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A Spirit Filled People-The Importance Of The Role And Work Of The Holy Spirit In The Converted Christian As Found In The Lutheran Confessions, The Book Of Concord, Sarah Arthur

Master of Art Theology Thesis

In this paper, we will take a closer look at just what it is that the Augsburg Confession and the Apology have to say about the importance of the role and work of Holy Spirit in the life of the converted Christian. We will first identify each occurrence and then organize the information in order to better understand what these two documents have to say about the work and role of the Holy Spirit.

Some topics were dealt with first for good reason. Luther's followers had first to defend their practices and doctrines before the Roman Catholic Church. There was …

August Vilmar's Theology Of Fact Versus The Theology Of Rhetoric, Martin Conkling

Master of Sacred Theology Seminar Papers

The work and theology of August Vilmar has largely been neglected in this country even though he was a prominenet theologian who lent substantial weight in a momentous effort to resurrect and restore the Lutheran confessions- to Germany in the first half of the nineteenth century. This translation is an attempt to recognize the vast contributions which Vilmar made to this effort and to identify those writings which would serve the church well today. Vilmar left no school of thought or method behind him as other great figures in the German universities often did. There are many reasons for this …

An Analysis Of Justification By Faith, Laverne Janssen

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

A critical evaluation of this topic is practical today for a variety of reasons. Many Lutherans today earnestly desire a consensus on the gospel with the Roman Catholic Church. This desire is often misdirected by a lack of crucial information on the respective Lutheran and Roman Catholic teachings on justification today. The responsible pastor must provide the doctrinal information that is lacking. A restatement of the Roman Catholic position of Trent by the Lutheran pastor will not usually satisfy the questions of those who have witnessed what appear to be basic changes in the Roman Catholic Church in our generation.

Historiography Of The Lutheran Confessions In America, 1830-1930, Charles Arand

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

In order to demonstrate the degree of impact that the attitudes of Lutherans toward their confessional writings had on the church of the nineteenth century, three distinct aspects of the scholarly writings will be examined. First, the attitude toward the subscription and application of the Confessions within the church will be examined. This will include both private writings and official church declarations. Secondly, the histories of the Confessions written by Lutherans necessarily focused on specific aspects to the exclusion of other elements. In that selectivity and interpretation is conveyed a particular attitude and value. Finally, the emphases and the ways …

Augustana Vii And The Unity Of The Church Major Interpretive Accents In Nineteenth And Twentieth Century American Lutheranism, Mark Wangerin

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

It is the intent of this thesis to examine the meaning of the Seventh Article of the Augsburg Confession on the basis of the article itself, its Scriptural and creedal antecedents, and its context within the corpus of the Lutheran Confessions. The interpretation of this article by key theologians of the period of Lutheran Orthodoxy as well as by nineteenth century American Lutherans will then be presented. Finally, the clashing and sometimes bitter debate regarding the interpretation of this article in the twentieth century will be fully presented both from the viewpoint of official church documents am from the pen …

The Lutheran Confessions And St. Paul's Epistle To The Romans, Mark Wangerin

Master of Divinity Thesis

This paper will investigate the use of Scripture by the Lutheran Confessions in their presentation of important Scriptural teachings. Such an undertaking, however, would be monumental in character if some way were not found to limit the scope of the presentation. For this reason, passages from St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans which are quoted in the Confessions will be used as the basis for this study. Most of the passages referred to will be ones which are quoted directly rather than merely cited unless there is some point of interest in the cited passage.

Six Christian Sermons On The Way To Lutheran Unity, Robert Kolb

Concordia Theological Monthly

Four hundred years ago this year Evangelical theologians throughout Germany were picking up a new ninety-nine page book published in Tuebingen and saying something like, "What has the smithy forged this time?" James Andreae, or Schmiedlein, born the son of a smith - a fact his better-born antagonists never let him forget -was in 1573 one of the most prominent and one of the most reviled theologians in Germany.

Public Doctrine In The Lutheran Church --Missouri Synod, Waldemar Wehmeier

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod states its doctrinal position in the second article of its constitution :

The synod, and every member of the Synod, accepts without reservation:

1. The Scriptures of .the Old and New Testament as the written word of God and the only role and norm of faith and of practice;

2. All the Symbolical Books of the evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God, to wit, the three Ecumenical creeds (the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg …

“The Log In Your Own Eye.", Paul G. Bretscher

Concordia Theological Monthly

It is painful for me to write what I am about to write-about the log in the eye of my own church. I am not blind to some of the specks or even logs which concern many of my brothers. Every confusion and diffusion and diminution of the Gospel deeply disturbs me. But our first concern has to be the log in the eye of those among us who assume they are qualified to do eye surgery on their brothers. The Lord's judgment has a strange way of beginning at Jerusalem.

