Religion Commons^™

The Development And Significance Of Confirmation In The Lutheran Church, Richard Rist

Master of Divinity Thesis

In the past few years it has come to the attention of many people that the practice of confirmation in the Lutheran Church may need some revision, or At, least some restudy, in order for it to remain in a proper perspective that would be a clear witness to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. The purpose of this study is to explore the rite of confirmation as practiced in the Lutheran Church. Much emphasis will be given to the development of confirmation from the early Church until the present practice of Lutheran confirmation in the United States. This …

A Study Of Selected Wesleyan-Arminian Leaders On The Holy Spirit As Gift And Giver Of Gifts, Edward Laverne Bean

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between The Holy Spirit And Baptism In The New Testament, Paul Peckman

Master of Divinity Thesis

Although a thorough critique of Dunn's position cannot be attempted here, this paper will attempt to defend the opposite contention, namely that the Holy Spirit and Baptism are uniquely, indissolubly, and necessarily connected in the New Testament. Lampe's comments in regard to the Pauline evidence is cogent at this point: "Pauline thought affords no ground whatever for the modern theories which seek to effect a separation in the one action and to distinguish a 'Spirit-Baptism' and a 'water-Baptism,' not as the inward and outward parts of one sacrament, but as independent entitities."

The Role Of Lutheran Theology In India Today, James Canjanam Gamaliel

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

As I write, I have in mind the pastors and lay leaders of the nine Lutheran Churches of India. The topics treated in this thesis will be useful for group discussions in congregations so that the people and the pastors will realize the heritage of the Lutheran Church. How the five doctrines chosen are crucial in facing the specific problems and opportunities the church in India is facing will be shown in each chapter. In evaluating the contribution of Lutheran theology, the doctrines promulgated by the Second Vatican Council and some Roman Catholic scholars will al.so, when relevant, be referred …

A Pastoral Response To The Charismatic Movement, Jack Schneider

Master of Divinity Thesis

In the material recorded in Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthian congregation, the reader comes into contact with what Paul refers to as charismata, or spiritual gifts. Chapter 14 of this Epistle concentrates on two of these charismata, namely speaking in tongues and prophecy. Both are "utterance gifts", and from Paul's treatment of them, it seems that there is a definite link between them. Since we are currently experiencing an increasing element of "charismatic renewal" within our own denomination, and do not seem able to deal pastorally with it, it will be my purpose in this brief section to delve …

History In The Hermeneutics Of Jurgen Moltmann, Lloyd Gross

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

"In Europe it is often said that the theology of hope is neither a school nor a movement, but a book.” That book is Theologie der Hoffnung, by Jurgen Moltmann. In Europe no more can be said about the theology of hope than has already been said by Moltmann. His work has become the measure of the school of theology which claims history as its special province! So the study here attempted is devoted mostly to that book in an effort to evaluate and understand the contribution it has made to the contemporary discussion of history and its relationship to …

Trance: From Africa To Pentecostalism, David M. Beckmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author, a student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, studied indigenous religious movements in Asia and Africa during 1969-70 as a John Courtney Murray Fellow of Yale University. His book about indigenous churches in Ghana, Eden Revival is in the process of publication. Observations of indigenous Afro-American churches in the Caribbean during 1971 were made possible by a partial grant from the World Mission Institute of Concordia Seminary.

The Future Of Christian Education In The Missouri Synod: A Matter Of Self-Understanding, Stephen A. Schmidt

Concordia Theological Monthly

Permit me to outline the remarks. I will trace briefly the historical benchmarks of our cultural and ecclesiastical past. Secondly, I will develop candid suggestions about the revitalization of that heritage for our present and future. Naturally in the second enterprise one ceases to be historian, risking rather the role of prophet, a dubious undertaking for any person doing history. But there is some comfort in the words of the British philosopher of history, W. H. Walsh, who writes: "Historians may not be prophets but they are often in a position to prophesy."

How The Gospel Works, Richard R. Caemmerer Sr.

Concordia Theological Monthly

In the long plan of God we can imagine one good issue emerging from this debate. That is that the meaning of the Gospel becomes clearer and its preaching to the church and the world more apt and timely.

What In Scripture Speaks To The Ordination Of Women?, John Reumann

Concordia Theological Monthly

"Ordination," it is well to remember, does not appear, full-blown and in our sense of the term, in the Scriptures.

Justification And Anthropology, Wenzel Lohff

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author suggests that contemporary difficulties with respect to understanding the article of justification arise in large measure from the fact that justification has been separated from its anthropological rootage. At the same time, Dr. Lohff argues that the doctrine of justification offers great help to modern man, who often feels trapped in his very humanness. Furthermore, justification, when proclaimed properly, makes Christian unity possible. He describes justification briefly as the right and unequivocal determination of a human practice: to always live anew the life of faith in the Gospel.

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 Christianizing Of Abraham: The Interpretation Of Abraham In Early Christianity, Robert L. Wilken

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author traces through various interpretations of the significance of the story of Abraham in the early church in support of his thesis that each generation interprets the Scripture from the perspective of its own historical circumstance.

Luther On Christ And The Old Testament, James S. Preus

Concordia Theological Monthly

Careful reading of this article will contribute to getting the hermeneutical debate in our Synod beyond the present impasse that has been created by a non-Lutheran posing of the alternatives by so many who are involved in the debate.

The Eschatological And The Political In Moltmann's Theology, Kenneth Heintz

Concordia Theological Monthly

In this article he analyzes Moltmann's increasing interest in "political theology while at the same time he explores the connection between his political and eschatological thought.

