History of Christianity Commons^™

The Christian Century As A Spokesman For Liberal Protestantism In The Early Depression Years, 1929-1933, David Mccall

Bachelor of Divinity

The social gospel for which the Century-spoke led it to just such active involvement. It brought its Christian commitment to bear on every important facet of American life. These facets fall into three broad classifications. They are social issues, economic issues and political issues. Attention will be focused on these to determine just how the Christian Century put its creed into practice.

A History Of The National Evangelical Lutheran Church To Merger With The Lutheran Church - -Missouri Synod, Harold Austermann

Bachelor of Divinity

In chapter II, I will give an historical survey of the Finnish emigration to the United States, and the resultant formation and growth of both the Suomi Synod and the Apostolic Lutherans or Laestadians, as a prelude to the formation of the National Evangelical Lutheran Church. In chapter III, I will trace the history of the National Evangelical Lutheran Church to 1956. In chapter IV, I will cover the actual merger process to completion in January of 1964.

Dr. Adolph A. Brux And Prayer Fellowship In The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, John Marschhausen

Master of Divinity Thesis

The purpose of this paper is to explore the case of Dr.Adolph A. Brux and his relations with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on the subject of prayer fellowship, and in doing that to discover what effect, if any, the work of Dr.Brux had upon the Missouri Synod. F. Dean Lueking, in his book, Mission in the Making, terms the period between 1920and 1940 "The Struggle for Vision" within Missouri. It is in this period that the case between Dr. Brux and the Missouri Synod took place, and it is during this time that one can begin to see the shift …

The Scriptural And Confessional Stance Of American Lutheranism 1742-1867, Arthur Gillespie

Master of Divinity Thesis

What kind of things did our American Lutheran forefathers say about the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions? This was the initial question behind the research in this paper. How did they express what they believed about the documents? There are quite a few words that surround our expressions of fidelity to the Bible and the Confessions. We are continually in dialogue about what we are really saying when we use them. Are they adequate for our intentions? Should we retire some of them? By means of this paper we hope to discover what was said and what was meant by …

A Checklist Of Luther's Writings In English, Part Ii, George S. Robbert

Concordia Theological Monthly

A Checklist of Luther's Writings in English

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 …

An Investigation Of The Origin And Development Of The "Gesellschaft Zur Unterstutzung Von Prediger- U. Schullehrer- Wittwen U. Waisen Innerhalb Der Ev. Luth. Synode Von Missouri, Ohio U. A. Staaten", Erwin Lueker

Master of Divinity Thesis

It is the purpose of this paper to investigate the origin and development of this organization within Synod as a whole from the proposal for such an organization in 1850 up until 1889, when the various districts officially took over the support of the widows and orphans of Pastors and teachers.

The Early Dark Ages Of The Church-Some Reflections, Edgar Krentz

Concordia Theological Monthly

The period of history from the Resurrection to the oldest document in the New Testament is in many ways the darkest in the history of the church. No document in the New Testament antedates the year 50, the generally agreed-on date for 1 Thessalonians. Even if we would date Galatians early, say A. D. 48/49 on the South Galatian hypothesis, we would push our knowledge back only a year and a half. The only other possible candidate for an earlier date is the Epistle of James, placed by a minority of scholars at a time prior to the Pauline Gentile …

Special Problems Affecting The Educational Task Of The Churches With A Chinese Language Ministry, Andrew Ch'iu

Concordia Theological Monthly

There are many problems under each of these headings, and many different solutions have been proposed for them. The main purpose of this paper is not to attempt to solve the problems but to point them out as starters for our discussion. Any suggested solutions in this paper are not meant to be final.

Apostolicity As A Church Response To Gnosticism In Irenaeus, Gook Han Bai

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

This thesis is based on the praise that both Irenaeus and the Gnostics regarded Christian teachings and practices as Apostolic tradition. Irenaeus regarded Christian teachings and practices as Apostolic tradition, and, accordingly, appealed to the authority or the Apostles in defending the Christian faith. Apostolic tradition, for Irenaeus, must be guaranteed and safeguarded by the unbroken historical. succession from one generation to the next. Irenaeus laid much emphasis on the importance of the Apostles in Christian teachings and practices. However, the Apostles without successors are practically meaningless to him. The concept of being "in the church" also played an important …

Erasmus The Exegete, Marvin Anderson

Concordia Theological Monthly

Erasmus appears everywhere in the theological controversies of the 16th century. Discovery in 1506 of his beloved Lorenzo Valla's New Testament Notes encouraged Erasmus to continue the task of editing, annotating, and paraphrasing the New Testament. Whatever can be said about Erasmus, his dedication to this task has earned the gratitude of generations of Christians. His latest encomium is Erasmus of Christendom. An analysis of Erasmus’ devotion to New Testament study adds depth and breadth to the philosophy of Christ. Heirs of the 16th century should ponder the life work of Erasmus in this 500th anniversary of his birth. In …

