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Full-Text Articles in Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Some Concerns About Current Confessional Statements, Horst W. Jordan
Some Concerns About Current Confessional Statements, Horst W. Jordan
Concordia Theological Monthly
Luther on occasion compared the world with a drunken peasant who when he was shoved into the saddle on the one side toppled out of it on the other so that it was impossible to help him, do what one would. The history of theology tempts one to use the same comparison. "What venturesome statements have men permitted themselves to make, statements that ultimately had to lead to disaster because the attempt was made to present a truth that was correct enough in itself but which was taught in a one-sided, undialectic form, with complete contempt and disapproval of its …
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.
God's Word In His Mission, William J. Danker
God's Word In His Mission, William J. Danker
Concordia Theological Monthly
Like it or not-and most of them don't-Christian lay people of all denominations find themselves drawn into a struggle splitting the worldwide Christian church into two opposing camps. How much of the Bible is to be understood literally, and how much of it is properly understood to be picture language? Is the Bible to be regarded entirely as a piece of human literature subject at all points to correction by modern research? Or is it exclusively a divine creation? Must it be presupposed that when man's historical, geographical, or scientific knowledge conflicts with this book, it is always 20th-century man …
Darkness At Noon: Mark's Passion Narrative, Robert H. Smith
Darkness At Noon: Mark's Passion Narrative, Robert H. Smith
Concordia Theological Monthly
The puzzle of Mark's Gospel is not how Jesus can be both human and divine, son of Mary, and Son of God. The mystery has to do rather with the cloud brooding over this Jesus as He proceeds to a lonely and forsaken death. Over all His days as over all His words and works, over His power and His weakness, over His speech and His silence, there falls the shadow of the cross. How can such a portrait be "the good news of Jesus Christ" (1:1)? How can this somber and sobering document be called a "gospel"?
Teaching The Faith: Models And Methods, Stephen A. Schmidt
Teaching The Faith: Models And Methods, Stephen A. Schmidt
Concordia Theological Monthly
Now our task is far more limited. I want to focus on the Christian classroom and specifically on the act of teaching the faith. I will develop my remarks in two parts. The first consideration will deal with past and present models used within the church to define the teaching act designed to teach faith. Secondly, I will attempt to underline crucial concerns toward a useful teaching method not only for the 1970s but for the future as well.
Rejoicing In Mercy: Unity In Diversity, John W. Constable
Rejoicing In Mercy: Unity In Diversity, John W. Constable
Concordia Theological Monthly
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has adopted an apt slogan to celebrate a century and a quarter of its existence: "Rejoicing in Mercy." The Lord has been good to our beloved Synod and has given us so much. A quarter of a century ago we celebrated "A Century of Grace;" a half-century ago we cried "Ebenezer" - "the Lord hath helped us hitherto."
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 …
How The Gospel Works, Richard R. Caemmerer Sr.
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.
Social And Religious Attitudes Among Lutheran Students, Kenneth L. Frerking
Social And Religious Attitudes Among Lutheran Students, Kenneth L. Frerking
Concordia Theological Monthly
College students have probably been "'investigated"' more than any other single category of people. They have certainly been the subject of many articles and essays in recent years. However, much of what has been written has either been without empirical basis altogether, or else the empirical research has focused on only a small minority of the campus population. Leo Cherne, executive director of the Research Institute of America.
Justification And Anthropology, Wenzel Lohff
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.
Process Of Preparation - Genesis 22:1-14: From Text To Proclamation, Andrew M. Weyermann
Process Of Preparation - Genesis 22:1-14: From Text To Proclamation, Andrew M. Weyermann
Concordia Theological Monthly
This article is a paper also prepared for the symposium on "Abraham and Archaeology." On Sunday, February 27, 1972, the author preached a sermon on Gen. 22:1-14, the account of the sacrifice of Isaac. Later the author discussed his preparation for the preaching task with the conference.
The Old Testament As Scripture Of The Church, Brevard S. Childs
The Old Testament As Scripture Of The Church, Brevard S. Childs
Concordia Theological Monthly
The author argues that the historical-critical approach to the Scripture leads to unedifying results when the practitioner fails to treat Scripture as the Book of the church, containing the record of God's unique revelation. He argues that the history of the canon has been neglected and that canonical history gives the key to understanding the nature of Scripture as the Book of the church. He concentrates on the canonical shape of the Pentateuch. Although Dr. Childs endorses the major results of the historical-critical approach to the Old Testament, he argues that the historical-critical method is neither the perfect nor the …
The Christianizing Of Abraham: The Interpretation Of Abraham In Early Christianity, Robert L. Wilken
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.
