IDqtnlngirul 4nut41y - Concordia Theological Seminary

(t!nurnr~iu
IDqtnlngirul 4nut41y
Continuing
Lehre und Wehre (Vol. LXXVI)
Magazin fuer Ev.-Luth. Homiletik (Vol. LIV)
Theol. Quarterly (1897-1920) - Theol. Monthly (Vol. X)
Vol. II
February, 1931
No.2
CONTENTS
Page
PIEPER, F.: Dr. Friedrich Bente ........................ .
81
MUELLER, J. T.: Atheistic Propaganda in Our Country
87
KRETZMANN, P. E.: Das Schicksal der letzten Koenige
Judas .................................................. .
95
KRETZMANN, P. E.: The Last Twenty-five Years of
Peter's Life ............................................ 105
LAETSCH, TH.: Sermon Study on 1 Cor. 1, 21-31.. . . . .. 115
Dispositionen ueber die von der Synodalkonferenz angenommene Serie alttestamentlicher Texte............... 124
Theological Observer. Book Review. -
Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches ...... 131
Literatur .................................. 151
Ein Prediger muss nicht allein weiden,
also dass er die Schafe unterweise, wie
sie rechte Christen 80llen sein, 80ndem
auch daneben den Woelfen wehr(J1l, dass
sie die Schafe nicht angreilen und mit
falscher Lehre verfuehren und Irrtum ein·
fuehren. - Luther.
Es ist kein Ding, das die Leute mehr
bei der Kirche behaelt denn die gute
Predigt. - Apologie, Art. 24.
If the trumpet give an uncertain sound,
who shall prepare himself to the battle Y
1 Cor. 4,8.
Published for the
Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States
.
.
CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo.
II
Book Review. -
l.Jitcratut.
151
C~'ntetlvetfung
unht ben \l3tima± be~ lI5apite~, in ,m:n~
unb @Jeljorfam unter llet autodtatiben @ewaft \l3etri unb feinet
i~'~elijtmii\'3igen ~adjforger'. .€i~ .. Bibt ali;t aud) unb mu\'3 Beoen ein eIJ~n~
;;,;,.g~nfdjel! NOll possumus (!illtt fonnen mdjt) 1 ffi:om ljat naclj bem !illeltfnell
~f~fne €irnte mit gto\'3et !illemruBljeit einaulitingen gelt.1U13t. ~al! imjJoniett
t:itltlleg euet . ,~et l'0Wifdje €iinffuf3 lle~ m-omani~mu~ wat in ~eutfcljlanb
(,~ltillm iemag fo gto13 tuie in bet @Jegentuatt', fcljteibt Dr. @5cljneibet. €it
!~r::g~igt iiclj in bet @5taatl!IJetwartung, et witH ficlj allil im fo3iaTen .2eoen,
i;~~e;; macljt fidj gerteltb faft bi~ in£: fieinfte SDotf. Unb bodj macljt bie fatljo~
.tt~~J;Ufclje jUelJi.ilfetunrr SDeutjdjlanbS nidjt gana cin SDdttef (32.36 \l3tOaent) au\O.
~;))~elttfcljranb ift au awei SDtittern el1angcfifdj. Unb wie fieljt e~ in Wmetifa
~!·1!r. biefem \l311nft au~~ 1llcadjt nidjt allclj ljier bet statljofi3i~mll~ gewartige
~,:,'~ortfcljtitte bOn ~aljt all ~aljt ~ ~et SDuolleafitcljenftaat, hie ,Q1atifanftabt',
:r·'1.'Der \l3ajJft ein @5ouuetan, bet Q1etttaB mit ~tafien, lUorin bie failjofifclje
~:1Jtengion @5taat\Otefigion ift, llie~ aHe~ fticljt ~utoficljtigen in bie Wugen I
:;\~il~nnunll
It
-.'~'
~.:it.M.
~ffi~"
\ReIinion luicber \l3ffidJtfndJ. SDie ,,9L @. 52. Sr." beridjtet: "SDet @5djur"
~~;l~~etra\3 1ie£l {etten bcullnidjtl.leigifcljcn foaiafbcmohatifcljen j8olf~6iIbllng~"
~~i~'mtniftet~, bel; ben [\raullfdjtl.lciger €ldjulen ben ~I)arafter bet [\efe1tntni~"
djulen naf)lt1 unb an Hjte €lteHe bie @emeinfdjafHlfcljure felJte, ift bon bent
t'Cuen nationalfoaiarifHfdjcll Shtnu~miniftet Dr. !Stanilen allfgeljo6en hJotben.
~it lliefem ueuen €ldjuletla13 hJitb bie ffi:eHgion wiebet \l3ffidjtfadj unb ift
3enfuten ilU beadjten. 9htdj bie Wnbadjt in ben @5cljulen wirb wieber
trlgefilfjtt. 9'(n ben ffieidj~innenmintfter fanbtc Dr. !Stani3en ein €ldjteioen,
. bem bon bet ~{ufljc6ung lle~ foaialbemo!tatif djen @5djuretIaffe~ srcnntnii3
f!:icoeocn witb. SDiefe IDWteilllng war notwenbig, ba a1uifdjen bem fdHjcten
\6i:aunfdjweigifdjell Q1orf\06Hbung~miniftet unb bem m-eidj~innenminifter aUf
'bie 9fuitiige be~ @bangeIWGen €iHem6unbei3 be~ ffJ;eiltaate~ [lraunfdjweig
. t~anbfungen lioer me ffied)gllngiifiigfeit lle~ foaiafbemoftatifdjen Q5djur"
.;i1'!f~t!affe~ gefiiljti hJlttben."
~. :it. IDe.
9:A
ef
y
)",-~'
Book Review. - .s!iteratur.
