Full Text for CTM Book Review 5-2 (Text)

(ttuurur~tu mqrulugtrul jiuut41y Continuing LEHRE UND WEHRE MAGAZIN F UER EV.-LUTH. HOMILETIK T HEOLOGICAL QUARTERLy-THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY Vol. V February, 1934 No.2 CONTENTS Page H<;~tzc 81 Die hochkil'chliche Bewegung' in Deutschland. R. y., Denifle Redivivu". Theo. Hoyer . . • • • . • . . • . . • . . • • . • • • . • • • 87 Die grosse Kluft in del' Lehl'e von del' Tauie. J. T. II uellor 93 Do We Need a New Liturgy? w. ArnGt .•.••••••••.••••• 102 DRS "Semper Virgo" und die "Bl'ueder" (Geschwister) Jesu. P E Kretzmann • • • • • • •• 108 Reflections on the Status of Our Preaching. E. J. Friedrich 114 Sermons and Outlines..... . ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Miscellanea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 134 Theological Observer. - Kirchlich · Zeitgeschichtliches . . . 142 Book Review. - Literatur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 151 Eln Predlger mUll nleht alleln weiden. also dasa er die Schafe uoterweise. wle ale rechte Christen lO11en teln, IOndero aueh daneben den Woolfen wohren., daaa lie die Schafe nleht angrelfen und mit faischer Lehre verfuebren und Irrtum eln· fuehren. - Luther. E. 18t keln Ding, du die Leute mebr bei der Klrche behoelt denn die gute Predigt. - Apologie, drt. ~. If the trumpet give an uncertain lOuod, who sholl prepare himself to the battle t 1 Oar. Lt. 8. Pu bUshed for the Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, CONCORDIA PU:BLISRING ROUSE, St. Louis, Mo. Book Review. - 13itetatut. 151 Book Review. - £tteratur. ::t~eJ)(J)gifdjc~ lilliltictbud) 5l1m incucn ::teitamcnt. ~etallsgegeben bon @ e t ~ ~ a r D .re itt e L ~etlag bolt lID. ,Ro~l~ammet, 6tuttgatt. iJo~~eI~ liefewng 9/10, 6. 513-640; 6ubf.fti~tionil~reis: RM. 5.80. me. fetung 11, 6. 641-704; 6ubifti~tioltil~reiil: RM. 2.90. mcfctung 12, 6. 705-793, mit ;titel, ~ottuort, ;sugaltilbet3eid)uiil, mitatbeitetlifte, ~b~ mt5uugilbetadef)uifl, XII uub XXIVSeiten; 6ubffti~tionil~reiil: RM.2.90. 6eH uuimt letten mei~teef)lIng Det fdiget et\ef)ienenen l3iefetungen bie\eil gtoji angelegten ®iirtetfmd)s im ;sunilJeft 1933 biefer :Beitfef)tift, S. 472, finb btei ltleitm meferllngen etfef)ienen, linD bet etfte manb ift nun abgefef)!offen, ein ftatt. Hef)et manD bon 793 unb XXXVI 6eiten in @tojilC);tfon.j:l'ormat 8X12. !fiit ltliebergolen nief)t, ltlas mit ftlifJet libet bie ~n!age, ~usflifJtung unb meDeutung biefes lIDllttetbuef)il ge\agt fJaben, \onbern beaiel)en uns aUf Die genannte me" i~teef)ung 3utlid, fiigen aoct gin3u, baji auef) Dieie neue\ten l3ieferungen bail bort @efagte butef)aus beftiitigen unb bas ganae lIDetf mittlief) ein Wlonumentalmerf ift. <:£in ungegeures material ift giet betatoeHet, bail jebtt, bet bail sneue ;teftament griinblid) ftubimn t1JiU, ttefflief) betl1Jerten fann; abet immet mitb Diefes lIDlltter~ buef) aud) mit offenen lUugen gebtaud)t metben mlifien, namentlid) in beaug aUf bie teligionsge\d)"td)md)en lUusfligtungen, bie nod) nie in einem !fiilrtetbud) \0 auilfUgtHef) batgeboten morben finb. mei ben cill3elnen lUttifeln mitb immet auef) bet oft boneinanbet felJt betfd)iebene 6tanb~unft bet meatbeitet, beten eil im ganaen ameiunbbteitig finb, im lUuge belJaften merben mUllen. mit !Red)t mitb in bem morllJOtt bem metleget, Dr. !fiaUet .reolJllJammet in 6tnttgati, ein beflJn' bmil !fiOtt beil iJanfeil gefagt, unb bet ~et(tuilgebet, !Jltof. D . .reUtel in :tUbingen, bemerft: lI~ail lIDetl mate mogl in ben gegenmartigen 8eitliiuften taum beg onnen, jebenfal!il nief)t in bet botHegenben @eftaU biSget buref)gefiil)tt mOtDen, menn nief)t biefeil manneil faef)lid)eil ;sntmffe, feinc borncgme, lebet .releinlief)feit ent. gcgenftegcnbe @titc, \eine nic berfagenbe ~iff~miUigfeit uuil butd) aUe Sd)mietig. feiten begleitet unb ben !fieg geebnet gatte./I Sir <:£btuin ~oilf\)ns, bet mibliotgefllt beil Corpus Christi College in (£ambtibge unb ftbetfetet bon .reat! mattl)~ /I!Rilmetbtiefll, fef)tieb mit !Red)t in bet engHfd)en 8eitfd)tift Theology bot fut3em: "In conclusion it is difficult not to be envious of a country possessed of ..• a publisher willing to print the book so magnificently at a time when its production can hardly be an economical adventure." iJa~ !fied ift tiberal! in bet miffenfef)aftlid)en !fieU begtii\lt unb felJr fteunbHd) aUfgenommen morbcu, unb bet ~etauilgebet fagt: /l60l!te fid) bemiigten, tua~ gelegentlid) gefagt murbe, bat eil fomog! bet j:l'otfef)un\J biene ag aud) bem !Jlfattet bei feinet mettiefung in Die ~emge Sef)tift unb bllmit bet feinet !Jlrebigt l)cIfe, \0 llJate bieil bet fd)llnfte £lol)n, me!d)et unil allen 3uteH merben fiinnte./I (6. VI!.) - !fienn mit unil nun ~in3ellJeiten 3utuenben, fo finben tuir, Da\l ~ab\)lon im sneuen :teftament, bud)" auil tid)tig nad) unfcter ftbeqcugung, mit !Rom ibentifi3iett llJirb. tler metfaffet, Dr. ~ulJn in :tiibingen, fagt: /I~amit (~~of. 17, 18) fann nut !Rom gemeint fein. ~ie ~au~tatgumente baftit linb a) lU~of. 17, 9: ~ie Stabt negt aUf ficben mer- gen - !Rom, ,bie 6tailt ber fieben ~iige!', ift faft gefliigelteil !fiott; b) bie £ofali. ficrung mabeIil alil %\)~US bet gottfeinblief)en 9Jlaef)t aUf !Rom ift bem 6~iitjuben" tum gana ge1iiufig. lUud) in 1 !j3etr. 5, 13 fnnn mit mab\Jlon nut !Rom gemeint fein. ~ie meftntlid)en @rilnbe bafilr finb aujiet ben ebengenannten a) ,bie mit 152 Book Revtew. ~ l3iteralm. bctictjroinbenb roenigen Illu~nagmcn aUgemeine StIeutung bon 1 ~etr. 5, 13 aUf lliom' in ber Illu~{egung ber aUen Rhd)c.*) b) 91itgenbs finbct fictj auctj nur cine {eiie Illnbcutung bon ciltCm lllufent9a1t abet gar ciner ·W1iffionstatigfeit bes ~ctrug im l3anbe lSavt)lonicn. W091 aver ift bie @efd)ictjHictjfeit ieine~ Illufent!)alts (unb 9J1Cittt)mtoDcs) in ffiom taum me!)t au ve3roeifefn." (5.514.) StIicfes Sitat Beigt 3ug{eictj, bafl bas Wiirtervuctjoft ein fuqgefaflter Rommentar roitb. stier gan3en Illnlage bes Werfes gcmiifl finb roid)tige Wortgru~~en liefonbers ousfii9rH1) oc' !Jonbe!! j fo bie Wottgru~~c /fan1Sw aUf actjt3ef)n 5eHen (5. 527-544). W1it ffiectjt fogt bo bei ber ~af)annestaufc ~tof. c~fe in l3eiNig: "StIafl fie ein .ftinb bcs otien, taHfctjen 6l)nh:etismus fei, roitb bon ben ~bangclien mH teiner 5ilbe angcbeutct. ~s ift fo lange au ueitreiten, ars niel)t aUe nCi!Jerliegenben Illnalogicn ctfd)ii~ft unb fiir bie ~eran3ie!)ung ber fernerliegenben biinbige lSeroetsgriinbe beigcfJractjt finb." (5. 534.) @an3 rictjtig !Jcillt es bann luciter unten in bem Illrtitel: "StIie ::taufe ift, roennauctj burctj W1enfctjen bermittelt, ~anbcln @ottes, ~anbern ~!Jrifti (~~!J. 5,26). . .• StIie ::taufe aie9t if)re Rraft aus bem berfo9nenben ~anbeln @ottes in ~9tiftus, genauer aus bem 5U!Jnetobe ~lJtiiti (1 .ftor. 6, 11 j ~~!J. 5, 25 f. j ::tit. 3,4 f.; 1 ~0!J. 5, 6; bgl. ~0!J. 19,34; 1 ~etr. 1, 2; ~ebt. 10,22). 5ie berfett oojettib in ~!Jriftu~, ben 3roeHen Illbam, unb bam it aus ber ::tobesregion beil etften in bie f",tw.-, Q5. 6.8) vefd)ridJen mho: in ber 3ufammengeftromten S)J1enge bon :;suben unb I.j.lroieIl)len aus ber ~iai.pora 1)oft ein ieller bie ga1i!iiiicl)en :;Siin(Jer fetne S)J1utterf.ptacl)e teben.