Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

The Yahwist Looks At Abraham, Ralph W. Klein

Concordia Theological Monthly

While the Bible is recognized as God's Word for all rimes, each of its writings was originally addressed to specific people at specific times in history who faced immediate crises and/or opportunities. Obviously, the better we understand those original circumstances, the better we will understand precisely what was being said.

Deliverance At The Sea: Diversity And Unity In A Biblical Theme, Arlis J. Ehlen

Concordia Theological Monthly

The present study will first examine the diversity to be observed in references to the Reed Sea event outside the Book of Exodus. The second section will then trace the fourfold witness underlying the most extensive account of the event, that found in Ex. 13-15. As in the case of the fourfold Gospel account in the New Testament, diverse testimonies are seen to reflect the same event, applying it to different needs and situations in the life of God's people. We must learn to avoid leveling the characteristic contours of these individual testimonies into a fiat and uninteresting plain of …

Hardness Of Heart: A Study In Biblical Thematic, Frederick W. Danker

Concordia Theological Monthly

Lack of ready acceptance of the Gospel by all people was a perplexing problem, especially so for the early church. At stake were not only the credentials of Jesus as the Christ but also the authority of the apostolic message. If God's own people rejected Jesus, could He still be considered a viable candidate for Israel's highest office? And if the church's heralds were the instruments of proclamation of the Word of salvation, why was response to the message so spotty and relatively fruitless? Earnest assessment of the problem led early theologians to their customary quarry, the Old Testament, for …

Wisdom And Law In Old Testament Wisdom Literature, Alfred Von Rohr Sauer

Concordia Theological Monthly

In this article the author shows how the Jewish understanding of wisdom and law changed, especially in the intertestamental period. Wisdom, under the influence of Hellenistic thought, became almost a personal mediator between God and man, although it had originally been used to describe a certain style of living. The word "law" also underwent a change from its first meaning of guidance, to a later meaning in Deuteronomy of "the revelation of Yahweh's will to Israel," to the final identification of law with wisdom as the mediator between God and His creation, including especially man.

The Day Of Rest In The Old Testament, Hans Walter Wolff

Concordia Theological Monthly

In this lecture we shall be concerned with essentially one question: What does the Commandment to observe the sabbath have to say to modern theological thought and to practice in the church of today?

Aspects Of Intertestamental Messianism., Ralph W. Klein

Concordia Theological Monthly

In his study, the author documents both the changing nature of messianic hopes in the intertestamental period, as well as the persistence of the basic hope for a messianic deliverer.

A Look At The Neb-Ot, Alfred Von Rohr Sauer, Frederick W. Danker

Concordia Theological Monthly

A reviewer of the New English Bible (NEB) is inclined to compare this text with that of the 18-year-old Revised Version (RSV) and the new Jerusalem Bible. Before he compares these three versions, he needs to note the difference in backgrounds in each case. The RSV is, of course, not a new translation, but as the name indicates, it is a revision of the old King James Version. Its purpose is to bring the Authorized Version up-to-date, modernizing words and phrases that might not be intelligible to the reader of the 20th century.

Fresh Perspectives On Matthean Theology, Frederick W. Danker

Concordia Theological Monthly

In his book The Parables of Jesus in Matthew 13 Jack Kingsbury argues that chapter 13 marks the great turning point in Matthew's theological interpretation of Jesus' life. After 13, Jesus no longer tries to teach the people of Israel, but instead concentrates on the disciples, the true people of God. But Kingsbury's analysis of λαλεῑν overlooks important evidence concerning the use of λαλεῑν and διδάσχειν. The author then presents a new interpretation of the difficult statement by Jesus concerning why He spoke in parables.

The Qumran Meal And The Last Supper, John E. Groh

Concordia Theological Monthly

The presence of "communal meals" among the Covenanters of Qumran has given birth to the question of the relationship of these meals to the Christian Eucharist as instituted by Jesus Christ. Kuhn notes that "the Qumran texts, as well as Josephus, agree that this order had, as its peculiar features, the constantly repeated baths of immersion and the daily communal meal of the community." Josephus describes the meals of the Essenes (presently considered to be the mother group of the Qumran Convenanters).

The Biblical View Of The Sexual Polarity, Ralph Gehrke

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Bible contains a vast amount of information on the topic of sexuality. We can come to grips with its significant features by concentrating on the two great "breakthroughs” which have resulted in the distinctly Biblical views that believers have expressed about the sexual polarity of male and female. Such an approach calls for consideration, first, of that decisive turning point in Old Testament times when Yahwism "demythed" the sexual realm and set up what one might call a creaturely or a creation view of the polarity of male and female. Second, we must consider the breakthrough which occurred at …

The Message Of The Deuteronomic Historian, Carl Graesser Jr.