Erasmus, Luther, And Aquinas, Philip Watson

Concordia Theological Monthly

One of the most recent additions to the growing Roman Catholic literature on Luther is a study of his doctrine of the bondage of the will in the light-as the subtitle of the German edition says-of the Biblical and ecclesiastical tradition. Its author, Harry J. McSorley, endorses Luther's own view of the outstanding importance of his De servo arbitrio as dealing with the most central issue of his reforming work. He also endorses Luther's claim that his primary concern was a reformation, not simply of practical abuses but of doctrine, and he fully agrees that no area of doctrine in …

The Movement Toward Religious Liberty: An Examination Of The Factors Responsible For The First Amendment To The Constitution Of The United States, William Grese

Bachelor of Divinity

This is the context in which this research paper is written though its goal is much more modest. We do not hope to settle the question of the intent of our founding fathers. But we want to try to determine whether the churches were at all involved in this movement toward religious freedom. Were they in favor of a separation between church and state, or did they only seek to end preference? Or were they not involved at all? At the same time, we also want to examine the various factors responsible for the first amendment and to see what …

The History Of Women's Rights In The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, Robert Fitzpatrick

Master of Divinity Thesis

The shift in the practical position was made possible by a new approach to the interpretation of the Scriptural passages historically used as guides for establishing policy in regard to the question of women's rights in the church. I am not here attempting to be an exegete or a hermeneutician. The nature of this study is historical. I have attempted to report what happened, when it happened', and why it happened, an/to indicate the changes in the approach to .the passages involved which aid in understanding the shifts in practice which have occurred.

The Origin Of Origen's Origins, Kenneth Bernthal

Master of Divinity Thesis

It is the purpose of this paper to trace a small piece of the history of man's answers to these eternal questions of Whence? Why? and Whither? We shall see how Origen, one of the early Christian church fathers, answered these questions in a work the vastness and completeness of which is exceeded only by the genius of its author.

Were The Reformers Mission-Minded?., Thomas Coates

Concordia Theological Monthly

The subject "The Reformation and Missions" might well suggest a very short paper indeed. Both theologically and practically, the Reformation period is notable chiefly for its lack of missionary emphasis.

Various Muslim Interpretations Of The Curcifixion Of Jesus In The Qur'an, Rodney Otto

Master of Divinity Thesis

This paper is a beginning attempt to understand the Qur'anic teaching on the crucifixion of Jesus. Since the Qur'an is the basis of all Islamic thought, it is the primary emphasis of the study. This was done through the books of S. Zwemer, J. Robson, and G. Parrinder as well as M. Pickthall's translation of the Qur’an itself. From this base some attempt has been made to understand the traditions which have grown around the Qur’an. Because the Ahmadiyyah movement is so vocal in its opposition to the crucifixion, it is treated as an illustration of present day Muslim thought …

The Controversy Provoked By William Perkins Reformed Catholike- A Study In Protestant--Catholic Relations In The First Quarter Of The Seventeenth Century In England, Robert E. Webber

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

The controversy provoked by William Perkins' Reformed Catholike reflects the general social economic political, and theological setting of recusant history and literature. Although the actual controversy occurred between 1598 and 1614, with the exception of one work which appeared in 1625, the concern of the literature reflected the broader history of English Catholicism from 1559 to 1625.

The substance of the present thesis, however, will be limited to the years in which the controversy took place. The title of the thesis is therefore broader than the substance. The controversy essentially was over by 1614. The final book is merely a …

The History Of Radio Station Kfuo 1954 To 1969, Roger R. Kahle

Bachelor of Divinity

The purpose of this research paper is two-fold. First, I hope to bring together significant source material for future historical analyses of Radio Station KFUO during the years 1954-1969. Hence, this paper is accompanied by a bulky Appendix, that reproduces the significant historical documents, and by a detailed Bibliobraphy, noting the location of additional materials. Second, this time period was selected both because scanty historical study has been focussed on it heretofore, and because 1954-1969 is the tenure of KFUO's second General Manager. The events that occurred during this time period have significantly altered the historical motion of KFUO and …

The Gospel And The Smalcald Articles, Walter R. Bouman

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Smalcald Articles (hereafter abbreviated as S. A.) provide us with an excellent focus for the problems and possibilities which the 16-century confessional documents pose for 20th-century Lutheranism. The fact of our historical distance from the 16th century confronts us with the most obvious problems.

