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Documentation: Authority In The Church, C. F. Walther, Arnold Krugler (Translator)

Concordia Theological Monthly

In 1879 Dr. Walther delivered a long essay to Iowa Lutheran congregations who were reluctant to join the Synod because they feared the Synod would arrogate to itself excessive authority over them. With extensive citations from Scripture, Luther, the Lutheran Confessions, and the Lutheran fathers, Walther developed his concept of the proper relationship between Synod and congregations.

Apostolicity And Ministry: A Lutheran View, Carl S. Meyer

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author presents an historical survey of the Lutheran view of the ministry, with special emphasis on The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and concludes that the historic episcopate does not exist jure divino, and that fidelity to the apostolic Word is essential, not fidelity to apostolic succession.

Christian Humanism And The Reformation: Erasmus And Melanchthon, Carl S. Meyer

Concordia Theological Monthly

A closer examination of the relationship between Erasmus and Melanchthon - contemporaries who were both Christian humanists and ecclesiastical reformers, though they never met each other face to face - illuminates several significant aspects of the complex interrelationship between Christian humanism and the Reformation.

Beza And Melanchthon On Political Obligation, Eugene Linse

Concordia Theological Monthly

Martin Luther and John Calvin thought of themselves not as philosophers or politicians, but first and last as theologians and students of the Word of God. Accordingly, we should not expect to find them presenting a comprehensive political philosophy or even a general theory of politics, for they did not see this as the task to which they were called. Whatever each had to say about political ideology or practice tended to be largely theoretical and the consequence of first principles rooted and grounded on theology. Of necessity both spoke of matters pertaining to the nature and function of politics, …

The Fourth Gospel Yesterday And Today, John W. Montgomery

Concordia Theological Monthly

In this paper a comparative study will be made of the work of four Johannine interpreters who are widely separated both in time and in theological approach: Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560), Luther’s irenic associate, rightly designated the "preceptor of Germany"; Aegidius Hunnius (1550-1603), an uncompromising representative of early Lutheran confessional orthodoxy; Father Marie-Joseph Lagrange (1855-1938), one of the greatest Roman Catholic Biblical scholars of the twentieth century; and Charles Kingsley Barrett, an English Methodist, who since 1958 has served as professor of divinity at Durham University, and who is the author of a highly reputed commentary on the Greek text of …

Brief Studies, Robert O. Hoerber, Carl S. Meyer, H. Hamann

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Decree of Claudius in Acts 18:2

Luther and Melanchthon at Muenster in 1960

Leadership

Statistics on World Lutheranism

Melanchthon The Confessor, Arthur Carl Piepkorn

Concordia Theological Monthly

By definition, a confessor is "one who confesses." Specifically and strictly, a confessor is an ordained clergymen who hears confessions and is authorized to grant absolution. Or he is one who professes or gives heroic evidence of his faith in Christ, a saint who suffers persecution for his faith without undergoing martyrdom in the process.

Editorial Comment, Charles L. Hill

Concordia Theological Monthly

In this issue we are continuing the observance of the 400th anniversary of the death of Philip Melanchthon. To the articles appearing in the August issue of our journal, we are adding two more which likewise were read as a commemorative symposium at Concordia Seminary on April 2-21 of this year. In calling these articles to the attention of our readers, we have chosen to let Melanchthon speak to us directly from bis Loci communes, selecting some of his 33 theses, which conclude his treatise on law and Gospel.

Melanchthon The Theologian, Robert D. Preus

Concordia Theological Monthly

It would seem impossible that the theme "Melanchthon the Theologian," which is as comprehensive as it is indefinite, could be discussed satisfactorily in any brief presentation. The actual purpose and scope of this study is, however, narrower than the rather general theme might indicate. I propose to consider Melanchthon’s contributions to that discipline which is now known as dogmatics, to trace the impact of his systematic bent upon Lutheran theology, to delineate some of his main ideas on theology, and thus to assess him as a theologian.

Melanchthon The Churchman, Gilbert A. Thiele

Concordia Theological Monthly

In presenting Melanchthon as churchman we try to erect a little monument to him as a man of and for the church. To assist us in bringing some order into a large mass of fact and interpretation which has been accumulating over four centuries, we have thought it good to distribute our tribute over several areas.