The One Eucharist For The One World, Arthur Carl Piepkorn

Concordia Theological Monthly

After describing the private character of the Eucharist, Dr. Piepkorn defends its public character with four observations. (1) The humanity of Jesus Christ is present and this unites Him and the worshiper with all humanity. (2) The Christ who is present is the Creator of all things. (3) Christ and His Father have compassion for the whole world and employ many worldly means to bring life to people. (4) The Eucharist is designed to prepare us for service to the world.

The Service Conducted Facing The People, Charles Mcclean

Concordia Theological Monthly

The practice of ceremonial worship is closely related to the heart of the Christian faith. The Scriptures teach and the church confesses that Christ redeemed the whole man. Our bodies, too, share in the redemption accomplished by the Son of God, who Himself took flesh and blood of His virgin mother. Christ chose earthly, tangible elements -water, bread, and wine - to impart to men the salvation He accomplished.

A Comparative Study Of The Doctrine Of Scripture In Article 4 Of The Apology Of The Augsburg Confession With The Doctrine Of Scripture In The Works Of Kister Stendahl, Jerry Kosberg

Master of Divinity Thesis

This paper is to be a comparative study of the doctrine of Scripture found in Article Four of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession with the doctrine of Scripture found in various representative writings of Dr. Krister Stendahl. The paper will be an attempt to establish the relationship between the view of Scripture found in an article of the Lutheran Confessions and the view of Scripture found in a Lutheran biblical scholar who works from the perspective of what may be called the historical -critical method. In other words, the question this paper is asking is: Is the historical - …

Richard Taverner (1505?--1575) And The English Reformation, James Herbert Pragman

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate and describe the life and work of Richard Taverner so that an assessment of his contribution to the English Reformation could be made.

A secondary purpose lies behind this study; actually, this secondary purpose provided the initial impetus for this study. Lutherans have been especially interested in Richard Taverner, because he translated the Augsburg Confession and its Apology into English for the first time in 1536. However, Lutherans did not really know Taverner, and historical curiosity suggested that a fuller knowledge of the man ought to be gained. The secondary purpose …

A Conversation Between Pasquil And German: Theological Mood And Method, 1537, Robert Kolb

Concordia Theological Monthly

Like the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles were forged for use in confessional confrontation and were the product of a complex political-ecclesiastical situation. Luther composed this confession of faith not for himself but at the request of his prince. Elector John Frederick of Saxony ordered the summary of the chief articles of faith as a position paper to be used in possible negotiations with representatives of the Roman party after Pope Paul III promulgated a bull of convocation for a general council in June 1536. The Smalcald Articles were but one literary reaction to the papal bull of convocation. Other …

Theological Education: Crisis And Renewal, Arthur Carl Piepkorn

Concordia Theological Monthly

In the course of the confessional revival in the Church of the Augsburg Confession during the 19th and 20th centuries, Lutheran theologians interpreted the statements of the Symbolical Books about the sacred ministry in three typical ways.

The Gospel And The Theological Task, John H. Tietjen

Concordia Theological Monthly

"I'm no theologian, but …. " You have heard the statement many times. After a learned presentation by a theological professor at a pastoral conference a parish pastor rises to add his wisdom to the discussion and begins with those words, most often to take exception to something the professor has said. A delegate to a church convention utters them to convince his fellow delegates of the practical, down-to-earth advice he is about to offer, usually stated in very specific theological terms in spite of his introduction.

The Correspondence Of The Tübingen Theologians And Jeremiah Ii On The Augsburg Confession And Translation Of The First Answer Of The Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah Ii To The Lutheran Theologians Of Tübingen In 1576, George Mastrantonis

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The first part of this paper is, therefore, concerned with the setting, while the second is an introduction to the correspondence dealing especially with its translation from the Greek into English.

Theses On Ecumenical Truth And Heresy, John George Huber

Concordia Theological Monthly

Out of love and zeal for both truth and unity, the following theses are presented to my beloved colleagues in the Southern California District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as a constructive contribution to the current debate on altar and pulpit fellowship. They do not represent an official policy, but are only a personal, unofficial opinion offered for exploratory discussion. They reflect the "hernial stance" of one who lives in the tension of obedience to Jesus Christ while simultaneously remaining a responsible member of a changing synod and a changing world.

Principals Of Biblical Interpretationin The Lutheran Confessions, Ralph Bohlmann

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

Basic and preliminary to the above investigation, however, is an understanding of the principles of biblical interpretation employed in the Lutheran Confessions. The setting forth of these principles and the presuppositions upon which they rest is the primary purpose of this paper. In our investigation we shall give primary attention to confessional statements referring explicitly to biblical interpretation and to examples of biblical interpretation within the confessions that illustrate hermeneutical principles.