// ~ver 1eiber oefennt ber Q5erfaffer aud) feinen Unglauoen bem I.j.lfingftmunber gegeniiver, inbem er fagt: 1I~f1e merfud)e, fetne ®efcf:)id)md)~ leit au er\udfen unb ieinen @linn DU oeftimmen, bis auf 8(1)n fd)eitem on bem fid) ieIoft unb f.piitercn ete11en bet ~.poftelgefcl)id)te \vibetf.pred)enben leerid)t.// (6.724.) 8(1)n T)at aoet gana tid)tig ausgefiiT)tt, bau bas I.j.lfingftmunber bas @egenbilb Bur valil)lDnifd)en @l.ptacl)bermittung fei, dne ~nmeifung bet geift= crfii11tcn ®emeinbe ber ®1Clu1ligen aut merfilllDigung bes ~ballgeliums an a11e milUer. (.Rommentar aut ~.poftelgefd)id)le I, 98 ft.) '[\lit miid)ten nod) meT)t @lte11en 1)erausgreifcn unb flef.pted)cII, roie bie roid)tige [\lot!gru.p.pe Yl?arp>J unb bas [\lOtt YVY>J in folgen'oer (\;inteHung: A. ::Die jJrau in ber Ummeft bes ~euell ~eftaments. 1. ®ried)entum unb .\'def1eniSmus. 2. ·mom. 3. SDie jJrau im ~1ten ~eftament. 4. ::Die jJrau im :;Subentum. B. SDic jJtnu im ([T)tiftcntum. 1. :;S~fus. 2. SDie ®emeinbe. C. @laftnle unb gemeinblid)e jJullftionen bet jJtau. 1. SDie auuerd)riftlid)e ~ntik 2, SDas ·~Ite ~eftnment. 3. SDas :;Subentum. 4. SDas ~eue %eitament. 5. SDie meitm fitd)Ud)e C!:ntmict1ung. ~lber roit mUffen es bei bem ®eiagten lJeroenben (affen. ~lut miebetf)olen roit, bau ein fold) reid)f)altiges [\lottet= vud) Dum ~euen ~eftament nod) nid)t erfd)ienen ift unb bau, menn mit bet ted)ten Q5otiid)t unb .Rtitif gevtauc1)t, es ein feT)t tlJettl1011es .\'dilfsmittel Dum 6tubium bes ~euen ~eftnmellts ift. SDet etfte leanb fd)lient mit bem leuftaoen r unb bem !illott ro.w[a. :!lataus fann man fd)on aflne1)men, mas fUt ein Ilt\Jue~ [\led ba~ [\liirtervttcl) roetben \uitil. 53. \} ii r lJ r i n g e r. Epochs in the Life of Simon P'eter. By A. T. Robe1·tson, D. D., LL. D., Litt. D., Professor of New Testament Interpreta,tion in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. London. 1933. 342 pages, 5X7%. Price, $1.75. Having given the rea.ding public Epochs in the Life of Jesus and Epoohs in the Life of Pau.l, Professor Robertson here pla,ces before us a, simila,r work dealing with St. Peter. Like an the books of this renowned New Testament gramma.rian, also the present one testifies to his remark- a,ble scholarship and ability as an interpreter of the New Testament. In fiuent, simple language, the story of Peter is told, each paragraph having a heading giving its leading idea. There is no a.ttempt to make a grea.t display of learning by quoting texts in the original Greek or by inserting lengthy philological discussions,. The views of other schola,rs are quoted whenever their words give allt expression to a. certain thought. Now and then they are introduced to be refuted. Naturally, not only the gospels and the Book of Acts, but also the epistles are drawn on to acquaint the reader with Peter's ca.reer. First and Second Peter are each given a chapter, and their prominent thoughts are set forth. Speaking of Peter's connection with Rome, Professor Robertson is willing to admit that the a.postle visited Rome, while he quite properly rejects the assumption tha.t Peter fOlmded the Roman church. As to the time of St. Peter's death he writes (p. 319): "The probability is that Peter had met his death before Paul wrote his Second Epistle to Timothy with the plea for Ma,rk to come along in haste with Timothy before winter." 