Arts and Humanities Commons^™

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 …

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 Political Function Of Luther's Doctrina, James R. Preus

Concordia Theological Monthly

Theology is implicitly political; Luther’s career as theologian demonstrates this principle clearly. By attacking the papacy's doctrine, Luther attacked the framework of society in 16th-century Europe. The doctrine of faith had explosive political implications, and Luther found himself increasingly forced to place limits on the political conclusions drawn from his work by his followers, chiefly through his construction of the two-kingdoms teaching.

The Meaning Of Advent: Implications For Preaching, Frank C. Senn

Concordia Theological Monthly

If we confess that the Holy Spirit, at work in the church at all times and in all places, in some sense inspired the development of a liturgical calendar and a pericopal system for the expansion of the Mystery, the edification of the faithful, and the amplification of preaching possibilities, then we must also confess that the Spirit could effect changes in the meaning of the various feasts and liturgical seasons with the passage of time and with shifts in the expression of piety. The Holy Spirit did not retire in the fourth century any more than he did after …

Secularization Theology, Charismatic Renewal, And Luther's Theology Of The Cross, Theodore Jungkuntz

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author constructs a theology of charismatic renewal with reference to the Lutheran confessional writings and to Luther's theology of the cross.

The Gospel And The Spiritual Life Of The Pastor, John Damm

Concordia Theological Monthly

And yet, though the requirements of this biblical and confessional call to a life of personal prayer and meditation have not changed, the circumstances of contemporary life apparently make it difficult for today's busy pastor to fulfill these requirements. William Hulme suggests that it is often embarrassing to question a person about his prayer life. "Well, it's not what it should be" is the usual response.

Living With The Brothers In The Lord, Arthur Carl Piepkorn

Concordia Theological Monthly

Nov. 11, 1967-today-is the 49th anniversary of the armistice that initiated the end of the war between the Central Powers and the Allied Powers. It is also the 484th anniversary of the baptism of Martin Luther. On this day I as a Lutheran "brother in the Lord" am greatly pleased to have been asked to address this Roman Catholic diocesan Institute on Ecumenism. The fact that this day is both the anniversary of an armistice and the anniversary of a baptism is not, I hope, without its symbolic significance.

Some Thoughts On The Church In The Lutheran Symbols, Herbert J. Bouman

Concordia Theological Monthly

Near the end of 1536 Martin Luther wrote that "a seven-year-old child knows what the church is" (SA III XII). In our time great ecumenical gatherings expend incalculable amounts of time and effort in wrestling with the doctrine of the church, and first-rate theologians in all churches provide the printing presses with an unabating flow of materials in discussion of the problems and implications of ecclesiology.

Preaching And The Recovery Of The Church, Richard R. Caemmerer

Concordia Theological Monthly

In the first section, we dealt with the language of preaching. Can it be understood? Does God speak and act in it? In the second we dealt with the method of finding and conveying Biblical truth in preaching. Have current Biblical studies a contribution to make to the pastor as he sets about on his task of preparing and delivering sermons? The third article does not turn away from these questions and processes, but it locates them in their setting: the Christian church. Ours is a time of rediscovery of the meaning of the church.

Jesus Christ: Conservative And Liberal, Erwin L. Lueker

Concordia Theological Monthly

Politicians, intellectuals, artists, businessmen, and also theologians are often classified as conservative or liberal. Some are even classified as radical, a term which in its basic meaning is better used to describe the thoroughgoing consistency of both the conservative and the liberal. In naive thought the conservative is the person who sees great value in a situation as it is and seeks to preserve it. The liberal, on the other hand, is a person who sees greater value in new methods, in new thoughts and in new structures. He seeks continually to be in the vanguard of those who break …

The Body Of Christ, Richard R. Caemmerer

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Apology of the Augsburg Confession warns against two distortions in the meaning of the church. The one is that the church be viewed as an outward organization in which believers and hypocrites are mingled. In the days of the Reformation this distortion implied that the church was a political organization to which men adhered through the carrying out of rites and obligations. In our own time it may take the form of stress on extending and financing the church's business to the point of devaluating its other concerns. The other distortion is that the church is regarded as a …

Polygamy And The Church, Willard Burce

Concordia Theological Monthly

Polygamy is a common practice among the Enga uibcs of Wabag, New Guinea. A survey a few years ago showed that nearly 30 percent of Enga marriages were polygamous.

