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Full-Text Articles in Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Trance: From Africa To Pentecostalism, David M. Beckmann Jan 1974

Trance: From Africa To Pentecostalism, David M. Beckmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author, a student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, studied indigenous religious movements in Asia and Africa during 1969-70 as a John Courtney Murray Fellow of Yale University. His book about indigenous churches in Ghana, Eden Revival is in the process of publication. Observations of indigenous Afro-American churches in the Caribbean during 1971 were made possible by a partial grant from the World Mission Institute of Concordia Seminary.


The Future Of Christian Education In The Missouri Synod: A Matter Of Self-Understanding, Stephen A. Schmidt Sep 1973

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."


How The Gospel Works, Richard R. Caemmerer Sr. Mar 1973

How The Gospel Works, Richard R. Caemmerer Sr.

Concordia Theological Monthly

In the long plan of God we can imagine one good issue emerging from this debate. That is that the meaning of the Gospel becomes clearer and its preaching to the church and the world more apt and timely.


Justification And Anthropology, Wenzel Lohff Jan 1973

Justification And Anthropology, Wenzel Lohff

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author suggests that contemporary difficulties with respect to understanding the article of justification arise in large measure from the fact that justification has been separated from its anthropological rootage. At the same time, Dr. Lohff argues that the doctrine of justification offers great help to modern man, who often feels trapped in his very humanness. Furthermore, justification, when proclaimed properly, makes Christian unity possible. He describes justification briefly as the right and unequivocal determination of a human practice: to always live anew the life of faith in the Gospel.


What In Scripture Speaks To The Ordination Of Women?, John Reumann Jan 1973

What In Scripture Speaks To The Ordination Of Women?, John Reumann

Concordia Theological Monthly

"Ordination," it is well to remember, does not appear, full-blown and in our sense of the term, in the Scriptures.


Open Letter To Charismatic Lutherans, Paul F. Hutchinson Dec 1972

Open Letter To Charismatic Lutherans, Paul F. Hutchinson

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Missouri, and has been actively involved in aspects of the charismatic movement.


The Christianizing Of Abraham: The Interpretation Of Abraham In Early Christianity, Robert L. Wilken Dec 1972

The Christianizing Of Abraham: The Interpretation Of Abraham In Early Christianity, Robert L. Wilken

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author traces through various interpretations of the significance of the story of Abraham in the early church in support of his thesis that each generation interprets the Scripture from the perspective of its own historical circumstance.


Luther On Christ And The Old Testament, James S. Preus Sep 1972

Luther On Christ And The Old Testament, James S. Preus

Concordia Theological Monthly

Careful reading of this article will contribute to getting the hermeneutical debate in our Synod beyond the present impasse that has been created by a non-Lutheran posing of the alternatives by so many who are involved in the debate.


The Eschatological And The Political In Moltmann's Theology, Kenneth Heintz Jun 1972

The Eschatological And The Political In Moltmann's Theology, Kenneth Heintz

Concordia Theological Monthly

In this article he analyzes Moltmann's increasing interest in "political theology while at the same time he explores the connection between his political and eschatological thought.


The Other Understanding Of The Inspiration Texts, Traugott H. Rehwaldt Jun 1972

The Other Understanding Of The Inspiration Texts, Traugott H. Rehwaldt

Concordia Theological Monthly

In this article the author evaluates the notes of Franz Pieper on the inspiration of Scripture, presents a summary of Herman Sasse's view on inspiration, and then offers certain counsel concerning the proper understanding of the inspiration of the Scriptures.


Toward Preparing Equippers, Herbert M. Zorn May 1972

Toward Preparing Equippers, Herbert M. Zorn

Concordia Theological Monthly

Twenty-four years in India, sixteen of in seminary teaching, might sound like good credentials. Put differently, the credentials wilt: 24 years working within 100 miles of land's end of this vast country, reasonably fluent in only one of India's 18 official languages, barely conversant with another, in contact with nationwide theological education only recently, a member of the steadily diminishing group of expatriate seminary instructors.