:.(Hdediifclj,belltfdJe~
lmi.lftcdiudJ u1tllt lnellelt ;teftnlncltte. 9.nit SJlad)\tlcig bet
SUbtueid)ungcn be~ lteuteftamenUid)en €:3~tad)\Jelitaud)s bom SUttifd)en unb
mit ~inlvels auf feine i'tliminftimmung mit bem ~elieniftifcl)en ®tied)ifdi.
Dr. ~ e In rId) @: li eli n g. iltitte ~luf{a\Je, ~a~nfd)e 18ud)!)anb!ult\l,
. ~annober. 1929. 434 €:3eiten 7 X9%, in £\einllJanb mit ®oloUte! ge.
liunoen.
illefe~ aueeft hn ~ol)re 1912 etfd)iencne !illortetliud) ~at nun feine brttte,
f~lvett !uir fel)en, Ullbetiillber!e I!luflage etlclit 11nb ift unfers ~rad)teng bas tuee!.
~I)Uftt lUt3m, aliee flit bell tiiglld)Cll &ebeaud) burd)aus ausreid)ettbe !illilctetbud)
"afmt ~letten Xeftantent, UllS petfiintld) fO tucrtboU, bau Ivi., J.1b\tlo~1 lule bie
~:~;.,~Bfleeen !illilttecbitcl)ec bon !illme.®dmm~Xl)a~et, !13teufd)en~18auet lInb G:temet~
~.\t5\Je( liefitcn, bei tuid)thlcn !illilrtetll aud) @:liellng l)eran31e~eu. ilcr betftocbcne
ttfaffer luae flafjifcljet !13l)itolo\1, 2el)ret bet Ilded)ifd)en I5p.ad)c on elnem beut~
I'f«Jcn &~mllllfium, 1mb es ~ot [cinen grouen !illcrt, tuCllll aud) ein !illilttceliua)
)'3'ltin l)letten Xeftament \JOlt eittem Iltied)ifdJen €:3pradJgele~tten llca.lleitet 1ft, bet
152
Book Review. - £itetatur.
tl)eologi[ef)e <5onbedbeen, nnt batanf be'oad)t ift, bie mcbwtung eine~
in ber gtiecf)i[ef)ett <5j>rad)e fefhnfteUen. 5l)as maef)t aud) ble neutefta.
mentlid)e ®tammatit bon mlab, bem berU~mten Uaffifd)cn ~~ilologen, [0 wert.
boH, auef) in i~m neueften mearueitnng bon 5l)eurullnec. 5l)auei aeid)lIet jleI)
Cl;uefinM !fiileterbud) aud) baburd) aus, bnb es, wle bee ~ite! [agt, "bie SUb.
weid)ungen bes neuteftametttnd)eH <5~cacl)geuraud)g bOlll SUtH[d)ett unb bell S)in.
wels aUf [eiue i'tumillftimmun\J mit bcm l)elfenifti[cf)en ®cled)i[d)" Immer im SUuoe
ue~n{t. ~!ucf) tft ball 9Raterial, bas ill mumc 3dt blml) ~lIf(r)dftett unb ~aj>\)ru!l.
funbe 3ugnll(llid) (lemael)t wotbcn ift, uec!lclfid)tigt, cbettfo bie <5d)dftftelfec, bie
ber .8eU bes 9leuen ~eftaments nal)cftel)cn, lIUllIetttlief) i~t' bor~ecge~en j auet aud)
ba bleibt bet metfaffer immn uc[onnen. (5;r [agt \1l1n3 cid)t!g in ber mombe: "SUIIS
bie[em 9lnel)weis eroiut fid), bnil !fioct[eI)at unb <5~rad)(!euraud) bes 91euett ~eftn.
ment!l in lduet !fiei[e aUeilI [tel)I, [ollbem ber "oml nn(!e~j}ct unb ftd) bot aUem
alld) ill !Briefen, !Bedd)ten, ®efud)ClI, ffied)lIltllgen, .ll'onttatien, ~eftamenten unb
bergleid)ett finbet, alfo In bet <5lJtad)e bes aUtiiglid)en medd)rs unb bes molfes."
(<5. III.) SUuer er fHot attd) ben ri(~tlgen, getabe gegen bie neueften ~l)ilologen
!tile SUbolf 5l)e!umann fe[tau1)altenbett <5at! 1)in3u: ,,<5elb[tberftiinbtid) l)anbeH eil
jlel) bet ble[en S)in. unb 91ad)tIlei[en gleld)ett ober n~nlid)ett <5~rad)gebraud)s nid)t
Ulll SUn. ober gar (gntre~nungen. 5l)ie <5d)ceiber bell ~leuen ~eftament!l ~auen
wo~! bon ber ~iee angefli1)tten mteratm laum ettllas gefanntj fie [d)rieben bas
au i~rer .8eit im gan3en tilmifct)cn ffieid)t nlll aHgcmeine Umllangllfj>tad)e bet.
lireltete 1)eUenlftlfd)e ®ried)i[cl), Ills \uerd)c~ eucn i~te <5~clld)e burd) ble[e SUnaloglen
erltliefen luitb. !file tIlenig fClbft Dem Illioetrllut nad) nl)nlld)e <5(i~e bet <5toUet
unb anbeter gried)lfd)cn ~1)ilofolJ~en in <5inn unb !Bebeutung mit 'oem 9leuen
~eftament ftimlllen, ift \uiebet~olt Iibcqcullcnn nad)oewiefcn. (gil barf euen nld)t
Ubet[e~en luetDen, ,bab flir bie ueuen d)tiftlief)en !Belldffe 3war bie bot~anbenen
<5lJrae~mitte! geutaud)t, in bie alten i)'otmen abet bielfad) neue !Bebeutungen, eln
neuer ~n1)alt, Ilegollen wurbcn'. 5l)acum fonn 3ut ~rU(irung fo!d)et i)'iiUe melft
nur Itlenig aull 'oem 1)eUeniftt[el)ClI e5j>tae~gebraud) oenommen werben." (<5. IlL)
.8u welcl)en i)'eftfteUull(Jen bet merfaffer bei t1)eologifd) wld)tioen !Begtlffen lommt,
milgen einige !Bei[lJiele aeigcn. SUg !Bebeutung fUt ywroo"ro, 9Jlatt~. 7, 23j ~o~.