Concordia Theological Monthly

In this study we propose to determine the main outlines of the message which the author(s) of the books of Joshua through Kings intended to speak to the contemporary Israelite people. Following a few introductory comments, the major structural elements utilized by the sacred historian (s) to construct this monumental work will be described. These elements will then be studied for the keys they contain to understanding the message of these books.

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 …

The Study And Interpretation Of The Old Testament, Albert E. Glock

Concordia Theological Monthly

The subtitle of this study might well be: "Prisoners of Hope: New Perspectives for the Study of Old Testament History and Theology." The single Biblical occurrence of the phrase, "prisoners of hope” is located in a "messenger speech" (Botenspruch) in Zechariah 9:11-13.

The Christian And Social Responsibility, Robert J. Werberig

Concordia Theological Monthly

What is the Christian's role in the many-faceted, restless, and paradoxical society of the 60s? Should his function as a Christian citizen include more than merely "holding a private opinion" on the issues of our times? Does his commitment to Christ imply something more than "contributing to welfare" in face of the fact that over two-thirds of his generation lives out life under starvation conditions? Is there a valid place for the voice and action of Christianity within the vortex of change, which today upsets whole cultures, often with crushing and dehumanizing effects to people?

The Use Of The Exodus In Interpreting History, Elaine Marie Prevallet

Concordia Theological Monthly

Our study takes the complex of traditions grouped around the exodus as its point of departure. We shall consider the use made of this event at four stages in Israel's history and attempt to determine two factors: (1) whether the prophetic interpretation of the exodus event at a given period in Israel's history has been shaped by the historical situation and (2) whether the exodus event is used to interpret the historical situation. Finally, we may be able to draw some conclusions relative both to the Israelite view and use of history.

The Congregation: Place Of God's Presence, Martin H. Scharlemann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Jerusalem lay in ruins. Its temple had been destroyed. In distant Babylon God’s people hung up their harps and sat down to weep. Where was God now? To be sure, He might be the Lord of the universe; but what was the point of this if His people were left to languish in exile? He had been present for them in the temple on Mount Zion; where could His people now seek His face?

Covenant And Justification In The Old Testament, Walter R. Roehrs

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Lutheran World Federation convention at Helsinki in 1963 was not able to reach agreement on a formulation of the doctrine of justification. This lack of agreement, it is said, does not imply disagreement regarding the doctrine itself, but it resulted from the inability to formulate or present this basic teaching of Scripture to modern man in such a way as to speak to him in terms that are relevant and pertinent to him. This difficulty arises, it is said, particularly because modern man no longer asks Luther's question: "How do I find a gracious God?" but asks: "Is there …

Representative Universalism And The Conquest Of Canaan, A. J. Mattill Jr.

Concordia Theological Monthly

The problem of the nature of the conquest of Canaan has long puzzled biblical scholars. The Book of Joshua opens with the Lord promising Joshua "every place" that the sole of his foot shall tread upon, "from the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea.

The Secret Of God's Plan, Harry G. Coiner

Concordia Theological Monthly

A restive search is going on today, and almost everyone is engaged in it. The search is for meaning in life, for significance, for purpose. Captured by a meaningless job and caged inside four walls with a TV set for companionship, modern man feels trapped. We need not extend the picture except to suggest that a disintegrating anguish takes possession of people when suddenly they realize that life is empty and sterile, completely lacking in meaning for them. One single devastating question keeps begging for an answer: Why live? The author of Ecclesiastes struggled with this question long ago and …

The Teaching Of The New Testament Concerning The Church, Bruce M. Metzger

Concordia Theological Monthly

Today the word "church" has a wide of meanings. These include: (1) the totality of Christian believers as the Church universal; (2) a local congregation, whether gathered at one place for worship or not; (3) a building used for public worship; (4) a denomination; and (5) the clerical profession. Of these five common meanings. only the first two appear in the New Testament; the others are of later development. For example, though today we speak of "the church which is located on such-and-such a street," the earliest known reference to a church building dates from the second century. During the …

God's Acts As Revelation, Martin H. Scharlemann

Concordia Theological Monthly

There Is!" replied Jeremiah to the secret query of King Zedekiah whether there was a word from the Lord for the problem at hand. In this instance it was a message of judgment, "You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon" (Jer. 37:17). Just how did the prophet know this? In what way did God make His will known in this Case? By a dream? In a vision? By some special intuition or divine insight? We are not told more than that "the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah" (e.g., 37:6). We are, however, assured …

Biblical Presuppositions For Church Discipline, Herbert J. Bouman

Concordia Theological Monthly

Speak unto all the congregation of the Children of Israel and say unto them, Ye shall be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy." (Lev. 19:2)

In this brief statement may be found a comprehensive outline of the revelation of God in the Scriptures and of the engrossing story of God's ways and dealings with men.

