Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches

Theological Observer. – Klrchllch Zeitgeschichtliches (Theological Observer. – Of course contemporary history

The Formal and Material Principles of Lutheran Confessional Theology

The source of doctrine, or the formal principle, of Lutheran theology is sola Scriptura, the Scriptures alone. It does seem strange that with its avowed emphasis on the sole authority of the Scriptures the Lutheran Church nowhere has a specific article setting forth its attitude toward the Holy Scriptures. By contrast the early Reformed Confessions have an elaborate statement concerning the place and the scope of Scriptures, including even a list of all the books which are considered canonical. The Lutheran Confessions have no specific article dealing with the Holy Scriptures for three reasons

The New Testament Concept of Fellowship

This article will suggest three basic principles for a discussion of the term χοινωνία as employed in the New Testament. In view of the significance of this term in the present movement toward Lutheran Union and even World Ecumenicity, the Faculty of Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, Mo., devoted several hours to a discussion of the term on the basis of guidelines prepared by a committee. The material offered in this article is to a very large extent the author\u27s attempt to recapture the salient points of the faculty\u27s discussion. The article will discuss, first, the constancy of Biblical terminology and the relativity of ecclesiastical terminology; second, the nature of χοινωνία as presented in the New Testament; and third, the manifestation of the New Testament fellowship in accord with ἀγάπη

Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches

Theological Observer. – Klrchllch Zeitgeschichtliches (Theological Observer. – Of course contemporary history

Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches

Theological Observer. – Klrchllch Zeitgeschichtliches (Theological Observer. – Of course contemporary history

Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches

Theological Observer. – Klrchllch Zeitgeschichtliches (Theological Observer. – Of course contemporary history

De Ministerio Ecclesiastico, Augustana V

There is room for differences of opinion where the doctrine of the means of grace may be best discussed in a textbook on dogmatics, whether under the Prolegomena, under the Prophetic Office of Christ, in the article on the Church, or as a separate locus. But it is essential that the indissoluble connection between the doctrines of justification and the means of grace be preserved. The order established by the Augustana must be maintained, for grace and faith are correlative terms. Article IV presents justification by faith, and Article V very properly continues: That we may obtain this faith [described in Article IV], the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. In passing it might be mentioned that the title Of the Ministry is misleading, since the article actually speaks of the means of grace and answers the all-important question: How is faith engendered

Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches

Theological Observer. – Klrchllch Zeitgeschichtliches (Theological Observer. – Of course contemporary history

Book Review. - Literatur

Book Review. - Literatu

The Principium Cognoscendi of Roman Catholic Theology

For a time it seemed that Rome made honest attempts to bring about a rapprochement to Protestantism and to remove as far as possible all obstacles in the way of a reunion of all Christian denominations. In the encyclical Provida Matris of May, 1895, the Pope suggested prayers for the reconciliation with the separated brethren (italics our own). In the encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi of 1943 and again in the Christmas message of 1949 the Roman pontiff seemingly welcomed discussions between Catholic and Protestant theologians. In the Christmas message the Pope did not seem to be averse in principle to a brotherly theological examination of that which separates Christian confessions. As a result, many Protestant theologians hoped that the papal Church would participate in the ecumenical movement, more specifically, send official representatives to the first meeting of the World Council of Churches at Amsterdam