154 Book Review. - mteratur. Since the author is a Baptist, we a·re not surprised to read, on page 189,. where he is speaking of the baptism of the three thousand who were· converted on the occasion of the first Christian Pentecost: "Small objec- tions have been made to Luke's report here (Acts 2) that so many people could not be baptized in one day. Dr. J. E. Clough himself baptized 2,222. Telugus in one day at the Ba.ptist mission. There were plenty to lend a hand on this occasion, and Jerusalem always had plenty of pools with abundance of water. Probably Peter superintended the task." In our mind the question arises whether, even if we grant for a.rgument's sake that Jerusalem "always had plenty of pools with abundance of water," it is likely that the inhabitants of the city would have permitted these despised Galileans to use the pools for the purpose of immersion. Con- sidering what we know of the haughty prejudices of the scribes and Pharisees, we think it extremely doubtful that such permission would have been given. On the famous passage 1 Pet. 3, 19 ff. Dr. Robertson says: "At this point comes the most disputed passage in the epistle and almost in the New Testament, the preaching of Jesus to the spirits in prison. Some modern scholars cut the Gordion knot by inserting 'Enoch' after ill .;; xat (left out by simila,rities of letters and sound). This theory makes Enoch, not Jesus, the preacher to the spirits in prison. Both Goodspeed and Moffatt put it so in their translations. Others take it as it is and interpret it to mean that Jesus did go, after His death, and preach to those now in prison (or hell) to whom Noa.h preached before the flood came. That is a possible meaning of the passage, though one wonders why Jesu;s preached only to this crowd. Some argue from this interpretation for a. second chance in the other world for aU lost souls, wha,t is called the 'la.rger hope.' But there is only precarious Scriptural exegesis for this hope. Others take it to mean that in spirit, during the time of Noah, Jesus preached to the people of Noah's time who a,re now spirits in prison. One element of uncertainty about any certain exegesis of the passage is Peter's reminiscential and incidental way of going off at a word. Here at the word 'spirit' he turns to what Jesus did in spirit; in v. 21 the relative 'which' refers back to 'water: in which Noah's family were saved. Then a,t once Peter turns to baptism in his time, an anti type, not actual cleansing, but an appeal of a good conscience to God. Clearly Peter is not a sacramentalist, whatever may be his meaning about the preaching of Christ in spirit to the spirits now in prison." The Lutheran reader will not only object to the way in which the author empties the term "save" in 1 Pet. 3, 21 of its meaning. but he will be surprised, too, at the indecision which the lea,rned Doctor manifests over against the different theories surrounding the reference of Peter to Christ's descent to hell. But, all in all, we aTe here dealing with a, very useful book, which is worthy of a place at the side of the many other splendid productions that have come from Dr. Robertson's pen. W. ARNDT. G:~rlftentum unb nidJtdJrlftIidJe ffieligion nadJ bef ~uffaffun!l 2ut~efB. mOlt Lic. theol. lffi a 1 t ~ t S';) 0 1 ft e n. ~. l!lettelSmann in @Utet~lo~, 1932. 144 SeHen, fattoniett. ~teg: RM.4.50. "Unb aUe ileute in bet mielt, hleldJe fie [bie ffiedjtfettigung] nidJt feft~nUen, finb enthlebet :;Suben obet ::tUden obet ~apiften obet .Re~et, hleH 3hlifdjen biefett Book Review. - 53itetatut. 