10, 14 f. Uflu. wirb angegeben: ,,®ott edcnnt, lennt, aulletfie~t afg ben <5eini(!en
unb mad)t baall." (<5. 85.) 5l)all neosy,'ro, ffiom. 8, 29j II, 2 witb iiuetfett:
"Q!Ot~mclallnte (,betfel)en', beftimmt ~at 3um ®lauben, im <5illne bon l.reot.
8,3j ®al. 4, 9j 2 ~im. 2, 19) bon bet ®nabenhJa~l." (<5.352.) (guen[o tIlitb
3reoyvroOt. gefatt ag "Q!or1)eretfennen, mor~erbeftimmun\J, ,merfel)uno', boraull.
oefatlee !Befd)tub". (<5.352.) .8u E~dt!lia~o, (gj>~. 1,4, witb bemerU: ,,®naben<
wa~! 3um ®lauben unb aut eluigcn <5eliofelt." Sl)a~ iit \lana (Jenau ullb galla
ebaU \l~Holo(Ji[d) bie fo oft angeodffcue "mii(omiief)C" 53e~re bon bee ®nabenwa1)l,
bie Me[er ~~iroro\l null ber mcbcutung ber uetreffenben gried)i[d)en!fiorte mit ffied)t
l)erausoenommen ~at. !fiic fonnen nur c in e ~htllftcUung mad)en. 5l)er 5l)rucr
1ft [elF lomlJaH llltb infolgebejfen lIiel)t [0 ilberfid)tlid), tIlie man es getabe lie!
dnem Illiilrterbud) iuUn[d)t, unb bmd) ble 3a~(relc!) uenutten, 1m mortuort er.
ffiirtenSUutlit3ungen ift alvat bie <5eitettaal)! bes !fiecfcll unb infolgebelfen nee
~ceill uebeutenb becrinoert, bee ®eliraucl) besfeluen alier ettuall eefef)IUert, £lis man
iid) baran oewill)nt ~at. - 5l)er merfalfer ~at bie £(1)tfteHutlo ber llliffoucii~nobe
geteHt, wie [eine [onftigen Ueineten <5d)tiften aeigetl, bie flat unn ueftilllmt bie
red)te htt~ecife~e 53el)re 3um ~usbrucf btillgen, unb ~atte jlcl) ber beut[d)en i)'rei.
llrc()e anoe[d)loffcn.
53. i)' ii r Ii r i n get.
euett,
o~ne
~l\ottes
Book Review. -
5.litetatut.
153
Our Birthright and the Mess of Meat. Isms of To-day Analyzed and
Compared with the Heidelberg Catechism. By Jan Karel Van Baalen,
pastor of the Twelfth Street Christian Reformed Church, Grand
Rapids, Mich. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1929. 287 pages,
8X5%. Price, $2.50. Order from Concordia Publishing House,
St. Louis, Mo.
This book· presents a concise view of the teachings of some of the
more popular errors of the day concerning the vital points touching man
in his relation to God. It examines Spiritism, Theosophy, Christian Science,
~"lodgism, Mormonism, Russellism, Unitarianism-Modernism, and Bahaism,
B"giving copious quotations from their representative writers, and points
"S\ out that all religions except Christianity are autosoteric, quoting Dr. B. B.
Warfield: "There are fundamentally only two doctrines of salvation: that
salvation is from God and that salvation is from ourselves. The former
is the doctrine of common Christianity; the latter is the doctrine of universal heathenism" (p.18). The chapter on lodgism states: "We claim
that no one can be a member of a Mohammedan mosque and of our Christian Church at once because the Moslem faith and the Christian religion
al'e mutually exclusive. Similarly, you cannot belong to our Christian
Reformed Church and to the Masonic fraternity at the same time because
'~ach stands for a religion that excludes the other" (p. 89). "'If Masonry
were simply a Christian institution,' says A. G. Mackey, Past General High
Priest, etc., 'the Jcw and the Moslem, the Brahman and thc Buddhist, could
not conscientiously partake of its illumination. But its universality is its
boast. In its language citizens of cvery nation may converse; at its altar
men of all religions may kneel; to its creed disciples of every faith may
subscribe.''' An admirable feature of the book is that Part II places side
by side, under the various heads of doctrine, from "Angels" to "Wrath
of God," including "Inspiration," "Substitution," etc., the teaching of the
Heidelberg Catechism and of these antichristian cults. "The Catechism
contains the very material needed against to-day's enemies. Here are
phrases that were meant against the errors of the seventeenth century,
but which, with a slight variation of accent, are ready tools for to-day's
battle" (p. 17). (We are reminded of Luther's statcment - and that
holds unqualifiedly-: "You must stick to the Catechism, so that, when
a heretic or enthusiast comes along and teaches otherwise, you may say,
o!J:hat is not good doctrine, for it does not agree with my Catechism.'''
n, 2260.) To illustrate: "Autosoterism. Question 30: 'Do such, then,
believe in the only Savior Jesus who seek their salvation and happiness
of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else? Answer: No; although they
may make their boast of Him, yet in act they deny the only Savior Jesus.
For either Jesus is not a complete Savior, or they who by true faith rethis Savior must have in Him all that is necessary to their salvation.' Spiritism: 'Man is his own savior.' (Rev. W. Stainton Moses;
Bource given.) Theosophy.... Christian Science. . . . Freemasonry: 'Acacian.A term derived from akakia, "innocent," and signifying a Mason
who by living in stl'ict obedience to thc obligations and precepts of the
fraternity is free from sin.' (Mackey.) RussellisID . . . . Unitarianism:
'We no longer depend for salvation upon either a man 01' a book. Men
help us; books help us; but back of all stands our divine reason' (C. W.
