Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons^™

Kenotic Ignorance Or Accommodation, P. E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

The term kenoticism fills the Lutheran theologian with apprehension, if not with horror. It is a term which has been used by our dogmaticians to designate the false teaching of the kenosis of Christ, one not in agreement with Phil. 2:7. From the days of Thomasius, who has been called the father of kenoticism, down through the writings of Luthardt, Gess, von Hofmann, Frank, and others, this insidious poison has been spread in modem theology until the point has been reached where errors concerning the person of Christ, and therefore also of His office, have vitiated the doctrine of the …

The Hades Gospel, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Gospel of a second probation, of salvation in Hades, of the possibility of conversion after death, is very popular today. Most of the modern theologians, liberals and conservatives, have become its heralds. It has found its way into the Reformed churches. It has found its way into the Lutheran Church.

Forgiveness In The Lxx, Richard T. Du Brau

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Messianic 130th Psalm sings in its key verse: "There is forgiveness with Thee." The Hebrew salach (forgiveness, to forgive) is generally rendered in the Septuagint ι̇λασυός ι̇λάσχομαι. Its primary significance is to shelter, to cover. The classics transposed its meaning to the religious procedure of the conciliation of the gods; with them ι̇λάσχομαι denotes obtaining the favor of the gods. Homer always uses it so.

Liberal Theology And The Reformed Churches., F. E. Mayer

Concordia Theological Monthly

The characteristic elements of the thought world during the put 75 years may be reduced to two outstanding and significant movements: science and democracy. Man placed an almost absolute faith in the omnicompetence of science. Science became a cult. The empirical method of science was considered the only means by which truth could be discovered and judged. The "scientific" method attempted to displace revelation; it branded the Scriptural theology as metaphysics and relegated it to the museums; it tended to eliminate the idea of God from human thought and to make man self-sufficient; its astronomical and biological theories questioned the …

The Social Gospel, P. E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

''Why bother about the social gospel?" a man recently told the present writer. ''The social gospel is dead and buried. No one concerns himself about it any more. It has been superseded by the theology of Karl Barth in its various forms, by the religious philosophy of Kierkegaard, by the neo-orthodoxy of Niebuhr and others, and by a number of other movements and developments."

Karl Barth, John Theodore Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

For this essay we have chosen a simple title: Karl Barth. We could not do otherwise. As yet it is too early to speak conclusively of Barth's theology and influence. That may be done fifty or perhaps a hundred years from now; all that is written on Barth during his lifetime is only provisional.

Harnack's Theological Positions, W. Arndt

Concordia Theological Monthly

The inclusion of Adolf Harnack in this series of articles on epoch-making modern theological leaders who promoted error requires an explanation. Strictly speaking, he was not the founder of a school of theology. He did not teach a system of doctrine of his own. In him we are dealing with a church historian, and not with a dogmatician. Still, when the persons to be treated in this series were listed, it was felt that Harnack's name would have to be included because in the period extending from about 1895 to 1920 he was the most frequently mentioned theologian of Germany, …

Ritschl's Theology, F. E. Mayer

Concordia Theological Monthly

"Ritschlianism is the most highly developed form, that theological empiricism has yet taken." This is the claim of the former dean of the Methodist Boston University School of Theology, Professor Knudson. The majority of liberal theologians hail Ritschl as their champion, because the empirical method is the formal principle, the principium cognoscenti, of American liberal theology. Three German theologians are largely responsible for the wide acceptance of the empirical method in modern theology: Schleiennacher, Ritschl, Troeltsch. Schleiermacher is the father of the modern empirical method in theology.

Luther's Social Ethics In Contrast To Rome's Asceticism, Arnold Wessler

Bachelor of Divinity

"Luther brought back the pure doctrine of justification; that, above all, made him the Reformer of the Church." By carrying out the implications of this Scriptural truth in its relation to the rest of Roman theology Luther once and for all broke the power of the Roman papacy. Other reformers had failed and Luther succeeded in his Reformation because he struck at the root of the problem and undermined the foundations upon which Rome's whole diabolical system of theology rested. Luther succeeded because he destroyed Rome's sacerdotalism and sacramentalism.