“The Log In Your Own Eye.", Paul G. Bretscher
“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 Just Shall Live By Faith, Otto W. Heick
The Just Shall Live By Faith, Otto W. Heick
Concordia Theological Monthly
When did Luther reach the reformation insight into the doctrine of Justification? The author reviews the literature on the question, and brings to the attention of American readers the work of Uuras Saarnivaara, which has received little scholarly attention since its publication.
Luther On Christ And The Old Testament, James S. Preus
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
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
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.
Doctrinal Emphases In The Missouri Synod, Erwin L. Lueker
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 …
The Eucharist In The Life Of The Church, John S. Damm
The Eucharist In The Life Of The Church, John S. Damm
Concordia Theological Monthly
The author proposes seven theses for doing the Eucharist in order to establish the rhythm of the church's life in the world. The paper was read in substantially its present form at the October 1970 meeting of the Institute for Liturgical Studies meeting at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.
The One Eucharist For The One World, Arthur Carl Piepkorn
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.
A Consideration Of The Meaning Of Prayer In The Life Of Martin Luther, Deanna Marie Carr
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.
Mission: Life, John S. Damm
Mission: Life, John S. Damm
Concordia Theological Monthly
It has become almost a truism to say that we are currently living in a time of crisis. The word "crisis" is now rather easily applied to a wide range of social, economic, political, educational, environmental, and technological phenomena that make up much of the context of contemporary life. This pervasive sense of crisis certainly has not left untouched the realm of Christian education.
The Christian Mission, A Look Into The Future, R. Pierce Beaver
The Christian Mission, A Look Into The Future, R. Pierce Beaver
Concordia Theological Monthly
The author argues on the basis of a lifetime of experience that the mission of the church demands a return to the proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to a reaffirmation of the principle of voluntarism, as distinct from bureaucratic mission strategy.
First Faith, Then Reason, John Philpp Koehler
First Faith, Then Reason, John Philpp Koehler
Concordia Theological Monthly
John Philipp Koehler (1859-1951) was a professor of church history at the theological seminary of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod at Wauwatosa, Wis., from 1900 to 1930. This essay, translated by Philemon Hensel, was first delivered in German to a conference of pastors and professors in the early 1920s. It is here reprinted with permission from Faith-Life, XLI (May/ June 1968), 15-18.
Existence And Process: A Study Of The Theology Of Schubert Ogden, Robert W. Paul
Existence And Process: A Study Of The Theology Of Schubert Ogden, Robert W. Paul
Concordia Theological Monthly
The author examines the conceptions of existentialism and process philosophy by which Schubert Ogden formulates his understanding of Christian theology and expresses his apologetic interests.
The Binding Nature Of Synodical Resolutions For A Pastor Or Professor Of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Arthur C. Repp
The Binding Nature Of Synodical Resolutions For A Pastor Or Professor Of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Arthur C. Repp
Concordia Theological Monthly
The author. argues that the principle that puts synodical resolutions of a doctrinal nature on a par with the Lutheran Symbols is unacceptable because it is unLutheran, unconstitutional, contrary to the advisory nature of the Synod, and too broad to be meaningful and valid.
Secularization Theology, Charismatic Renewal, And Luther's Theology Of The Cross, Theodore Jungkuntz
Secularization Theology, Charismatic Renewal, And Luther's Theology Of The Cross, Theodore Jungkuntz
Concordia Theological Monthly
The author constructs a theology of charismatic renewal with reference to the Lutheran confessional writings and to Luther's theology of the cross.
The Computer With Legs And The Rough Beast Slouching -Notes On Religion In The 1970s, Martin E. Marty
The Computer With Legs And The Rough Beast Slouching -Notes On Religion In The 1970s, Martin E. Marty
Concordia Theological Monthly
The author reviews a variety of models used in religious interpretations that were popular in the sixties as a prelude to his discussion of the trends and images that theologians must discern and deal with during the cultural revolution of the seventies.
Preserve The Unity Of The Spirit, Richard R. Caemmerer Sr.
Preserve The Unity Of The Spirit, Richard R. Caemmerer Sr.
Concordia Theological Monthly
Surely there is no gift for the human race that we desire more at this hour than unity. Nations fight nations, classes stand embattled against classes, spouses and children draw apart from each other. The most deadly illness of the individual today is alienation, the sense of being alone. Would that there could be unity to draw us together!