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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
The Yahwist Looks At Abraham, Ralph W. Klein
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Yahweh Faithful And Free-A Study In Ezekiel, Ralph W. Klein
Yahweh Faithful And Free-A Study In Ezekiel, Ralph W. Klein
Concordia Theological Monthly
This study in Ezekiel shows how an Old Testament prophet, known for his somewhat bizarre symbolism, communicated to God's covenant people in the early exilic period the good news that Yahweh is indeed faithful to His covenant, yet at the same time sovereignly free.
1 And 2 Maccabees-Same Story, Different Meaning, George W. Nickelsburg
1 And 2 Maccabees-Same Story, Different Meaning, George W. Nickelsburg
Concordia Theological Monthly
The author sketches briefly the History of Israel two centuries before Christ and indicates the varied viewpoints toward and interpretations of that history that are recorded in the books of First and Second Maccabees.
A Look At The Neb-Ot, Alfred Von Rohr Sauer, Frederick W. Danker
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
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 Secret Of God's Plan: Studies In Ephesians Part Four, Martin H. Scharlemann
The Secret Of God's Plan: Studies In Ephesians Part Four, Martin H. Scharlemann
Concordia Theological Monthly
This fourth and final study in the Letter to the Ephesians depicts the scope of God's secret plan for the universe. It follows the previous expositions of the content and implementation of the divine mystery as well as the opposition to God's purpose of restoring the universe by gathering up all things under the lordship of Christ.
The Qumran Meal And The Last Supper, John E. Groh
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
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 Day Of The Lord, Ralph W. Klein
The Day Of The Lord, Ralph W. Klein
Concordia Theological Monthly
What does it mean for Yahweh to have a day? Sigmund Mowinckel saw it as a day of manifestation or epiphany at the New Year's festival, including the celebration of Yahweh's kingship and His saving acts for His people. The eschatological day of Yahweh is only the final and supreme day of Yahweh's enthronement, entirely secondary to His cult day.
The Message Of The Deuteronomic Historian, Carl Graesser Jr.
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.
The Shape Of Hope: Jeremiah's Book Of Consolation, Theodore M. Ludwig
The Shape Of Hope: Jeremiah's Book Of Consolation, Theodore M. Ludwig
Concordia Theological Monthly
The question of the presence or absence of eschatological ideas in the prophetic writings has been debated for years, with scholars defending both positions. The question is problematic because of the difficulty of defining "eschatology" in a way that will do justice to the prophetic material. If understood strictly as a cosmic cataclysm, as a suprahistorical return to chaos followed by cosmogony, or even as the end of the present order and the beginning of a radically different order, eschatology cannot be said to have a central place in the utterances of the preexilic and exilic prophets.
Preaching From The Old Testament, Carl Graesser Jr.
Preaching From The Old Testament, Carl Graesser Jr.
Concordia Theological Monthly
Preaching from the Old Testament has fallen on evil times. Many a pastor, even if he does not have a mental block from struggles with Hebrew at the seminary or a feeling of guilt because of rusty exegetical skills, feels much more at home in the New Testament. If he should attempt to preach on an Old Testament text, he cannot assume that his audience has either a ready knowledge or interest in the Old Testament. Unlike a bygone generation, his audience would think it a joke to name a child Jehoshaphat or Ahab or Hepzibah.
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 …
The Study And Interpretation Of The Old Testament, Albert E. Glock
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
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
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.
Genesis Three In The Light Of Key Hermeneutical Considerations, Ralph D. Gehrke
Genesis Three In The Light Of Key Hermeneutical Considerations, Ralph D. Gehrke
Concordia Theological Monthly
Though the Greek word έϱμηνεύειν has three main shadings (to state, to expound, and to translate) , the basic idea underlying all three meanings is "to mediate understanding."
The Law-Gospel Tension In Jeremiah, Theodore M. Ludwig
The Law-Gospel Tension In Jeremiah, Theodore M. Ludwig
Concordia Theological Monthly
The relationship between judgment and grace is a basic question in Biblical interpretation. God's fierce judgment and His unconditional grace stand side by side in the Biblical testimony, and on unresolved tension exists between these two aspects of God's self-disclosure. The tendency among Bible scholars today is to try to resolve this tension by building a "bridge" between judgment and grace, by some theological interpretation which demonstrates that God's judgment on His people leads directly to their salvation. In the study of the Book of Jeremiah the tension is commonly resolved by the idea of God's judgment as a disciplinary …
The Congregation: Place Of God's Presence, Martin H. Scharlemann
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?
Deuteronomy 18 - God's Chosen People, Norman C. Habel
Deuteronomy 18 - God's Chosen People, Norman C. Habel
Concordia Theological Monthly
A survey of the periodical literature of the past 25 years reveals that Deut. 18 has neither been the object of close scrutiny nor the focal point of any significant controversies in the scholarly world. While some scholars may consider the designation of Moses as a נֽכִֽיא {prophet) in Deut. 18:15 an anachronism, the pertinence of this passage for an appreciation of the prophetic movement of the Old Testament cannot be ignored. Nor can we avoid coming to grips with the New Testament allusions to the pericope under discussion. We shall attempt, within the brief scope of this essay, to …
Covenant And Justification In The Old Testament, Walter R. Roehrs
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.
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
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
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
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 …