155 bciben ®ered)tigfeiten, bet tiitigen bes ®cf elles unb bet leibenben [~tifti, fcin I)JHtte1 ift. . .. :tIie !lierfe finb nut nad) bem aUjictrid)en ~nfe!jen betfd)ieben, in bet stat unb!lia!jtf)eit auet finb es !liette, unb biejenigen, roeId)e fie tun, finb nief)t GrfJtiften, fonbem finb unb Meiuen !lietfl)eilige, mi.i\1en fie nun :;Suben, 9Jlu< fJometiften, ~afliften obet ®iebertiiufet ufro. IjeiBen." (53utljet, IX, 24.) :tIas botliegenbe ®erf ent~iilt bie roeUm ~usfii!jrung Diefet l5iite 53ut!jets. ~s roeift nad), bafl 53ut!jet nut aroei \Religion en fennt, bas [ljtiftentum, bie abfolute \Re. ligion, unb bie \}rembteligionen, bie aUe fief) roefentlid) gletef) finb, inbem fie bie \Religion bes ®efetes batfteUen. ,,~§ giM nut 3roei ~tten bes ®ottesbetljiiltniffes, ,roei ®tuflflen bon \Refigioncn: faId)e, bie ell mit bem (l1ott bes ®efetes, unb fold)e, bie ell mit bem ®ott bes G:bangeliums au tun lJaucn." (15. 30.) 53utlJet ,eigt, roie ~o1f!en griinbHd) nad)toeift, ball bet ~at!joH3"ismu5, bas ~eibentum, bas :;Suben< tum unb bet :;Sslam in ilJtem 9JlateriaIfltinaifl roefentlidj berfd)ieben bam GrlJtiflen< tum finb; ball fie aud) ein roefentlidj betfdjiebenes i\'ormalflrin3ifl bettteten VSe< fannt ift 53utlJets lJeftige ~olemit gegen bie lllernunft, bie ,~ute', ars bas ~tiU3ifl bet !ffietflletedjtigfeit", 15. 53); unb ball bas [!jriftentum einen unbetfil~n1id)en ~amflf mit biefen \}tembteligionen au fiiljten ~at. :tIet llletfaffer, .aIs getteuet metid)tctftattet, !)at bei mefflted)Unll bes ~atlJoli3iSmus rein miatt bot bcn9Jlunb genommen, ebenforoenig toie 53ut!)et feIbf±. "mei meiner 3ufammenfaffenben :tIat< ftelfung bon 53utljets ~usfagen iibet ben ~atljo1i3iSmus bitte id) au bebenten, bafl ief) feine nnbete ~uflla!le ljatte als bie ljiftotifef)e, 53ut!)ctS UrieH in feinet gnn3en grunhfiitHd)en I5djiitfe, o!)ne jebe fotmeUe 9Jlilbetung (bie llletbunfelung beheutet !)iiite), fidjtbat au madjen." (lllOtlllOtt.) ~s liegt au cinet 9Jlilberung aud) fein ~nIafl bot. l5eit 53ut!)etil 3cit ljat lidj bet ~at!)oli3ismus ia nid)t aum ®uten, fonbern immet me!)t 3um milfen entroicrel±. ~uf l5eite 134 f. finbet fidJ cine in< fttuftibe :tIat1ellung: :tIie ~tfaljtung beroeifi, bafl bet ~atlJon3iSmus mit ben anbern !lietfteligionene i n e l5iflflC bUllet. ,,:tier ~bfaU fo bicIet (,l;ljtiften au 9Jlol)ammeb roitb iljm nun bctftanblid). ~t ift faft cine IJtotroenbigfeit 3U mnnen angefidjts bet bilUigen !lie!)tlofigteit, in bet iebet tatljolifdJe [!)tift bicfet \}temb< religion gegeniibetfte!)t. ~einet roetbe, fo meint et, feinem ®lauben tteu blethen, roenn et nut btei stage in bet stUtfei roeilte. .Reinesroegll ift bas bon entattettn, bon innetlid) gleid)giiltigen (,l;lJtiften gemeint, fonbetu get abe ben beften, ben etuften unb iibet3cugten ~afliften." :tIie tcligionsgefdJtd)tIidJc I5 dJuIe, bie ja Mnen roeientlid)en UntetfdJieb 3roifdJen bem [ljtiftentum unb ben anbetu \ReHgionen fennt, ie~t iljte ~n!)anget betfelben ®efii!)tbung unb mebtoljung aus. :tIarauf fu,dn! bie ~usfiiljtun\J aUf 5cite 135 !)in3ubeuten. ~ :tIas mudj betbient fleilliges 5tubium. !liet bie G:igenatt bes [ljriftentums fennenletuen roill, f olf £utljet ftubimn. i\'teilidJ, memetfungen roie biefe: ,,:tIas ®efet roitb in bas ~bange1ium aufgenommen" (15. 29); ,,:tIie roaljte \Religion Iiiflt fldJ biteH nut in bet ®eftalt bell ®eb·ots befd)teiben" (15.47) geljiiten nidjt in due :tIatfteUung bon 53utlJed me< fdJteibung bet ~igenatt be!! [lJtiftentums. st!). ~ n gel bet. The Glory Road. By N. W. Ylvisaker. Published by Augsburg Pub- lishing House, Minneapolis. 