154
Book Review. -
\literatltt.
Eliot)" (p.192). The author believes in. "doctrinal preaching and doctrinal teaching, the old standbys of the historic Reformed churches. . . •
While in all ages some have objected to catcchism-preaching, I for one
believe that the strength of the Church I serve lies in its' catechism_
preaching and its catechism classes for the young. . .• Helice, lest our
school should begin to undermine the' Church's faith 'from within,' 01'as it stands to-day, -lest it should become possible for our school to do so
at some future time, our people as a whole should be kept so well informed that they themselves sense the mighty contrast between Christianity and antiehdstianity" (pp. Hi. 182). That is most certainly tl'ue,_
when a Church no longer stresses thc truths of the Gospel, casting doctrinal preaching and catechism-training overboard, but overemphasizes
instead questions of morality, apologetics, and the lik~, stressing in its
publicity work the numerical greatness, the extent of the benevolences
of the Church, and other things which appeal to the natural mind, its
pcople cannot stand before the onslaught of Modcrnism and its allies.
The author puts forth the common Calvinistic and a number of other
errors. Worst of all, he calls upon the churches to declare a manner of
truce in the face of "the new foe, who is the enemy of Calvinism and
Arminianism alike, who abhors Roman Catholicism as much as Lutheranism." It is true, he states: "It is by no mettlls the same whether one is
Anninian or Calvinist. . .. It will be uuderstood that I am not pleading
for indiffercntism, ehurch union, or anything whieh lies in the line of the
very spirit these pages intend to oppose." Yet he deals too leniently
with, for instance, the Armiuians. "Arminians, Universalists, and other
unclear thinkers refused to think their autosoteric thought to the logical
end. They meant to be supernaturalists" (p. 23). Take also this senteuce: "Calvin certainly differed from Luther on important points of
doctrine. Yet Calvin signed the Augsburg Confession and wrote an introduction to Melanchthon's Loci Oom1n1!nes" (p. 24). The author is denying a Scriptural principle. We have no authority to declare a truce with
any errorist. Moreover, Al'minianism involves a fundamental error. No
one knows that better than our author himself. He stamps it as the fundamental errol'. "A Calvinist myself, I share the opinion that the origin
of modern autosoteric teachings may be traced ultimately to its beginning
in Arminiallism, with its cmphasis on man's efforts" (p. 179). It is true,
the Arminian will not necessarily turn Modernist ("But Arminianism
shrank back from its own logical implications"), but Arminianism necessarily leads to Modernism. There can be no truce bctween Arminianism
and :Monergism.
Tn. ENGELDICR.
Basic Beliefs.
An Introduction to Christian Doctrine. By H. Maldwyn
H1tghes, M. A., D. D., President of Wesley College, Cambridge, En-
gland. 225 pages, 5%X7%. The Abingdon Press, New York, N. Y.
Price, $1.50.
This book has been written for the avowed purpose of "restating
evangelical theology in the light of modern knowledge." The doctrinal
position of Dr. Hughes, a prominent British theologian of the Wesleyan
Methodist Church, may be defined as that of a mediating Fundamentalist.
His claim is that "the foundation truths of evangelical. theology remain
,ct.
Book Review. -
5Jtteratur.
155
unslmken," though in tIle light of present-day knowledge "cllanges of form
anu statement" become necessary. Dr. Hughes is therefore It representative
of the liberalizing Fundamentalists, who advocate "mediation between the
old and the new." Because of his prominence in his denomination his
book has been received with much enthusiasm and no doubt will wield
considerable influence in circles dominated by his leadership. It is £01'
these reasons that the reviewer must take notice of it.
To the reader the book recommends itself by its clearness of presentation and expression. Dr. Hughes is a master of style, and what is still
more important, he is rather definite in his statements. In eleven chapters he presents the chief heads of dogmatic theology: The Knowledge
of God; Jesus Christ; The Christian Doctrine of God; '1'l1e Christian
Doctrine of Man; The Christian Doctrine of Sin; The Reconciliation of
\~F:Man and God; The Clu'istian Doctrine of the Holy Spirit; The Chl'istiall
!e" Doctrinc of the Holy Trinity; The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Individual; The Church, the Ministry, and the Sacraments; The Christian
Rope (cschatology). In discussing these points, the author admits that
the only source of man's knowledge of God is divine revelation and inspiration. "God can only be known as He; makes Himself known" (p. 8).
But as soon as he defines these two, his modernistic views appear, and
he shows how thoroughiy he has eliminated the Christian doctrine of inspiration. To him inspiration is "the divine quickcning of our faculties
whereby we are enabled to apprehend and to communicate new knowledge
of divine things" (p. 9). Inspiration is therefore identical with divine
revelation, and divine revelation is unceasing and universal. "'Wherever
there is religion, we find some degree of revelation" (p. 10). For this
reason the "non-Christian religions cannot be dismissed as wholly 'false,'
since with much errOl' there arc mingled genuine revelations of Gml" (p.lO).
The only trouble with them is that they were "for the most part occasional and unrelated to each other, whereas the revelations recorded in
the Jewish and Christian Scriptures constitute a unity and are, on the
whole, progressive" (p. 11). "The Bible is the book of redemptive revelation" (p. 12) . But with the Bible, revelation has not ceased. The Christian revelation "is greater than its written record as the spirit transcends
the letter. The Christian revelation lives and grows and is not finally
fixed in any writings. The Word of God . . . is still expressing itsclf in
many different forms" (p. 12). Thus the writer rejects Holy Scripture
as the only source and norm of the Christian faith. His mediation between the old and the new leads him to reject entirely the ancient Christian doctrine of the supreme and unique authority of Scripture. He is
in essence a Modernist, though he emphatically asserts: "The Bible is not
the outcome merely of travail of intellect. It is an inspi1'ed book" (p. 15) .