Theological Education: The Ecumenical Dimension, Thomas Coates May 1972

Theological Education: The Ecumenical Dimension, Thomas Coates

Concordia Theological Monthly

This article was originally presented as a lecture al the Consultation on Ecumenical Affairs of The Lutheran World Federation, Tokyo, Japan, May 5, 1971.


The Relationship Between Graduate Theological Education And The Worldwide Mission Of The Church, William J. Danker May 1972

The Relationship Between Graduate Theological Education And The Worldwide Mission Of The Church, William J. Danker

Concordia Theological Monthly

In spite of a desk piled high with other work, this writer could not find it in his heart to refuse an editor requesting an essay on a topic of such potential significance and excitement as "The Relationship Between Graduate Theological Education and the Worldwide Mission of the Church."


Doctrinal Emphases In The Missouri Synod, Erwin L. Lueker Apr 1972

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 …


Polygamy And The Christian Church, Nathaniel G. Inyamah Mar 1972

Polygamy And The Christian Church, Nathaniel G. Inyamah

Concordia Theological Monthly

On the basis of personal experience, the author argues that the church's general rejection of polygamy is not required by Scripture and is descriptive of African society.


Ethical Individualism In Clement Of Alexandria, David Paulsen Jan 1972

Ethical Individualism In Clement Of Alexandria, David Paulsen

Concordia Theological Monthly

It has been noted that Clement of Alexandria (ca. 150-215 A. D.) diverges sharply from primitive Christianity in important respects, such as his views on eschatology and the significance of the Law. It is my contention that Clement also diverges from almost the entire previous Christian tradition as far as we know it in the matter of ethics, in that he places individual perfection above communal concerns such as love and justice.


A Consideration Of The Meaning Of Prayer In The Life Of Martin Luther, Deanna Marie Carr Oct 1971

A Consideration Of The Meaning Of Prayer In The Life Of Martin Luther, Deanna Marie Carr

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author considers the meaning of prayer for Luther’s religious life and shows how during the 16th-century Reformation Luther "renewed" the wholesome traditions that had surrounded prayer in the prior history of the Christian church.


The Christian Mission, A Look Into The Future, R. Pierce Beaver Jun 1971

The Christian Mission, A Look Into The Future, R. Pierce Beaver

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author argues on the basis of a lifetime of experience that the mission of the church demands a return to the proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to a reaffirmation of the principle of voluntarism, as distinct from bureaucratic mission strategy.


The Lutheran World Federation: From Institution To Movement, Andre Appel Jun 1971

The Lutheran World Federation: From Institution To Movement, Andre Appel

Concordia Theological Monthly

In the wake of Evian the author argues for the continuing viability of the LWF, emphasizing new directions that it can pursue and de-emphasizing its structural rigidity.


Existence And Process: A Study Of The Theology Of Schubert Ogden, Robert W. Paul Apr 1971

Existence And Process: A Study Of The Theology Of Schubert Ogden, Robert W. Paul

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author examines the conceptions of existentialism and process philosophy by which Schubert Ogden formulates his understanding of Christian theology and expresses his apologetic interests.


Evangelization And Humanization, Won Yong Ji Mar 1971

Evangelization And Humanization, Won Yong Ji

Concordia Theological Monthly

In his article Dr. Ji offers a review and critique of the Frankfurt Declaration and indicates the nature of a sound conjunctive relationship between evangelization and humanization in the Christian mission today. Variations of this article have appeared in Lutheran World, XVII (1970), 358-361, and Lutherische Rundschau, XX (1970), 468--472.)


The Computer With Legs And The Rough Beast Slouching -Notes On Religion In The 1970s, Martin E. Marty Nov 1970

The Computer With Legs And The Rough Beast Slouching -Notes On Religion In The 1970s, Martin E. Marty

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author reviews a variety of models used in religious interpretations that were popular in the sixties as a prelude to his discussion of the trends and images that theologians must discern and deal with during the cultural revolution of the seventies.