Luther And Melanchthon, Erwin L. Lueker

Concordia Theological Monthly

Luther speaks directly to us in German language; Melanchthon in Latin. This may have some significance whether or not we agree with Schiller that the "soul of a people is in its language."

The Written, Spoken, And Signed Word, Herman A. Preus

Concordia Theological Monthly

0ur title points us to the Word of God. It tells us that God speaks to us in three different ways. But it is the same Word that He speaks in all three. There is only one Word of God. The Word, whether written, spoken, or signed, is the same Word. It is the same message from God. It is the same Gospel, proclaiming God's salvation to lost sinners. It is what Luther calls "die ewige Wahrheit Gottes," God's own revelation of eternal truth.

The Unity Of The Church, Paul M. Bretscher

Concordia Theological Monthly

This is an anniversary year for the Lutheran Church. The Augsburg Confession, the foremost of our Lutheran symbols, came into existence 425 years ago. Prepared by Melanchthon and approved by Luther, it was read in German at the Diet of Augsburg on June 25, 1530. Copies of the German and Latin text were presented to Emperor Charles V. This 1530 version, known as the "unaltered" Augsburg Confession, has since that memorable day been the touchstone of what constitutes Lutheranism. It reflects in matchless form the deepest theological concerns of Luther, Melanchthon, and their colaborers. It served a threefold purpose: (1) …

The Wrath Of God And The Grace Of God In Lutheran Theology, Wm. F. Arndt

Concordia Theological Monthly

Every Lutheran theologian, at hearing these terms, will admit, I think, that in discussing them we deal with the very heart of theology, and not only of theology, but of religion itself. Wherever religion has not developed into a mere caricature, but is live, spontaneous, heartfelt, real, it occupies itself, among other things, with these concepts. The statements that an individual or whole groups make about them may be entirely erroneous and objectionable or highly unsatisfactory, but, at any rate, occupying one's self with them is unavoidable - the human heart simply has to come to grips with these matters. …

The Lotthers: Forgotten Printers Of The Reformation, W. G. Tillmanns

Concordia Theological Monthly

The name Lotther is so similar to that of our Reformer that it must arouse the curiosity of the reader when he finds this name recorded in Luther's correspondence. Yet most Luther biographies do not even mention this name, and those that do pass it over lightly. Thus the family which has rendered outstanding service to the cause of the Reformation is today all but forgotten.

The Melanchthonian Blight, Richard Craemerer

Concordia Theological Monthly

Luther's Reformation was a movement of truly spiritual vitality. He restored to light some of the most powerful impulses of the Christian religion - salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the royal priesthood of all believers, the divinity of the Christian calling. Somewhere around 1525, however, this vitality seems to wane. The German princes begin to dominate in the Lutheran movement, and they retain most of the pagan characteristics of their contemporaries. Theologians expend their best efforts in many decades of acrimonious controversy. The German people lag behind their neighbors in cultural and political progress, almost succumb to …

The Formative Years Of Doctor Luther, E. G. Schwiebert

Concordia Theological Monthly

There can be no doubt that many of Martin Luther's contemporaries realized that he was one of the great men of history. Almost twenty years before he died, his friends began to collect the Reformer's letters and writings, while at different times twelve table companions recorded his conversations with the dinner guests. The three funeral addresses delivered at the time of Luther's death in 1546 testify to this same conviction. Since he had died in his native Eisleben, a service was first held there in the Andreas-Kirche, on which occasion Jonas, who had accompanied Luther on the journey from Wittenberg, …

The Marburg Colloquy Of 1529: A Textual Study, George John Beto

Concordia Theological Monthly

The primary sources on the Marburg Colloquy are comparatively numerous. While an official transcript of the proceedings was not kept, certain observers took notes and immediately after the conference supplemented these notes with the material they had retained in their memories. All of the sources are untranslated and are found in either German or Latin.