In discussing the doctrine of Christ, Dr. Hughes affirms His humanity,
nis divinity, His sinlessness, and His resul'J'ection. Yet he so cleverly
avoids the real issues involved in these doctrines that even the extreme
Modernist could subscribe to his statements. He argues the divinity of
Christ, not from Scriptural grounds and pasRages, but from conclusions.
"Inasmuch as God is the Source of all good [and Jesus Christ is the Revea.ler of the highest moral and spiritual values], the conclusion follows
that Jesus Christ is One with God. Jesus Christ is proved to be divine
156
Book Review. -
2itecntut.
by His divine works. These are the transforming realities which
strain the Christian (even while the speculative problem awaits solution)
to say 'God of God, very God of very God'" (p. 37) . Such pitiable beating
about the bush can nevcr satisfy the honest Christian, who, in studying
Christian dogmatics, is looking for certainty based upon clear StSLte:meuts
of the Word of God.
The mediating position of the author leads him to say yes aud no
at the same time in discussing also the other doctrines of thcology. When
treating the doctrine of sin, he both asserts and denies original sin. Sin,
he says, may be defined as "every disposition and action which is out of
harmony with the holy will of our heavenly Fathcr" (p. 86), Yet he
claims: "There is lIO record in the gospels that our Lord ever spoke of man
as having an inbol'll tendency to sin de1'ived from the F{],U (p. 71) , And
again: "The conception of original guilt cannot be defended" (p,79). Here,
again, the mediation of the author leads him to a total denial of thc Scriptural doctrine concerning original sin.
As the student pursues his way through the book, he is constantly
harassed in llis mind by the writer's irrational attempt to affirm and deny.
Evidently the author is quite sincere in his mistaken notion that the
"foundation truths of evangelical theology" may be maintained and yet
be made to conform to the rationalistic theology of unbelieving Modernists. That this cannot be done is clearly demonstrated in this book.
Its warning is clear - mediation invariably leads to denial.
JOHN THEODORE MUELLEIl.
The Earth, the Theater of the Universe. By Olarence H. Benson. The
Bible Institute Colportage Association, Chicago. 140 pages, 514 X7%.
Price, $1.50.
It is books of this type that appear to justify the charge of obscurantism promiscuously llurled against those who refuse to accept the evolutionary theory. Mr. Benson has done a certain amount of Bible-class work
and now essays to write "A Scientific and Scriptural Study of the Earth's
Place and Purpose in the Divine Program" (subtitle). The writer is
a chiliast, who believes that just before the millennium "the depressed
valley of the Jordan will be elevated and the topography of the country
will be so completely changed tlmt living waters slmll go out from Jerusalem" (p. 132). The exegesis is so arbitrary as to become actually revolting, as when Ps. 66,3 is referred to the millcnnium and when the New
Jerusalem is described as an actual city, whose boundaries would reach from
farthermost Maine to farthcl'lnost D'lorida and from the s110res of the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains (p. 139). Mr. Benson locates a palace of
Satan in paradiRe, constructed of gold and precious stones; it is there that
the angels fell (p. 30). The bacchic cry "Eva! Eva!" is interpreted as
a reference to Eve and tho legend of Pandora's Box is held to be a prophecy
of the Virgin Birth. Or behold this identification of Vulcan with Tubalcain: "All that is necessnry is to omit the 'Tu,' which was likely to be
regarded as a preflx, and make the common change of b into 'I)" (p.82).
In the millennium, the position of the enrth will be shifted to the orbit of
Mercury, and thus Is. 30,26 will be fulfilled (p. 137). Thus the cause of
evangelical Christianity is harmed by its sponsors. "I will take care of my
enemies, but the Lord deliver me from my friends."
TH. GRAEBNER.
Book Review. ~gnt~Ct~
.
llliitten6ecget CMclltcittbc.
Lie, Dr,
tel~mnnn
£lltecntut.
Q.Biebet~crgefteUt nu~
157
feinen !l:\rcbigten, mOlt
e t m a It n llli e r b e r man n, '!ItU,! ullb metfag bon [,
in @iltet~lo~, 301 6eiten 6 X 9, !l:\eeig, gebunben: M, 14.
S'~
!Bet~
$let :titef beg iiu~ecft nnregenben !Bud)e~ lii~t ein furtut~iftodfd)eg !BUb beg
bet utefotlllntion~3e1t erhlarten, llliltUid) ttltt ung cin :tei! beg
,"'::1llltttenbet\1et 53ebens unb bottigec Buftiinbc lebenbig bOt ~(u\len. ~{bee bag ift
"",llelll meefaffcr nUt .ein 9JHttct sum Bhled. 6eine ~bfid)t ift 3U 3cl\1etl, h> i e
[\1utOee afil mlittenbee\1et (:\5 em e in b e j) t e b 1\1 e t \1e111:ebl\lt {)nt. Dr. mletbet~
:''f!nllnns !Bltcl) ift ein !Beitrag 3m ®efd)id)te bee !l:\eeblgt.