History And Eschatology In Luke-Acts, Robert H. Smith

Concordia Theological Monthly

Fifty and seventy-five years ago the burning question in studies of Acts concerned the factual accuracy of Luke's record, which seemed to differ from, even to contradict, Paul's account in his epistles. The integrity of Luke was assailed by all but the most conservative. Source criticism was in full flood, and Acts was dissected and divided into tiny segments which were labeled "Jerusalem A" or "Jerusalem B" or "Antioch" or "Peter" or some such tag, depending on the exegete and his predilections. Some said that Luke could not have known what really happened. Others imagined that he knew but chose …

Let Jeremiah Speak Today!, Alfred Von Rohr Sauer

Concordia Theological Monthly

It is regrettable that a prophet of the stature of Jeremiah who has so much to say to our generation is virtually unknown among our people and not too familiar among our pastors. Here was a man who, as his name indicates, was "hurled into the life of his nation” (Baughman), in much the same way as Christians today are brought face to face with the problems of their country and community. This was a man who was ''born to be at odds with and in opposition to the whole world" (Welch), just as the modem disciple of Christ finds …

The Covenant Of Blood, Paul M. Bretscher

Concordia Theological Monthly

The ceremonial and spiritual climax of the Old Testament religion was the Feast of the Passover; in the New Testament it is the Lord's Supper. In these two feasts, especially as the one merges into the other, the covenant of blood is revealed in its fullest clarity and beauty. The words that Jesus spoke that Passover night in the Upper Room, ''This is My blood of the new Testament," are the simple key which confirms and summarizes the unity of the testaments in the covenant of blood. If this cup is the blood of Jesus Christ in the new testament, …

The Covenant Of Blood, Paul M. Bretscher

Concordia Theological Monthly

In both the Old Testament and the New the idea of redemption is closely related to that of atonement. Redemption is simply another picture of salvation, another facet in the diamond of God's gracious covenant with fallen man.

The Concept Of Sin In The Old Testament, Alfred Von Rohr Sauer

Concordia Theological Monthly

The aim of the present study is to survey in a general way what the Old Testament teaches concerning sin. That the Old Testament presents an authentic historical account of the origin of sin has long been regarded as pre-eminently important by the Church. The realistic way in which the Old Testament depicts the tyrannical power of sin among men, and especially in the history of God's people, has also been recognized as an important phase of Old Testament revelation. In our circles, however, not much thought has been given to a systematic study of what the Old Testament as …

The Term "Fear God" In The Old Testament, H. O. Keinath

Concordia Theological Monthly

The words "fear," "fearful," "fearfulness," occur rather frequently in the Bible. It would be a mistake to assume, however, that each "fear" of the King James Version is a translation of the same Hebrew word. In the Old Testament we find that no less than seventeen Hebrew words of different roots are at some time or other rendered by "fear," "fearfulness," etc., in the Authorized Version.

New Testament Light On Old Testament ''Millennialistic" Prophecies, Walter H. Koenig

Concordia Theological Monthly

Some months ago, it happened that I came to grips with an ardent disciple of Premillennialism. To meet the man's arguments, I was driven to the Bible, as I found very little help outside of it. Especially on one point did I wish clarity: How does the Holy Ghost in the New Testament apply prophetic passages which millennialists interpret literally but which we interpret spiritually? What is the basis of our spiritual interpretation of Old Testament prophecy? My paper is intended to draw out the meaning of Scripture - and it will offer an example of one of the prime …

Dispensationalism Examined And Found Wanting, F. E. Mayer

Concordia Theological Monthly

Premillennialism is currently very popular with the Fundamentalists. The doctrinal statements of all Fundamentalist associations profess belief in the premillennial coming of Christ and of His visible rule on earth during the millennium. Likewise, the Holiness and Pentecostal bodies teach the premillennial coming of Christ. "Christ, the coming king," is one of the four main points of the Foursquare Gospel.