Rudolf Bultmann Revisited, Otto W. Heick May 1970

Rudolf Bultmann Revisited, Otto W. Heick

Concordia Theological Monthly

Early in the fifties the writer asked the late Paul Althaus of Erlangen whether in his opinion World War II ushered in a new epoch in the history of theology, as had been the case with the first World War. His answer was no. The emphasis in theology, he felt, had remained unchanged. Seen from the vantage point of the mid-sixties, we know that Althaus was wrong. Gradually through the fifties interest in neoorthodoxy declined. Karl Barth no longer dominated the theological scene. The name of Rudolf Bultmann began to claim primary attention. The historical problems of the New Testament …


The Church's Responsibility In International Affairs, Richard Jungkuntz Mar 1970

The Church's Responsibility In International Affairs, Richard Jungkuntz

Concordia Theological Monthly

The nature of the church's responsibility in this area of concern (as in all others) can be rightly understood only when it is seen in keeping with the nature of the church itself.


The Church's Ministry To People Who Differ On Issues Of National Policy, Richard Jungkuntz Mar 1970

The Church's Ministry To People Who Differ On Issues Of National Policy, Richard Jungkuntz

Concordia Theological Monthly

We ourselves are the church. When we speak of the church's ministry, therefore, we are speaking first of all of our own ministry. We ourselves are also people who differ on a host of issues, including those of national policy. Consequently, the church's ministry to people who differ is in the first instance our own ministry to one another.


Erasmus On The Study Of Scriptures, Carl S. Meyer Dec 1969

Erasmus On The Study Of Scriptures, Carl S. Meyer

Concordia Theological Monthly

Erasmus (1469-1536) was the editor of the first published Greek New Testament printed from movable type (1516). He translated the books of the New Testament into Latin and also paraphrased them (except Revelation) in that language. He published the notes of Lorenzo Valla (1406-1457) on the New Testament. He must likewise be accounted as one of the important theologians of the first half of the 16th century as well as an earnest advocate of the study of Scriptures.


The Mission On Which We Are Sent, Paul E. Jacobs Sep 1969

The Mission On Which We Are Sent, Paul E. Jacobs

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Affirmations on the Mission of the Church which The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod adopted at the Detroit convention in 1965 are part of the evidence of the ongoing struggle of one part of the church to understand what and why the church is in the world. The struggle has not been easy nor has it been without conflict. The affirmations call us to see the church's mission in terms of people rather than church structures. They compel us to wrestle with the standards of comfort and convenience by which we continually serve ourselves. They plead with us to …


Freedom In Christ-Gift And Demand, Edgar Krentz Jun 1969

Freedom In Christ-Gift And Demand, Edgar Krentz

Concordia Theological Monthly

"Freedom," a word we often hear and a concept we highly prize, is surprisingly rare in the New Testament. A rapid survey of the words eleutheria, eleutheria, and eleutheros in a concordance will show that in any sense other than the sociological (free man as opposed to slave) the term is practically confined to Paul. He is the only one to use freedom consistently in a religious sense.


The Particularity Of The Gospel: Good News For Changing Times, John H. Elliott Jun 1969

The Particularity Of The Gospel: Good News For Changing Times, John H. Elliott

Concordia Theological Monthly

Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou, who changest not, abide with me." In this transitional period of modern history when change and change by revolution are the order of the day, the plaintive plea of the popular hymn seems to assume an ever more urgent note. But the question is this: How effectively, if at all, can the notion of the unchangeableness of God expressed in this hymn aid an atomic age society in coping with population explosions, sexual, racial, and campus revolutions, and the threat of worldwide nuclear annihilation? Can men of our time indeed …


Gospel Freedom, Robert H. Smith Jun 1969

Gospel Freedom, Robert H. Smith

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Western world has understood freedom in two basic ways. For one school of thought freedom is the right and the power to do what one wishes. A man is not free if he is behind bars or in a captive nation or lying crippled in a hospital - no matter what his state of mind. Persons or powers beyond his control dispose his life and dictate orders to him, and to say that he is free is to play fast and loose with the language.