i~'
£lItl)ee atsl !l:\tebi\1ee ift biS~ec nod) hlcni\l gcllnblid) filthieet roo.ben. ~eemd)
\~f-ch'c mtd)cn~oftiffe fanb in S)er!n\1s ,,@efd!icQte ber !l:\eebigt': (!Bedln, 1905) cine
~C'Mnellfd)afm(l) \llO~rerroo\1cnc $lacftelIlIng; fte routbe - unb roleb root)l aud) noef),,iiy,on \1Srebigecn gelefen, bleUdd)t nuc\J ftuMett. ~bet elnmal 1ft ble !l:\oftiUe bns
if~ed f03ufa\1en bes .!'fanse! f U) e i f t ft c f t e t iJ; lInb bann foUten boc\J aUn) ble
'teeen \1Srcb i oten £ltt~el'iJ unb befonbecs feine eil1entilu)en ®emelnbe~t'ebll1ten
!Betead)t \1C3O\1cn i1lcrbcn. ~Jut~ec ~at fel)c blef l1e~tebigt: aliJ ®elegen~eltiJ~,
ft., B)oh S';;laUS~tebhJet, abet bod) aUn) aliJ ®emelnbe~reblgee boe bee mlitten~
t\Jee ®emelnbe, bmn cil1entlid)er \1Sfntter !Bugen~a\1en luac, lillenn nun (5tll~
n.ten lInb \1Snftoren ben iRnt bcfof\1cn luoUell, fUr U)re ®emeinbe~cebtgtcn ,,~d)
Qut~cr 3U bilbcn", 10 fommt fUt 1\e, geunu oenommen, lit etftee llinle nid)t
tmetfaffet bee \1Softlne, fonbettt bet ®emeillbej)rebl\1et ~Jut~ee In !Bettad)t, $len
U~rt IIns lffieebcrmann bor, ~m 9natecial benttut ee 192 bon ben 194 \1Seebil1ten
itJ~er~ nus ben ~at)telt 1528 Oil:> 1532, bie @eotg !Buel)tunfb (!l:\teblgtell D. 9nnt~
I~£ltt~eeg; 3111e\ !Blinbe) bor bier big fUnf ~nf)cen ~etouiJgab. ~t fammeH OUs
\cffn lnmllttenbet'g gef)aHeltelt !l:\rebl\lten bns, IMS je nUf bieiJ obet bn!! in
ttentierl1 !Be3t1g ~at, lInb tieingt bleie @eballfengruj)~en in 21 ~a~ltet. $las
Itel "mlittenbeco um 1530" IUdft nad), bOB man aus bieien !l:\tebi\1ten fid) ein
t\h bes pl)\)flldjen mlittenbetl1 Ullt lene Beit mnci)en fann; 10 l)iiufll1 finb in ben
tebillten .I)inluetfc unb ~(llf~lerltngen aUf bie 6tabt, B)intuelfc, Me 53l1t~ee lie~
it1i'te, 11m bicfe obct lene ®lllubeniJ~ obct etf)ifcf)e (5au)c elnfettd)tenb, nad)btUdtiu),
~eltn 311 mad)en. ~benfo in ben .lta~lteln "s)le ®otte5bienfte", "ONet unb
'oolien", "B)odneit unb CH)C", "mertel)t, lffiictilf)OlliJ, ~mo~ol", ,,!Bettler unb
eed)er", ,,~lbetGlallbe", ,,!l:\a~ft unb \1Sa~lftenll, ,,::tUrfenGefaf)t", "Beltl1efd)id)t~
53noe Ulll 1530" lIftu. 5Da~ £ut~et oetobe in fcinen t'Jetneinbe~reDlgtcn bet
loet ift, ber nall ~enfeitige 311e mlicflicl)lelt mad)t; bet mit fcifd)em (5j)tltbe!n
~ebanfen bie ~Inbiid)t!\len falit; bee tanig unb !tliftil1 .(leltlilnben ftcaft; bee
)tj\l unb madbon ben Smut fWdt (1530!); 'oet mit fid)mm @eiff anfd)aulirf)e
~le{e, !Bilbet unb mee\11eid)e aug bec ben B)iltettt belannten .(leitl1cfef)ld)te tlnb
inaetillng \1tclft; bet bie lilltttentJerger ®eme!nbe Stu: ~nteHlIa~me an fonftigen
itt\\lhtgen 1m uteid) ®otteiJ nnale~t: bas 3U 3eioen, 1ft bell meefalfecg .(lief, unb
Jr~t e!l melcf)t.
r::;Stl einem 3tuciten ~tifd)nitt (6, 150-217) fteUt et nas nat, roail et aus Dlefen
r~blllten ars S3ut~ets "Qlnfd)aullngen bon bet \1Srebigtfllnft abgelefen" ~at, lIDas
j;c!Becfo!fet ~iet in l)omiletifcI)ee !Beicf)eeitJung obee ~tt(lf~fe ag fUr bieie !l:\re~
. . n cI)acaftedftlfu) l)etausftcUt, ift cid)tig gefef)en (®tllnbfiiuUd)cg unn ~Uge~
eil; !l:\1'ebl\1t ars ®ottes mlntt; :te!:t, :tf)emn unh :teifc; ~ln(eltltn(J lInb
5; $liaio\1 unb ~j)ologetll; mecgegenroiittioulIo; (5~tld)IUBrtet unb mebens~
; itbertrelbunll 1mb mloctctfHirunll; mer~ecfilnnd)ungen [!]; !Bilber, !Be!~
unb ®efd)id)ten; ~Uegotien [!]; BUate; .ltltd)en, unb lffieHgef u)!d)te).
, abgefe~cn bon .(lltled unn QueUe bee lllteblgt, luotUlm S3ut~et fid) alIet~
'~ltteltbetg
I·
158
Book Review. - S3itceatut.
bings grunbfiilllid, nUsjvdd)t, 1ft es mit fragiid), 00 ble ~tebigten, tuie fie boc~
liegcn, in U)tet oansen ~rt loitHltf) aUf betuujite ,,~lnftf)ntmll\!en" S3uti)ets 3ucUcf,
3ufiU)ren finb. ::Dlefe ®cmeinbevrebigten finb {cocnbio, (lbet sum :tei! nud) reoeHos,
ia mituntct bon ciner gcluiffen "t)eeolfd)CIt Unorbnuno". ®enn er 3. !B. in bee
brittClt ;rauf~rebigt fid) "bocoenommClt f) at", bom9Jleiflcc unb @5tiftec bec ;roufe
su reben, aoet nun inbcc 6;inleitullll bom @5nfeament rebet unb bann fofott obne
icglief)e oibHfdje !BellcUnDung afletlei einfUgl, luas H)tn altf bem ©eesClt negt: !Boe::
loUtfe gegen bie ebnnoertfe~e \]Stelliot, Ioiller bas viivftlid)e med)t, unb bnnn ftei.
mUt!g befennt, bnfl er bas eioentlid) nid)t f)abc vrebigen 100Uen, bau es if)m abet
"bennoc~ in @5inn gctommell" unb et f1dj "beUoer fcf)iec mUbe gehlafd)en" ~nlie
(!Budjlunfb II, @5. (;82), 10 Iottb man i(~lueelidj eine [ofd)e G'ntgfel[ung in iibercin,
ftimmullO mit eincm ~omi!etifd)en ,,®tunbfall" S3uH)ers utlngen.