A Tribute To An Evangelical Ministry, Arthur C. Repp

Concordia Theological Monthly

One can hardly speak of a Fuerbringer without bringing in some church history. This is especially true of Alfred O. Fuerbringer, who traces a line of ministers as forebears back to the 17th century through his father's side, and two centuries farther back on his grandmother's side, including one of the signers of the Formula of Concord in 1577-1580 (Martinus Bungerus). He has an even more intimate relationship with the Missouri Synod, for his grandfather was one of the Saxon founders. Two of his predecessors to the presidency of Concordia Seminary were related to him, C. F. W. Walther, who …

Alfred O. Fuerbringer Bibliography, Nolan R. Bremer

Concordia Theological Monthly

Alfred O. Fuerbringer Bibliography

The Background And The First Twenty-Five Years Of The Missouri Evangelical Lutheran India Mission, 1894-1919, Herbert Manthey Zorn

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

The purpose of this study is to examine the first twenty-five years of the history of the Missouri Evangelical Lutheran India Mission. The chief emphasis in the study is understanding the situation and conditions in which various decisions were taken. This will involve investigation of primary documents, letters, reports, and, where possible, interviews with the actual persons involved.

A Comparative Study Of The Prolegomena In Karl Barth's Christliche Dogmatik Of 1927 And The Kirchliche Dogmatik Of 1932-1938, Heino Olavi Kadai

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

After his first Prolegomena in 1927 seemed to indicate the shape which his theology was to take, Barth abruptly discontinued his work to start over again. The new beginning in 1932 led to the monumental Kirchliche Dogmatik. Did Barth need to start over again? In what way do the two Prolegomena agree or disagree? What were the advantages of the Kirchliche Dogmatik? These are the questions that should be answered in this study. In the process of the investigation Barth's basic foundations of theology become visible in the historical context in which they were conceived and in which they are …

Division And Reunion In The Presbyterian Church In Korea 1959-1968, Bong Rin Ro

Doctor of Theology Dissertation

This study is basically a historical investigation based on sources from both Korea and America. Since the controversial matter in the thesis can be problematical, the writer attempted to select source materials which give a fair representation of both opposing factions. Most of the primary sources in Korean were brought either directly from Korea or made available from Presbyterian missionaries in America who worked in Korea. A brother of the writer, a Presbyterian minister and a seminary student were also instrumental in Korea collecting necessary materials such as the minutes of the General Assembly meetings, official statements of various church …

The Free Conferences Of 1903-1906 And The Concept Of Analogia Fidei, Martin W. Flor

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has been charged many times with practicing separatism, and this in almost every phase of its history. The church historian Guericke even judged the Saxon emigration to be a movement of such a nature. One fact which refutes this accusation is that from the very beginning Missouri was eager to hold so-called free conferences, the ultimate goal of which was the establishing of doctrinal unity and possibly of church fellowship.

Civic Order, Martin H. Scharlemann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Order is a gift. It may not be taken for granted. The tensions inherent in every social situation tend toward disruption unless they are harnessed toward creative ends.

Violence on our streets and in our cities has brought us up short to the realization that the social order is much like a garden: if left untended, it will produce only the weeds of exploitation, decay, frustration, and outrage. During some of the riots in our major cities we watched our television sea in sheer disbelief that this evil could erupt in our midst. Somehow we assumed that such things could …

One Hundred Years Of Social Ministry-Now What?, Leslie F. Weber

Concordia Theological Monthly

Organized social ministry in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, officially begun in 1950 by the creation of a synodical Board of Social Welfare, is in 1968 actually in its centennial year. While it is striving to discover newer and better ways to reach troubled people and in this sense may be rebelling against the past to a certain degree, it is by no means willing to ignore the foundations and activities of the past, which have abundantly demonstrated that faith has been at work within our churches in deeds of love.

Biblical Humanism And Roman Catholic Reform: (1501-1542) Contarini, Pole, And Giberti, Marvin W. Anderson

Concordia Theological Monthly

Reginald Pole deserves careful attention by students of the Reformation period. Pole delivered one and shared in a second of three confessions which assumed Roman Catholic guilt for the splintering of Christendom. Adrian VI excoriated the Curia in his Instructio of Jan. 3, 1523, read to the Diet of Nuremberg by Francesco Chieregati.

The Reforming Role Of Religious Communities In The History Of Western Christianity, Carl Volz

Concordia Theological Monthly

Reformed Christians have traditionally been suspicious of, if not viscerally opposed to, one ancient institution of Christianity - monasticism. Ever since the upheavals of the 16th century most non-Roman Catholics in the West have been content to view the monks as being psychological eccentrics at best, or the spiritual heirs of Pelagius at worst. It is the purpose of this essay to indicate the vital role monasticism played in the continuing reform of Christianity, and to encourage Lutheran Christians, who stand in a similar reforming tradition, to approach the concept of communal religious life with understanding if not with sympathetic …