142 pages, 5X7%,. Price, $1.00. The author of this tribute to the glory of our redemption through the cross of Jesus Christ is Executive Secretary of the Department. of Young People's Work in the Norwegian Lutheran Church. The book has a strong emotional appeal, which is sustained through the chapters, which describe conversion, forgiveness of sins, and the love which binds the penitent sinner to his Savior, - all of it written, as it were, under the cross on Calvary 156 Book Review. - 5.Jiteratur. and beside the open grave. We make allowances for the temperamental, sometimes mystic nature of the book, which does not pretend to be dog- matic as much as devotional and inspirational. However, there is some- thing that seems to depress the meaning of Baptism to the believer or that ignores the history of the normal Christian church-member when it is said that the "Glory Road" for the individual "begins" with the sin- ner's realization that he has an immortal soul face to face with God. The author would, of course, not deny that normally the "Glory Road" begins with Baptism. Thc same individualistic strain crops out in the state- ment that "faith is a yielding up of one's will to the will of God the Father" (p. 39) . While faith involves this as a necessary concomitant, it is not that, but rather the trust of the believer in the gracious promises of God. We have placed question-marks also opposite the following: "Faith is a gift of God through His Spirit, granted freely to those of a repentant heart. . .. With the immediate sense of pardon there will be given the germ of that holiness and that righteousness which are acceptable to God and which are acceptable because they are nothing but reliance on Christ's merits and wounds and righteousness" (p. 40). There is emphasis here on feeling and a conception of an imputed righteousness susceptible of growth, which again seems to reach over into sanctification. We do not hold that with the death on the cross Jesus had finished also His prophetic office nor His kingly office, even with the modification "as rar as it was to be finished here on earth" (p. 95) . J csus is to-day exer- cising His prophetic function through the vVord and the ministry and is King over all things, in this world and in heaven. Knowing so well the author's previous expressions, we are ready to allow for a certain care- lessness of terminology not seldom met with in books that are written to furnish exercises in piety. The GIOTY Road contains much that our pastors may use in their sick-visits and in Lenten sermons. THEODORE GRAEBNER. The Nature of Religion. By GeoTg Wobbm·min. Transla.ted by Theophil Menzel and Daniel Sommer Robinson. With an Introduction by Douglas Clyde Maointosh. Thomas Y. Crowell Go., New York. 379 pages, 6 X 9. Price, $3.50. The name of Georg Wobbermin is well known in the field of systematic theology and of the philosophy of religion. At present he is holding the professorship formerly occupied by Albrecht Ritschl at Goettingen Uni- versity. The transla.tors of this monograph are Theophil Menzel of Eden Seminary and Daniel Sommer Robinson of Indiana University, who have done a. very creditable piece of work in transla,ting so difficult a. text as tha.t offered by Wobbermin. - This is a book for the specialist in syste- matic theology, the philosophy of religion, and related subjects. The various views a·re presented in an objective, even a, sympathetic, manner, and one can derive a. great deal of information on the entire field. The discussion even touches upon Frazer's theory of magic, Na.torp's theory of religion, the Freudian theory of religion, Christian Science, -theosophy and Steiner's anthroposophy, the Ma.rxian theory of religion, and the Barthian theology. - We cannot accept the author's views, for he a.dvocates the religio-psychological method which had its origin with Schleiermacher. Book Review. - 53itetatut. 