Dr. ®erbccmann ift vrnftifd)cc :tl)eologj ba~ee gCluinnt er aus feinen bis,
[)eeigen Sfovitefn id)!iefllief) (@5. 215-255) ,,®eficf)ts~lUnfte fUr bie ®emeinbeVeebigt
bec GlJegenloart". !Boc elf :;'Saf)cen bert cat ®ecbcrmann bie :tf)cfe, bie ileit bet
!i5cebigt fet Ulier~nu\lt bocUuer (15. 227). ~lbet ~eute ift eil if)m Iolebce "cine geofle
~l(fgabc, \uie ben !1ll3iil)Hgen :taufenben bon S'~ilcem rec~t geveebillt ruleb". :Jn
bec !i5cebillt mllfl ,,@jot! felber rcben", ball !)dUI, fie muji ®ottell ®ort btinllen;
nbee fie mu!; nllef) "gemeinbegem1iU" feln, ®ell~ven bec ®cmcinben unterfd)elben;
ber homo homileticus mu[J bur d) grilnbHd)es j.lfl)C~o(oGiid)cll @5tubiulll tleroonnt
Ioecben: CillC gan3e IRei~e beucqillcns!ocetec i'l'orberungcn. :Jebod) flinot eln
9J1i[Jtoll aus bee ~lIselnonbeefctung Ubce ,,!i5rebigt ag GlJottcs ®ort". Gfr le~nt
es au, "f)icr einen IDcfinitionsbeefuc~ anaufteHen, luns elgentfid) ,®ottes ®ort' 1ft.
i'l'Ur .\lutl)cr lilac bie ~ntluort einfadjer als fUr IIns, ba er lBtbe[ruoet unb ®ottd.
lood gana eng 3ufammenfd)autej •.. es lui!! uns bebUnfen, ag !uenn bie natc
~(ntruoet aUf ble i'l'cagc nad) bem ,®ort ®ottes' nod) nid)t \lefllnben luiiee" (@5. 219).
®ie fom! ber ,,~tafti[d)e" ;rl)eo(og bonn feine ,,®efief)tlljlunfte" Ubee ble Qilorb
Ilottes~rebiot aus .\Jut~ers \]Srebioten ge!uinnen7 ~f§ .ITatl !BatH) nad) bem .ITrlc\1
in bas celhliils 3ufommengelicod)ene molt bas !Banner "ilurUct 311m ®oete ®oltes I"
~ineinceid)te unb man fid) um bas !Banner 3U fd)ocen onfinl1, fcf)ien eil am .\'dimmer
~cli 3U Illecben. ~bee !Bart~g ,,®oct GlJottes" !tlnr eben aud) nid)! ®ottes ®ort.
Unb tuCltn biell nid)t clnen fcften !Begtiff belm !i5rebigee uebeutet, fann aud) bei
i~m bie i'l'ocbecung obcc bas !Betfvredjen, ,,®ottes lillort 3U ~eebl\lcn", nidjtll
bebeuten. IDued) ®erbecmonns ~hlsfUf)eungcn loe!)t aber boc~ eln ~o~ee Gfmft,
eln Gfmft, ber (Jiiufig ben bia!cltifcf)cn lBefiimvfem fofcf)cc ,,@5ud)cc" abllefl>cod)ett
Ioerben mUll. ::Dos !Bue!) ift es luert, gcfc[en 3U !ueeDen; feeilld) nod) bier me~r
ball, Illocaus es oefd)l\Vf! ift, !Bud)!vafbs ,,!i5ceblgten D. I))laetin S3utf)ees".
fit lill. © ein ~ e.
Into All the World. The Story of Lutheran Foreign Missions, Especially Prepared for Mission:study Classes. By W. G. Polaok. Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. 165 pages, 5X71jz. Price,
$1.00.
Ever since the little book by Elsie Singmaster, cntitled The Story of
Lutheran Missions, was no longcr 011 the market, thcre was a real need
for It small study-book; for the books by Laury and by Wolf were also
no longer a,vailable. Besides, all these books, although written in sympathy with Lutheran missions, were not altogether satisfactory in their
background and because of their omission of the work done by the Synodical Conference. And books written by authors not in the Lutheran
Book Review. -
SJlteratur.
159
Church were altogether inadequate in their presentation, because in most
cases the writers were not in sympathy with Lutheran efforts. For that
reason Professor Polack's study-book ought to be received with special
;c,c,ieagel'IlCSS, since· it offers, in a concise and yet adequate manlier, the story
of the missions in which we are particularly interested. Beginning with
Great Commission, the book sketches the work of the Apostolic Age
the gradud expansion of missions throughout the world. The author
then prese.nts a history of the various mission-societies bearing the Lutheran name, the work of the Lutheran Church in general, and finally
tlmt of the Missouri Synod. There are many features which will be very
favorably received. Particular emphasis ought to be laid upon the fact
:... '. \ that the book serves admirably as a text-book for mission-study classes,
:.~i'as the subtitle indicates. The study of the book will certainly result in
. an intelligent interest in the entire field, which will then also show itself
in increased activity in every department of the Church's work.
