Editorial, Herbert T. Mayer
Editorial, Herbert T. Mayer
Concordia Theological Monthly
This issue is the second in the Biblical Studies series, a series first suggested by the Commission on Church Literature and subsequently endorsed by the general leadership of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. This issue is a contribution toward a fuller understanding of the nature of the Word of God. All the articles contribute to this thematic study. One's appreciation of God's written Word can be so controlled by specific problems, like the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, that the full grandeur of this book can disappear behind a carefully built fence of minor concerns. The contributors to this …
Editorial, Alfred O. Fuerbringer
Editorial, Alfred O. Fuerbringer
Concordia Theological Monthly
In some respects this month's Concordia Theological Monthly is a continuation of the issue for December 1964, which was prepared in advance to appear at the time of the observance of the 125th anniversary of the founding of Concordia Seminary. The essays presented now represent a selection of the papers and addresses given at the annual celebration on 8 and 9 December 1964.
Editorial, Herbert T. Mayer
Editorial, Herbert T. Mayer
Concordia Theological Monthly
Amidst all the theological tumult and shouting of our day, a quiet revolution has been taking place in the church in the area of mission thought and practice. This issue is devoted to a discussion of this revolution, for it will also be the chief topic at the 1965 convention of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in Detroit from June 16 to 26. The convention theme is taken from our Lord's mission command "Even so send I you." The articles by Victor Bartling, Martin L Kretzmann, and Roland Miller set out some of the basic theological principles for the …
New Testament Teachings And 20th-Century Church Practice With Special Reference To Relations With Missions And Sister Churches, Carl A. Gaertner
New Testament Teachings And 20th-Century Church Practice With Special Reference To Relations With Missions And Sister Churches, Carl A. Gaertner
Concordia Theological Monthly
The church in the second half of the 20th century is caught up in the restless revolutionary forces sweeping over the face of the earth and inevitably is being shaken out of its complacency and self-satisfaction. In an age like this, everything is being sharply questioned and ruthlessly analyzed. This in itself is not bad. Under the blessing of God, much good should come to the church as a result of honest reevaluation, on the basis of God's Word, of the church's theology, its life in the world, and its mission.
The School For Graduate Studies, Carl S. Meyer
The School For Graduate Studies, Carl S. Meyer
Concordia Theological Monthly
The history and changing philosophies of what is now known as the School for Graduate Studies illustrates in capsule form the changes and struggles which the seminary itself has experienced during the past years.
The Process Of Americanization Excerpts From Moving Frontiers, Carl S. Meyer (Editor)
The Process Of Americanization Excerpts From Moving Frontiers, Carl S. Meyer (Editor)
Concordia Theological Monthly
In addition to a fervent zeal for home missions, the history of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, from the end of the Civil War to the end of World War I was marked by two dominant characteristics. The first was a vigorous theological conservatism which led it to resist any compromise in the historic Lutheran confessional position. The second. characteristic, shared with other ethnic groups, was a continued isolation, from American linguistic, economic, and. social pattens. These characteristics were intensified because the majority of the Synod's membership was rural. During the same period most of the other American churches were moving …
The Role Of A Brief Statement Since 1932, Carl S. Meyer
The Role Of A Brief Statement Since 1932, Carl S. Meyer
Concordia Theological Monthly
The year 1932 has been called the confessional high-water mark of the Missouri Synod because of the adoption of A Brief Statement in that year. Not only was it "Dr. Pieper's legacy of sound Scriptural teaching," but it was also, so it was maintained with evident exaggeration, the testimony of "a confessional unity of mind and heart embracing every pastor and congregation and enduring the test of searching examination by the 'norma normans' of Holy Scripture."
The Total Ministry Of The Church, C. Thomas Spitz
The Total Ministry Of The Church, C. Thomas Spitz
Concordia Theological Monthly
Our topic is an imposing one. Entire books and whole sections of libraries have been devoted to it. It forced an early decision in the development of this paper. Should we be talking and thinking about all of the ways in which the ministry of the church expresses itself or should we be looking at the total reality of the ministry of the church and then be dealing with essence rather than expression?
Reports On Interchurch Relations, Alfred O. Fuerbringer
Reports On Interchurch Relations, Alfred O. Fuerbringer
Concordia Theological Monthly
For The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod the year 1962 brings a number of very significant developments in interchurch relations, some of which will call for crucial decisions.
The Distinction Between Law And Gospel, Robert C. Schultz
The Distinction Between Law And Gospel, Robert C. Schultz
Concordia Theological Monthly
The distinction between law and Gospel is one of the clearest systematic expressions of the doctrine of justification through faith without works formulated by the Lutheran Reformation. The reformers' understanding of the bondage of the will, of conversion and repentance, and of the Christian as being at one and the same time a righteous man and a sinner is directly related to this distinction. It is also one of their basic hermeneutical principles.
A Quarter-Century Of Interchurch Relations: 1935-1960, Alfred O. Fuerbringer, Martin H. Franzmann
A Quarter-Century Of Interchurch Relations: 1935-1960, Alfred O. Fuerbringer, Martin H. Franzmann
Concordia Theological Monthly
In the latter part of 1960 the Synodical Committee on Doctrinal Unity observed the 25th anniversary of its appointment and organization. This would seem, therefore, to be a fitting time to survey that area of our Synod's history in which this committee's activities fall and to attempt an assessment of the committee's activities in that area during the past 25 years.
Suggested Principles For A Hermeneutics Of The Lutheran Symbols, Arthur Carl Piepkorn
Suggested Principles For A Hermeneutics Of The Lutheran Symbols, Arthur Carl Piepkorn
Concordia Theological Monthly
The Symbols have various intended uses. They can serve as a legal club, in order to enforce conformity with their teaching by a clergyman or instructor who has solemnly committed himself to teach and practice according to them, under pain of dismissal for having obtained money or other emoluments under false pretenses. But this is certainly an opus alienum. Their proper office includes serving as a norm of teaching and of administering Sacraments, to which an individual solemnly and voluntarily committed to them strives conscientiously to conform; as a Symbol, that is, an identification among Lutherans, since they are the …