The Pastor As Administrator Of The Christian Fellowship, Harry G. Coiner

Concordia Theological Monthly

It may be helpful to say immediately that a church office, receptionist-secretary, an electric typewriter, a motorized mimeograph machine, and a mahogany desk are some of the trimmings and tools of parish administration but not the real substance of it. Parish administration is concerned with Christian discipleship. It is an activity rooted in what God is doing through the Word and the sacraments in the lives of men and women and children and in how they are being built up, trained, and committed to spiritual tasks.

The Historical Background Of "A Brief Statement." (Continued), Carl S. Meyer

Concordia Theological Monthly

Important as are the major theological movements in America and Germany between 1887 and 1932 for an understanding of the Middle Period of the history of the Missouri Synod, even more important are the movements within Lutheranism in America during this time. These movements, to state the self-evident, have their roots in previous periods. Without an understanding of these movements, however, the doctrinal formulations of the Missouri Synod, especially of A Brief Statement cannot be understood adequately.

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.

The Sixteenth-Century "Confessyon Of The Fayth Of The Germaynes" In Twentieth-Century American English, Herbert J. Bouman

Concordia Theological Monthly

The same year in which Martin Bucer and his associates met with Martin Luther and his co-workers to establish agreement, at least for the moment, between the two groups of Evangelicals in the Wittenberg Concord, the rediscovered Gospel, which these men loved and proclaimed so well, was brought to another country. Just six years after Augsburg, a mere five after the Editio Princeps of the Augsburg Confession and the Apology, a book came off the press in England with the following imprint on the title page: "The confessyon of the fayth of the Germaynes exhibited to the most victorious Emperour …

An Analysis Of The Confessionalism Of Edmund Schlink, Based On His “Theologie Der Lutherischen Bekenntnisschriften,” Together With A Translation Of The Original German, Herbert Bouman

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This present study is concerned with the last-named work and grew out of long pre-occupation with the task of producing an English version. The importance of Schlink's book has been widely recognized in Lutheran circles. To make it available to additional thousands of English-speaking Lutherans who are not able to make full use of the material in its original German, the work of translation was begun by the late Paul F. Koehneke of Milwaukee, and after his death, carried forward to completion by the present writer.

This essay proposes to subject Schlink's theology of the Lutheran Confessions to a critical …

An Analysis Of The Theology Of The Merger Documents Between Lutherans And Reformed In The Sixteenth And Seventeenth Centuries, Walter Harms

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis will analyze the theology of the merger documents between Lutherans and Reformed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The analysis will consist in looking at the theology of these document• to discover what theology they contain, how the theology of one agrees with the theology of the others, and the purpose for which the documents• themselves propose this theology is to be used.

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 Soteriolgical Aspect Of The Doctrine Of The Holy Trinity According To The Lutheran Confessions, Lewis W. Spitz

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Lutheran Confessions are basically doxological in their treatment of the Holy Trinity, as they sound forth a hymn of praise to the grace and mercy of the Triune God. The theme of their exultant song is Soli deo gloria! But the God to whom alone shall be all glory is the Triune God: the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost - three distinct Persons in one divine Essence. Measuring the space which the Confessions devote to the various doctrines which they profess, one might think otherwise.

Sacra Scriptura And ''Verbum Dei" In The Lutheran Confessions, Fred Kramer

Concordia Theological Monthly

To understand the Lutheran Reformation of the sixteenth century correctly one must know and bear in mind the fact that it was begun by a man who amid fearful troubles of conscience and after a long and bitter struggle for the certainty of his salvation had rediscovered the Gospel and who in turn desired to share its blessings with others.

Jesus The Judge Of The World, Heinrich Willkomm

Concordia Theological Monthly

I dem Chistus palam rediturus est, ut iudicet vivos et mortuos. Thus our fathers confess in the third article of the Augsburg Confession. They repeat therewith the words of the Apostles' Creed. Except for corresponding sentences in the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds and brief, withal plain and forceful statements in the discussions of the Large Catechism on the Second and the Third Article of the Creed and the explanation of the Seventh Petition, there is in the whole Book of Concord only one single article which expressly deals with eschatology. This is Article XVII of the Augsburg Confession and its …

Luther And The Apology, 1530 To 1531, Ronald Diener

Bachelor of Divinity

There are two primary concerns in the describing of and commenting on Martin Luther's marks and notes in Philipp Melanchthon's Apology of the Augsburg Confession. The Augsburg Confession was a public document, subscribed by evangelicals at Augsburg. Whereas the Apology also was, begun as such a public document, it was not allowed to be read at the Diet. There was no opportunity for the Apology to become a rallying point as the Augsburg Confession was for the evangelicals and as Pontifical Confutation was for the papal party. The Apology was a private document and bore the name of Philipp Melanchthon, …