The Inclusive Nature Of Holy Baptism In Luther's Writings, Harry G. Coiner

Concordia Theological Monthly

Though our action or behavior does not make the sacrament valid, nevertheless legitimate concerns are to be expressed from time to time regarding our understanding and employment of Baptism. Luther reminds us that Baptism is no human trifle devised or invented by men, but it is instituted by God Himself; for He strictly commanded that we must be baptized, or we cannot be saved; let no one regard it as a trivial matter, like putting on a new red coat. He expressed his estimation of Baptism in strong terms.

Rudolf Bultmann And The Sacrament Of Holy Baptism, John H. Elliott

Concordia Theological Monthly

In the fullness of time God sent forth His Son, a pre-existent divine Being, who appears on earth as a man. He dies the death of a sinner on the cross and makes atonement for the sins of men. His resurrection marks the beginning of the cosmic catastrophe … all who belong to Christ's Church and are joined to the Lord by Baptism and the Eucharist are certain of resurrection to salvation. . .. "

Water Into Wine: A Sign For The Modem Ministry, Arthur M. Vincent

Concordia Theological Monthly

A king begins His public ministry. He performs His first miracle; He gives His first "sign" (σημεῖον) 1 John says. He changes water into wine. This sign stands as a finger post of God. It points us then and now to Christ. Among other lessons, it also is a sign for our modern ministry. For encouragement think of this as a sign of the King's power, a sign of the King's love, a sign of the Kingdom, and a sign for the ministry of the Word.

The Theological Implications Of Confirmation, Arthur C. Repp

Concordia Theological Monthly

Since the Christian's whole life is a continuous spiritual Baptism, what is the relationship of the Word and the Lord's Supper in Baptism? Are they subordinate to it? Not at all. As Regin Prenter points out, it is just because the baptismal covenant, God's promise of man's salvation and man's faith in God's promise, implies the necessity of a lifelong exercise of man's faith in that covenant that there is a need for a continuous sanctifying activity of the living Word, not in competition with, but in consequence of the regenerating activity of the living Word in Baptism. ln this …

The Theological Implications Of Confirmation, Arthur C. Repp

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Lutheran practice of confirmation can hardly be described as uniform during its long history. The differences varied greatly both in number and in kind as many accretions attached themselves to this practice. Because there was no Biblical basis for confirmation, the Lutheran Church did not hesitate to warrant new emphases and directions with changing circumstances and needs. As confirmation is practiced today, especially in the United States, it is cluttered with the remnants of such additions, the origins of which are rarely recognized. Just as the Reformation Church thought it was restoring confirmation in accord with the tradition of …

Editorial, Martin H. Franzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Even a theological journal begins a new volume with the beginning of the civil year, not with the beginning of the church year. Strictly and theologically speaking, the 6th of January is not so incisive a caesura in the rhythm of our life as is the first Sunday in Advent. But it is significant, this 6th of January. It reminds us that, though we taste the powers of the world to come, we taste them in this world. It reminds us that though the night is far spent and God's day has drawn near, we walk "as in the day," …

Why The Kuriou In 1 Peter 1:25?, Martin H. Scharlemann

Concordia Theological Monthly

In our day there is nothing sensational in the remark that the authors of our New Testament documents often quote the Septuagint version rather than the Hebrew text in their use of the Old Testament. In fact, as long ago as 1782 Randolph came to the conclusion that 119 of the 239 actual quotations from the Old Testament occurring in the New were taken from the Septuagint. This was almost 50 years before Doepke's Hermeneutik der neutestamentlichen Schriftsteller ( 1829) clearly demonstrated the extensive methodological agreements between New Testament authors and rabbinic writers, thereby laying the groundwork for our contemporary …

Luther And Sanctification, Philip S. Watson

Concordia Theological Monthly

In a volume of sermons which he published in 1788, John Wesley took occasion to repeat a criticism of Luther that he had first made after reading his commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians many years before. "It has frequently been observed," he says, "that very few were clear in their judgment both with regard to justification and sanctification"; and he cites Luther as an example. "Who," he asks, "has wrote more ably than Martin Luther on justification by faith alone? And who was more ignorant of the doctrine of sanctification, or more confused in his conceptions of it?" …

Christ Frees And Unites: The Third Lutheran World Federation Assembly, Hanns Lilje

Concordia Theological Monthly

The third assembly of the Lutheran World Federation, held in Minneapolis, August 15-25, 1957, sends Christian greetings to all Lutheran congregations in the world. Our hearts are filled with gratitude and joy. We are grateful to God for the rich blessings which He granted us throughout these days. It is with joy and affection that we think of the fellowship with so many brethren and sisters from all over the world.