The Other Understanding Of The Inspiration Texts, Traugott H. Rehwaldt

Concordia Theological Monthly

In this article the author evaluates the notes of Franz Pieper on the inspiration of Scripture, presents a summary of Herman Sasse's view on inspiration, and then offers certain counsel concerning the proper understanding of the inspiration of the Scriptures.

Theological Education: The Ecumenical Dimension, Thomas Coates

Concordia Theological Monthly

This article was originally presented as a lecture al the Consultation on Ecumenical Affairs of The Lutheran World Federation, Tokyo, Japan, May 5, 1971.

Toward Preparing Equippers, Herbert M. Zorn

Concordia Theological Monthly

Twenty-four years in India, sixteen of in seminary teaching, might sound like good credentials. Put differently, the credentials wilt: 24 years working within 100 miles of land's end of this vast country, reasonably fluent in only one of India's 18 official languages, barely conversant with another, in contact with nationwide theological education only recently, a member of the steadily diminishing group of expatriate seminary instructors.

The Relationship Between Graduate Theological Education And The Worldwide Mission Of The Church, William J. Danker

Concordia Theological Monthly

In spite of a desk piled high with other work, this writer could not find it in his heart to refuse an editor requesting an essay on a topic of such potential significance and excitement as "The Relationship Between Graduate Theological Education and the Worldwide Mission of the Church."

Inductive Bible Study And Its Place In The Curriculum Of Ebenezer Bible College, Metosalem Quillupras Castillo

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Significant Interpretations Of Developing Structures Of The Ministry-1880-1970, Roland A. Frantz

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

A historical study of the Church's ministry soon discloses a great deal of variety in the ministerial office. As Niebuhr and Williams remind us in their historical survey of the Protestant ministry, while there are a number of aspects of ministry that are agreed upon and shared in the various historic churches, there are also divergent interpretations regarding the nature and essence of the ministerial office.

Preaching In The World Of Electronic Technology-Implicatiions For Homiletics In The Message Of H. Marshall Mcluhan, Clifford Allen Winter

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The contemporary communications environment is described in this thesis for the purpose of determining the ways in which it conditions the learning and perception of modern man. The basic resource is the writing of Herbert Marshall McLuhan, Director of the Center for Culture and Technology at the University of Toronto and author of several books about the media. His understanding of the history of media and his descriptions of the electronic environment and modern man constitute a comprehensive analysis of communications in the current era. McLuhan's background, his expressed assumptions, and basic resources are described in order to provide a …

The Concept Of Morphosis In The Writings Of Gregory Of Nyssa, Constantine John Andrews

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

We too have chosen Gregory of Nyssa as the subject for this thesis, in order to trace the concept of Greek paideia as morphosis in his writings. But what about Gregory himself? How much and to what degree was he influenced by earlier writers, Christian and non-Christian? Was Gregory, as some of his contemporaries claimed, interpolating a foreign philosophy into the Bible? Was Jaeger, who devoted most of his later efforts to Gregorian studies, justified in concluding in Humanistische Reden und Vortrage, that Gregory of Nyssa was completely dependent on Plato?

Preaching In The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod-To The Goal Of Stewardship Of Money, 1930 To 1970, George H. Rattelmuller

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This study is based on 40 sermons on the stewardship of money, taken from selected volumes of The Concordia Pulpit, from 1930 to 1970.

Doctrinal Emphases In The Missouri Synod, Erwin L. Lueker

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has had the same doctrinal basis for 125 years. It is remarkable that within that period of time the loyalty of no group in Synod to that basis as given in the constitution could be seriously challenged. This, however, does not mean that there were no variations in emphases. This study is a brief synopsis of such variations. It is not concerned with difference, uniformity, contradiction, or inconsistency in doctrine (although some of these factors may be present) but with coordinating stresses. Examination of consistent adherence to basic insights is also beyond the scope of this …

Polygamy And The Christian Church, Nathaniel G. Inyamah

Concordia Theological Monthly

On the basis of personal experience, the author argues that the church's general rejection of polygamy is not required by Scripture and is descriptive of African society.

The Motive For The Christian Life According To The Epistle Of James, Paul H. Dorn

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This study of the epistle of James arose out of a pastoral concern that members of the Christian community live their Christian discipleship. James is marked by its vigorous concern for Christians living a godly life; at the same time it raises a problem. The problem is that there is no motive immediately evident with which James encourages its readers to godly living--certainly nothing as evident as "by the mercies of God" (Rom. 12:1) or "if God so loved us" (1 John 4:11). The purpose of this study is to discover what the epistle's motive for Christian living is.

Ethical Individualism In Clement Of Alexandria, David Paulsen

Concordia Theological Monthly

It has been noted that Clement of Alexandria (ca. 150-215 A. D.) diverges sharply from primitive Christianity in important respects, such as his views on eschatology and the significance of the Law. It is my contention that Clement also diverges from almost the entire previous Christian tradition as far as we know it in the matter of ethics, in that he places individual perfection above communal concerns such as love and justice.

Adolf Stőcker: A Christian Socialist Advocate Of The "Free Folk Church.", Ronald L. Massanari

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author discusses the importance of Adolf Stoecker’s understanding of the Gospel in sociopolitical terms as it affected the "free folk church" movement in 19th-century Germany.

Readers will note but perhaps not agree with Stőcker's design for the church's social ministry. Students of 19th-century Germany will remember with distaste Stőcker's and-Semitism.

A Consideration Of The Meaning Of Prayer In The Life Of Martin Luther, Deanna Marie Carr

Concordia Theological Monthly

The author considers the meaning of prayer for Luther’s religious life and shows how during the 16th-century Reformation Luther "renewed" the wholesome traditions that had surrounded prayer in the prior history of the Christian church.