P. E. KRETZUANN.
~ifberntln~
Slit' menOion~oefdiid"te. ~n zjufanmlCltatbeit mit anDern ~et(lUS<
gcgcben bon D. &:! a n II S') a as, lllrofelfot her ffielillionsgefd)id)te an Der
Unibetfitat 2eillaig. Ill. :tJeid)ectfd)e metla\lSbud)~anhtuuo, 2eill3h1 unD
~tlangcn. 1. SJieferuno: I/®ecmanifc()e 9teUoion./i lllceis, oel)eftet: M.1.
2.-4. mefecuno: "Qilll)llttfd)e ffieUoion,1I lllrcis, oegeftet: M. 6.80.
5. meferul1o: "melillion hec &:!et~itec." lllteis, Ilef)eftet: M.2. 6. me"
fecHno: l/5Sau\)tonifd)"alft)tifd)e ffieUgion." lllrtis, gel)cftct: M.4. 7. me"
feCHng: "ffieligion De!.l allaifc()en .!lrelfell." lllreis, Ilel)eitct: M.5.50.
:tJiefcc 5SHhecatlas ift toitUici), tuos bet ~lame befaot, cine aiemfid) boU"
ftanbioe 6ammluno bon 5Sifbettt, Die bie bctfci)ieDenen \Hefioionen in if)cell .!tuftHS<
ftlitten, ShtltusocgenftanDcn, @emiifben, 6fui~tttrcn unb fonjttocn i)'unbftUden
borfU~ren,
:tJec furae beioeoebenc ':tebt jellt niel)t nottuenDioectoci[c eine 5Sc<
fanntfd)aft mit Dem 1!J22 in 3tueitet SUuflaoc ctfcf)ienenen ':tebtbUd) 3ttr !Jlefigionll<
botaull, fonDern 1110n fann boUftanbigc 5Seiel)ceibHngen ber in 5Setcad)t
ommc'nDcn fllelillionen ami) aus anDeClt I))lonogta~()ien feinen 6tuDien 3111lcunbc
Unter belt lJJlitatueitcClt bes .ldecausgeued finb ucjonbecs 311 neltnen 1))100f,
5Sonnet, 2anbsberllec unb .!lato. :tJie :;SUufttationen, fonher1icl) aud) Die lJaffi111Ue<
brucie, flnD gut ausgefU~ct. 'iller fid) aUf bem ®ebiete bet fllefioionsoejd)icl)te
otiClttieren tulU, faltn bies fel)r t1)ol)l auf (lJl'lInb biefer &:!efte tun. :tJas mled
tuith jebcnfaUs aUf tanoe ()inaus feinen mlet:! be~alten, unD Dec lllteis ift in SUn<
betrad)t hes bcfJanbeltcn ®eoCltftanhes afll fe~r mafjill au beacid)nen.
lll. ~. S~ ce ~ man n.
The Sermon on the Mount. A New Series of Serlllons by Olovis G.
Ohappell. Cokesbul'y Press, Nashville, Tenn. 227 pages, 77'2 X5.
Price, $1.75.
Dr. Chappell, pastor of the First M. E. Church South, Memphis, Tenn.,
enjoys the reputation of being an able preacher. This volume of sermons
shows tllat he goes to great pains in the preparation of his discourses.
are well arranged, logical, and excellently developed. The fact that
the author belongs to the Fundamentalist wing is very evident from his
fearless presentation of Christ as the Son of God and the Savior. While
a Lutheran pastor will not subscribe to every doctrinal statcment in this
volume, he will find much in these scrmons that will benefit him in his
own sermon work.
W. G. POLACK.
160
Book Review. -
~iterntur.
Books Received. - Q;ingegnttgcttC
~itcrot1tr.
Oonoordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo.:-
!lfd)tunbfiiltfainfter (5IJnl,1bnfbetidJt be~ \l)Hd)ionn = 'l)iftrift~ bet m\J."~ut~.
(5\lnobe \Jon ·9J1iffouri, O~io unb anbern @5tnaten. Za~tgnn(l 1930.
80 5citen, IiIrei~: 17 (fts.
Proceedings of the Fifty- Eighth Convention of the Michigan
District of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio, alld Other States. Vol. 1930.
67 pages. Price, 16 cts.
alit
mefetat: ,,~as Zubif(iunt unfette ~efeuntlti~fd)dfteu eine Illuflltultteruuo
1m !8efenntulS." (~. Z. ~el)erleh1.) Doctrinal paper: "Christ for
X~eue
Us- We for Christ."
om.
0.
~el~.)
merijnnbhlttllcn ber alueiunbbreifjioftclt merfnmmlllull ber ($J11.=2utij. ISl)no=
bnlfon fcrena l10tt \l1oa:bnmel'ifn. 1930. 79 6e!tcn. IiIreig: 50 (f g.
mefetat: lllillnl)re Ullion lilt @eoenfn~ 3U Uuionillmus unb 6epnrntislltu~.1/
(iii. ~ . .Ilretmclttlt.)
Proceedings of the Fifty-Fifth Convention of the Eastern District
of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. Vol. 1930. 135
pages. Price, 50 cts.
mefetat: ,,'iDic lllefoclltation bet .Ilitd)c unb ble brei .IlonttarefOtlnatiollcu./1
liIielJet.) Doctrinal paper: "The Augsburg Confession Is Mine."
S'J.
X. 'iDau.)
om.
(~.
Riohwl'd R. Smith, Ino., New Yorlo, N. Y.:Paul the Missionary. By Rev. WiUiam M. TaylO1', D. D. 570 pages,
7% Xfi. Price, $1.00.
This is a well-printed, popular·priced edition of Dr. Taylor's famous
Life of St. Paul, which was originally published in 1881. W. G. POLACK.
Please Take Notice.
Kindly consult the address label on this paper to ascertain
whether your subscription has expired 01' will soon expire.
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