CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY VOL. XXXI Arritudes Toward the Use of Force and Violence in Thomas Muentzerj Menno Simons, and Martin Luther RALPH L. MOELLERING Brief Studies Homiletics Theological Observer Book Review July 1960 No.7 THEOLOGICAL OBSERVER THE NEW NESTLE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT Professor Kurt Aland of the University of Muenster, now in charge of the Nestle Greek New Testament publication, in New Testament Studies (January 1960), whets the appetite of every student of the Greek New Testament by delineating what the 25th edition of the Nestle New Testament might be. Writing under the given heading, he remarks that, though the 24th edition has appeared with some important changes based on the Bodmer Papyri, a reprint of this edition might become necessary before the 25th edition can be published, perhaps in 1962, when the W 1 ~ e r t t e m b e r g i s c h e Bibelamtalt will celebrate its l50th anniversary. In the 25th edition there will be a number of rar-reaching changes. Thus the cursive type hitherto used will be replaced by the vertical type now favored in Germany as elsewhere. The existing text revisions will be completely reworked. Old Testament citations will be distinguished in some other way, as the heavy type now used makes them too conspicuous. A thorough check is made of the extent of each citation. In the margin the number of references to parallel texts will be cut down w those of real importance for academic scudy. The apparatus criticus too will show several changes, as, for example, the omission in future of all references to Tischendorf, Westcott and Hort, and Weiss; for since the apparatus criticus in 1927 was enlarged and based on the manuscripts themselves, such references have become ever more superfluous for assessing the value of a reading. These and other references may, however, be included in a special appendix to enable the srudent or critic to learn what reading is supported by other editions. According to the learned editor, the work on the 25th edition is well under way, and there is hope that in two years from now there will appear a completely new edition of Nestle's beloved Novttm Testamentttm Graece. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER THE CHRISTOLOGY OF CHALCEDON The Anglican Theological Review (April 1960) discusses under the given heading, among other articles, the relevance of the Creed of Chalcedon for today. The formula was directed against four heresies: Arianism, condemned at Nicaea in 325; Apollinarianism, condemned at Constantinople in 381; Nestorianism, condemned at Ephesus in 431; and Eutychianism, condemned at Chalcedon in 451. Arianism declared that the pre-existent Logos was a creature and this pre-existing created Person was incarnate as man. Apollinarianism concerned itself with the union of humanity and Deity in our Lord, and its answer to the problem was that part of our Lord's humanity was replaced by Deity. According to Nestorianism the man Jesus is a human person in full communion with the Person of the Divine Logos. Lastly, in Eutychianism our Lord's Deity and His humanity were confused; His humanity was absorbed into His Deity. The writer calls attention to the fact that today the doctrine of the Person of our Lord is again the center of fundamental controversy, particularly on the Continent. He says: "We are in the midst of a great Christological Renaissance and the doctrine of the Person [of Christ] is receiving fresh attention from Barth, Brunner, Buitmann, and a whole host of Thomists, such as Galtier, Parente, and GarrigouLagrange. . . . Chalcedon is still with us, and its problems are still ours. We too are puzzled by the problems of what is human nature, what is divine nature, and what is personality, human and divine. We too are 439 440 OBSERVER again considering substance. Can it be that the ancient Christo logy has more relevance for today than we formerly believed?" The author's question must definitely be answered in the affirmative. The Christology of Chalcedon merits constant careful consideration as that of Scripmre and the Christian Confes-sions. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER BRIEF ITEMS FROM LUTHERAN SOURCES Geneva. -"Voice of the Gospel" is the name the Lutheran World Federation will operate its African radio station by, Dr. Sigurd Aske, director of the service, disclosed at L WF headquarters here. He said also that the federation's projected station will be located in or near Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. Dr. Aske reported decisions on these matters on remrning here from negotiations with the Ethiopian government concerning the L WF' s charter to broadcast in that country. While operating under the name "Voice of the Gospel," the station will be authorized to use in its broadcasts the call letters "L WF" and "such other designations as (the federation) may elect," Dr. Aske said. Respecting the station site he said that four locations in the vicinity of Addis Ababa are now under consideration. The final selection will depend on the outcome of technical smdies now being conducted by the Rev. Allan G. Thompson, administrative director of the broadcasting service. The L WF Executive Committee, at its March meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil, expressed satisfaction with the favorable and rapid way in which the radio project of the Department of World Mission has progressed in recent months. Also at Porto Alegre, the director of the department, Dr. Arne Sovik, informed the Executive Committee that the board of directors for the broadcasting service would be constimted in connection with the next meet-ing of the L WF Commission on World Mission. The commission is to meet Aug. 28 to Sept. 3 at Bukoba, Tanganyika. Federation officials express hope that the station will begin broadcasting on Christmas Day 1961. Geneva. -Two Executive Committee members of the Lutheran W orId Federation are recovering from recently suffered heart attacks, according to news received at L WF headquarters here. They are retired Bishop Ordass of Budapest, former head of the Hungarian Lutheran Church, and Dr. Osmo Tiilila, professor of systematic theology at the University of Helsinki. Professor Tiililii was stricken on March 23 while attending the committee's meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and interned in a local hospital in serious condition. Bishop Ordass, who is first vice-president of the federation, suffered a heart infarct in mid-February, according to word received here late in March. By that time he was reported well on the road to recovery. Minneapolis, Minn. -Three church bodies became one when The American Lutheran Church was formally organized here on Friday morning, April 22, to climax more than a decade of merger negotiations. The historic e'vent joined together the Evangelical, American, and United Evangelical Lutheran churches in a denomination of more than 2,258,000 members -the third largest Lutheran body and one of the 10 largest Protestant bodies in America. It was the first major merger of Lutheran bodies since 1930 and only the third in this country in the 20th cenmry. All three of the uniting churches were themselves the product of merger, the ALe in 1930, the ELC in 1917, and the UELe in 1896. It was also the first major union of Lutheran bodies crossing lines of national origins, the ELC being of Norwegian, the OBSERVER 441 ALC of German, and the UELC of Danish heritage. Amid flying banners, lusty hymn singing, and tense antlClpation, 1,000 delegates marched in slow procession from Central Lutheran Church, after a communion service there, to the Minneapolis Auditorium a block away. As presiding officer, Dr. William Larsen, president of the UELC, and chairman of the Joint Union Committee for the three-way merger, called the constituting convention to order. In quick succession the delegates adopted an agenda, appointed convention committees, and accepted the certifications of the presidents of the three merging bodies, which transferred the resources of their churches to the new church. Then came the moving "Ceremony of Joining Hands," conducted by Dr. Lawrence S. Price of Fremont, Ohio, the convention chaplain. Standing before an improvised altar, over which hung a banner proclaiming the convention's theme -"Thine Be the Glory" -he intoned: Forasmuch as the delegates of the American Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in convention assembled this twentysecond day of April, in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty, have covenanted together to form one Lutheran body in Christ; and Forasmuch as men and women of good Christian mind and purpose do here cast their lot together for a more effective witness and work in the church of Christ in the world; Let there now be given a visible sign and witness of this new unity by the joining of hands of the presidents of the uniting churches. With that, the three presidents -Dr. Henry F. Schuh of the ALC, Dr. Fredrik A. Schiotz of the ELC, and Dr. William Larsen of the UELC -solemnly joined hands as the chaplain continued: Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. After a litany and the Lord's Prayer an estimated 7,000 persons filling the auditorium to near capacity raised their voices in Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Again, in quick succession, the delegates adopted the constitution, by-laws, and articles of incorporation and ratified articles of union -and the merger into The American Lutheran Church was completed. The first session of the convention concluded with the election of Dr. Schiotz as president of the new church, and the second opened with the election of Dr. Norman A. Menter as vice-president and Dr. Larsen as secretary. Dr. Menter is president of the ALC's Michigan District and the National Lutheran Council. Also named were six representatives at large, three lay and three clergy, to six-year terms on the 46-member church council. The council-responsible for the leadership and supervision of the church in spiritual matters -will include the president and vicepresident of the church, the presidents of its 19 districts, and a layman from each district. The church council, with the board of trustees and the secretary of the church, will form the joint council, which will function as the legislative agency of The ALC in the interim between the biennial general conventions. Also at the second session, delegates adopted a schedule of terms for lay members of the church council, ratified members of boards, commissions, and standing committees, and elected a standing committee on relations with other Lutheran churches, members of boards of institutions, and a nominating committee as well as a resolution com-442 OBSERVER mittee for the next convention of The ALC in the fdl of 19620 A budget of $18,102,254 for the new church's first year of operation was adopted at the third business session. The total is about $2.250,000 higher than this year's consolidated budgets of the uniting churches, but includes $2 million to be sought in a special "Year of Jubilee" appeal to provide extra funds for missions, education, and welfare activities of the new church. Provisional approval was given by the delegates to the constitutions of The ALC's three auxiliaries -American Lutheran Church Women, the Brotherhood, and the Luther League. The fourth and final business session adopted resolm' applying for membership in the Nationai tbetan Council, the Cana-dian Lutheran neil, the Lutheran Wodd T'" 1_ reaeraUUll UliU ' X ' o ~ l d C\)uncil UIC Churches, with which all three bodies are now affiliated, and elected 15 councillors to represent The ALC in the NLC. Also approved was a resolution to declare altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Free Church, which has twice declined to participate in the three-way merger. The question will be raised again at the LFC's annual conference next year. Should a third referendum be authorized, and if the vote is favorable, the Free Church would apply for membership in The ALC in 1962. Another resolution adopted by the delegates expressed the willingness of the new church to "enter into discussions looking toward altar and pulpit fellowship with any and all Lutheran churches which confess their adherence to the Holy Scriptures as the \v;r ord of God in all matters of faith and life and subscribe to the Confessions of the Lutheran Church." rfhe convention designated Dr. Henry F. Schuh as honorary president of The ALC for life. Dr. Schuh, who will observe his 70th bin --. 30, has headed the present ALC for 10 years after 20 years as