Theology In Milton's "Paradise Lost", Ernest Joseph Wilderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis, submitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Xavier University in partial fulfillment of requirements for a Master of Arts degree in 1943, examines the theological content of John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost through systematic comparison with the accepted doctrines of Christian and non-Christian religious traditions. The study analyzes six major theological themes in the poem: the Trinity, Creation, Free Will, Satan, the Fall of Man, and the Redemption. For each theme, the author compares Milton's poetic elaborations against the teachings of Catholic Church Fathers including Augustine, Aquinas, Hilary of Poitiers, and Chrysostom, as well …

Luther's Theological Method, W. H. Dau

Concordia Theological Monthly

When Luther began his theological studies at the Augustinian convent in Erfurt in 1505, the teaching of theology in the universities and its practice by the clergy were in a deplorable condition. At that time Luther did not realize this fact, but as he proceeded with his studies, his eyes were opened, and he stood aghast at the havoc that had been wrought on true theology.

Verbal Inspiration- A Stumbling-Block To The Jews And Foolishness To The Greeks, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

The indignation of the moderns reaches white heat when they are asked to receive every word of Scripture as inerrant and authoritative. If Verbal Inspiration means that every word of Scripture must be received as God's word, with unquestioning faith and obedience - and it means just that- they will have none of it. That is their strongest objection to Verbal Inspiration, and they express their abhorrence of it with the frightful word legalistic.

False Principia Cognoscendi In Theology, W. H. Dau

Concordia Theological Monthly

It is a fact, admitted also by scientists, that all theological knowledge, in the very nature of the case, must be derived from God Himself. It is a fact, furthermore, that God holds all who venture to speak for Him strictly to His Word when He declares: "To the Law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Is. 8:20. Lastly, it is a fact that God has issued a solemn warning by the first and the last writers of our Bible that no man shall dare …

Verbal Inspiration- A Stumbling-Block To The Jews And Foolishness To The Greeks, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

The moderns have many more objections against Verbal Inspiration. To three of these they attach special importance. They denounce Verbal Inspiration as "a mechanical theory of inspiration"; they abhor it as "resulting in an atomistic conception of the Scriptures"; they abominate it as establishing "the legalistic authority of the letter." -The old evil Foe means deadly woe. The appeasers have up till now been telling us that nothing is lost if the Church gives up half of the Bible, seeing that they are willing to let her retain the important half, the Gospel message; if only the saving truths be …

The Theology Of The Pharisees, Victor Bartelt

Bachelor of Divinity

The purpose, therefore, of this paper is to give the reader a general overview concerning the doctrines of the Pharisees, to present as well as is possible in a short treatise as this, the outstanding characteristics of their theology, and especially to discuss those teachings which are prominent in the New Testament and which brought them into such bitter conflicts with our Savior.

The Doctrine Of The Church And Ministry According To Dr. Walther, In Relation To The Romanizing Tendencies Within The Lutheran Church, Waldemar Streufert

Master of Sacred Theology Thesis

When one studies the writings of Dr. Walther in the field of the doctrine of the Church and the Ministry, one cannot fail to notice his peculiar approach to this locus of theology. In employing the word 'peculiar; we do so advisedly. In a certain sense, he expresses the same doctrine proclaimed by the martyrs of apostolic days. In this respect, Walther is ecumenical, not peculiarly original. On the other hand, placing his theories beside the theories of his contemporaries, we must admit that Walther is an exception to the rule.

The Individual And The Kingdom Of God, Frederic A. Chandler

Graduate Thesis Collection

The Kingdom of God as depicted by Jesus Christ is the only human society that will effectually eliminate the conflict between the individual and society.

To prove this thesis, the succeeding chapter's will proceed as the nature of the subject dictates. First, as the individual human being is the fixed and unchangeable factor in this problem, the first step will be to give an adequate definition of a person. Next, since his conflict with his fellows reaches the very essence of his being when it touches his moral nature, morality will be defined and it will be shown what that …

Reason Or Revelation?, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

Satan's paramour is the mistress of a thousand wiles. We cannot conclude this study of the evils of rationalism without studying the more subtle methods by which Satan would beguile us and lead us away from the truth of Christ and the certainty of His Word. If he cannot get us to falsify the Word, he will aim to keep us from applying the Word, from exercising our faith, from putting our sole reliance on the teaching of Scripture and the promise of the Gospel.