The Reunion Of Christendom, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

"Interim hat den Schalk hinter ihm!" When the attempt was made to reconcile Lutheranism and Catholicism by means of the Augsburg Interim, the Lutheran laymen rose in their might and declared: "Selig ist der Mann, Der Gott vertrauen kann Und willgt nicht ins Interim, Denn es hat den Schalk hinter ihm!" "Of the Interim beware, For a knave is hiding there." (Hurst, History of the Christian Church, II, p. 217.) When Melanchthon and others offered the Church a modified form of this union document in the Leipzig Interim, 1548, the Lutherans at once detected the same knave hiding there. And …

Luther: A Blessing To The English, W. Dallmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

The First English Lutherans and the First English Lutheran Theological Seminary

''Martin Luther" is written over the page with the names of Gardiner, Cranmer, Thirlby, and Bilney, the degree list of Cambridge in 1521.

A committee was sent to London to have Luther's books examined and to get an order from Cardinal Wolsey to burn them - Drs. Humfrey; Robert Ridley, uncle of the martyr; John Watson, praised by Erasmus; and Henry Bullock, a pupil of Erasmus, ''most learned Bovillus," now professor of Greek and vice-chancellor.

The books were burned on Market Hill about the Easter term, and the grand …

Reason Or Revelation?, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

"It will be seen from the above that our strictures of distinctive Reformed teachings can be summarized under the heads of rationalism and legalism, representing pernicious tendencies to which we all are prone and which seriously impair divine truth as revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures." (Popular Symbolics, p. 223.) We all are prone to rationalistic thinking. We Lutherans, too, need to guard against setting reason above revelation. We need it as much as any. What we have set down in the preceding articles was not addressed so much to the vulgar rationalists and the Reformed rationalists as to …

A Course In Lutheran Theology, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

A second reason why a certain class of theologians charges Luther with teaching predestinarianism in De Servo Arbitrio is because he so emphatically and uncompromisingly teaches the monergism of grace. What these theologians-the synergists mislike more than the "harsh, predestinarian" sayings of Luther is the sola gratia back of them. Because they do not like the sola gratia, they mislike Luther's teaching on election.

A Course In Lutheran Theology, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

People are saying that De Servo Arbitrio is a dangerous book. We have heard them rail against it, first, because of Luther's teaching on the diacretio personarum, and, secondly, because of his statements concerning the Deus Absconditus. Usually the warning against De Servo Arbitrio takes this third form: It teaches Calviniatic determinism. If this charge is well founded, our book could not serve as a handbook for a course in Lutheran theology. It is therefore necessary to examine this sinister charge at some length.

A Course In Lutheran Theology, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

Luther points out that the "free-will" heresy has "gained so much ground," p. 362.) Indeed, in what period of history and in what part of the Church did it not make its baneful influence widely felt? It had and it has a strangle-hold on philosophy and theology. It is "the myth of all ages,") accepted and proclaimed as God's truth. The keenest philosophers have succumbed to it. Kant embraced it and Fichte and the rest.

A Course In Lutheran Theology, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

Those who feel the need of acquiring a deeper understanding of the saving truths of the Bible will do well to take up the study of Luther's De Servo Arbitrio. That will provide an excellent course in Lutheran theology. Study and restudy the weighty matters presented in this course, and you will become a proficient and efficient Christian theologian.

King Henry Viii Courts Luther, W. Dallmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

On March 11, 1535, Dr. Barnes, "the king's chaplain and professor of theology," was again in Wittenberg, "treating only- of the second marriage of the king," and trying very hard to get Melanchthon to go to England. Of course, he did not win the Lutherans to approve of the divorce.

Melanchthon And Luther's Translation Of The New Testament, H. O. Keinath

Concordia Theological Monthly

When Philip Schwartzerd changed his German name to Melanchthon, this act might have been considered symbolic of the linguistic interest which was to be dominant throughout his life: Greek. As a student of Greek he proved to be the ready helper who enlisted much technical knowledge of the language in the service of Luther's translation of the New Testament. True it is, Luther was the translator, but he was a translator who did not hesitate to draw upon reliable information wherever he found it in order to produce an adequate version. Melanchthon therefore became one of the great colaborers of …