Brief Studies, Paul M. Bretscher, John Theodore Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

In Memoriam Paul Riedel, 1921-1956

Luther and Barth on Baptism

A Study Of Hebrews 6:4-8, Herbert H. Hohenstein

Concordia Theological Monthly

The close relationship between "tasting the good Word of God" and "the powers of the age to come" is quite evident. The reason is, perhaps, as Davidson maintains, that the consummate blessings of these powers lie in the future. Therefore, by necessity, they must be "combined with the good word of promise." That is undoubtedly true. In addition, one might say that this "good word of promise" is itself that very power by which God establishes communion with men and thereby projects the blessings of that which is to come into that which now is. Cf. Rom. 1:16.

The Rsv And The Small Catechism, George V. Schick

Concordia Theological Monthly

In the theological literature of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod it has been the practice to quote Scripture passages in English in the form in which they appear in the King James Version of 1611. The revision of 1881-1885 and the revision of 1901 in no way affected this custom. Neither achieved any great measure of popularity. The situation appears to be somewhat different in the case of the Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, which appeared upon the market in 1952 under copyright of the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United …

What The Symbols Have To Say About The Church, Arthur Carl Piepkorn

Concordia Theological Monthly

It is not difficult to turn to the index of a modern edition of the Book of Concord and to discover therein the passages in the Lutheran Symbols which talk more or less explicitly about the church. That it is quite possible to read into these passages a very wide range of presuppositions is clear from the way in which different theologians have been claiming our church's Symbols in support of quite divergent, if not actually contradictory, opinions. But the articles of our creedal statements that the editors have headed, "Of the Church," or that bear similar titles are not …

Preaching On The Holy Spirit: A Study Of Luther's Sermons On The Evangelical Pericopcs, Martin E. Marty

Concordia Theological Monthly

"In our day the Holy Spirit suffers great ignominy," sighed Luther, in reference to current doctrinal misunderstanding. "In our day the Holy Spirit suffers great ignominy," might be a contemporary comment on neglect of the worship of, and witness to, the Holy Spirit. It has become almost a rubric to bemoan this neglect on Whitsunday, the third great feast of the church year, but this complaint is often followed by a tendency to contribute to the neglect and the ignominy through silence from the pulpit, as far as a living concern for the work of the Holy Spirit is concerned, …

A Ransom For Many, Martin H. Franzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

In the ransom saying Jesus tells how the Church, the new people of God, is to be built by His death. Here, too, it becomes clear that the way which Jesus is going is diametrically opposed to the thinking and planning of the heart of man, that it brings with it an inversion of all accepted values. The Church is not a fruit upon the tree of history"; it is wholly and exclusively the creation of the Christ; it is God's deed.

The History Of The Epiphany Season And The Propers Of The Feast Of Epiphany, John H. Tietjen

Concordia Theological Monthly

Like all the liturgy of the Church, the Epiphany season of the church year is the product of history and of centuries of growth and development. Just as it is impossible fully to understand the theology of an era without an understanding of the theology of the preceding eras, so it is impossible fully to understand the meaning of the Epiphany season in the present without an understanding of the past history of that season.

Sola Gratia, J. W. Behnken

Concordia Theological Monthly

To speak on the very important topic "Sola Gratia” within a period of fifteen minutes, and to do this within the framework of the highly significant general theme: "The Gospel establishes and maintains our Lutheran Church," is an assignment to which I cannot even remotely do justice. At best I can refer only to a few major points. We are concerned here with the chief principle of the Reformation. Dr. Luther declared: "The word of grace and forgiveness of sin teaches us that we are justified and saved solely through Christ, without our merit; this is the principal article from …

The United Testimony On Faith And Life, F. E. Mayer

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Lutheran Church bodies making up the American Lutheran Conference have now walked and worked together for a period of more than twenty years. They have learned to know one another both as to doctrine and as to manner of life. They have been associated as brethren serving the Lord. Coming out of varying backgrounds as to national origin and as to distinctive trends in church life and practice, they have learned to cherish one another's contributions to the fulness of the Church's life in Christ. Through closer acquaintance and deepening fellowship they have found that the common roots of …