Reason Or Revelation?, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

There are more rationalists in the churches than go by that name. While the rationalists openly proclaim the sola ratio, the rule of natural reason, others market their wares under an alias. When the experience-theologians operate with the "enlightened reason" and the Roman Catholics make the church, or the Pope, their authority, they make natural reason a source and norm, the source and norm of theology. But that does not tell the whole story. Even among those who loudly proclaim the sola Scriptura there are many who have come under the sway of rationalism.

Reason Or Revelation?, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

There are more rationalists in the churches than go by that name. It is not a nice name. Rationalism is, as we have shown in the preceding articles, an ugly, wicked thing. It sets itself above Scripture, above God. Who would want to proclaim himself a rationalist? Our Liberals indeed are not ashamed of the name. But the great majority of theologians dislikes it. However, many of them, very many of them, are doing the very same thing the rationalists have been doing, and they do it because they like it. They fall into two groups. The first group, made …

Reason Or Revelation?, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

Making reason the norm, that is, in reality, the source of religious teaching, is a wicked, evil, noisome thing. We have shown that rationalism is engaged in a wicked, evil business. It is, at the same time, and necessarily so, an evil, noisome, pernicious thing.

Liberialism In Contrast To The Biblical Faith, William Grunow

Bachelor of Divinity

This paper is a study of the doctrines of Liberalism. By being thoroughly familiar with these doctrines, the student will not be misled by the sheep’s clothing of orthodox phraseology which Liberalists often employ.

Aspects Of Pragmatisim In Relation To Christian Theology, Frederick Gumz

Bachelor of Divinity

The pragmatism of Dewey and James is doubtless responsible to a large degree for the general tendency in modern theology of subordinating Scripture to the ends of practical life, and of accepting as true only those of its doctrines which can be translated into tangible consequences contributory to the welfare of society or the individual. Believing that theology in the past has been concerned too much with the mere “intellectual interrelations of certain concepts,” churchmen are today advocating a greater emphasis on the “functioning of the religious consciousness.” This movement has aroused a wide-spread aversion to doctrine and a passion …

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.

The Principles And Teachings Of The Dialectical Theology, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

Those who need to inform themselves on the teachings of the dialectical theology and on the claim that the application of its principles will effect the needed reformation of Christian theology and the Christian Church, will find in E. Brunncr's The Mediator the fullest: presentation of these teachings and principles that: has so for appeared. While Karl Barth and E. Brunner, the two outstanding leaders of this school of theology, frequently clash, they are agreed on certain fundamentals.

Present-Day Problems Of Lutheranism, F. Kreiss

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Lutheran World Convention devoted the greater part of its sessions to the reading and discussion of reports on important problems confronting the Lutheran Church to-day. Unfortunately, for lack of time, the open discussion was frequently reduced to a minimum, so that it was difficult to ascertain what the majority of the delegates thought about the subjects in question.

Die "Theologie" Der Deutschen Christen, Des Reichsbischofs Und Des Professors E. Hirsch, W. Oesch

Concordia Theological Monthly

Die "Theologie" der Deutschen Christen, des Reichsbischofs und des Professors E. Hirsch (The "Theology" of the German Christians, the Reich Bishop and Professor E. Hirsch)

Notes On Chiliasm, Th. Engelder

Concordia Theological Monthly

Chiliasm vitiates the Gospel principle. Salvation is by grace alone. Salvation is by the Gospel alone. This truth constitutes the principle of Christian theology and of all Christian thought. It dominates Christian theology. It is intolerant of the conception, in any form, that salvation can come to man by any other way than by the Gospel of grace.

Die Theologie Karl Barths, W. Kemner

Concordia Theological Monthly

Die Theologie Karl Barths (The theology of Karl Barth)