157 In fact, although the author takes exception to Schleiermacher's views on two scores (p. 99), his book is practically Schleiermacher redivivus et emtensus: "Die Religion ist das unmittelbare BewU8stsein der absoluten Abhaengigkeit." This position is fundamentally wrong because it is based on a val'iable, the religious experience and consciousness of man, instead of on a constant. True religion is based entirely upon divine revelation, objectively received, although subjectively appropria,ted. The response of man, while influenced by the original knowledge of God, in its fragmentary form, is brought about entirely by the power of the Spirit of God in the Word. of revelation. P. E. KRETzMANN. Karl Barth and Christian Unity. The Influence of the B:uthian Movement upon the Churches of the World. By Adolf Keller, D. D., LL. D. Translated in collaboration with Prof. Werner Petersmann by the Rev. Manfred Manrodt and revised by Dr. A. J. Macdonald. With an Introduction by Luther .4 .. Weigle, Ph. D. The Macmillan Company, New York. 320 pages, 5%XS%, including Bibliography. Price, $2.75. Dr. Adolf Keller's Der Weg der dialektischen Theologie durch die kirchliche Welt (Ka,iserverlag, Munich, 1931) is here offered in an excellent English transla,tion to readers that do not understand German. Dr. Keller, formerly pastor in Egypt and Switzerland, then professor of religious education a,t State College in Schaffhausen, and since 1922 secretaTY of the European Central Bureau for Interchurch Aid, also known as an author of many theological and religious works (Eine Philosophie des Lebens j Vom unbekannten Gott j Die Ki1'chen und der Friede, etc.) and lecturer (Stone Lecturer a,t Princeton for 1933, etc.), representative in Europe of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, and an outstanding exponent and leader of the present-day ecumenical move- ments, very aptly called the "Man of World Protestantism," presents in this volume a keen critical analysis of Ba,rthianism, points out its reaction upon men and churches, both favorable and unfavorable, and finally shows how some of the BaTthian questions and thought may be utilized in the interest of grea,ter church unity. Men like Deissmann (Berlin), NiebuhT (Union Theological Semina,ry), Ohas. S. Ma.cfarland (General Secretary Emeritus of the Federal Council), have bestowed upon the book un- stinted praise and have recommended it GspeciaHy as a text-book for a more general study of "Christian Ecumenics," or of the special Kirchen- kunde which the ecumenical movements of to-day require. The work indeed deserves praise. Dr. Keller's analysis of Barthianism, though in some respects inadequa,te, is nevertheless helpful and valuable. What Barthianism is, is here described well in its essential features. Admirable, too, is the author's description of the confusion of the European and American churches which, breaking away from their ancient moorings and slipping irresistibly into new forms, nevertheless hold to their ancient shells or at least pa,rts of their shells. The author concedes tha,t theo- logical dialecticism is too illusive and too much opposed by both liberals and conservatives to serve as a decisive factor in church unification. However, he recognizes certain questions which BaTth, who himself opposes the ecumenical movements, has raised as very important to church unity, 158 Book Review. - 5.Jiteratur. and these he puts to the exponents of the ecumenical movements with grea,t ea.rnestness. For the student of present-day church movements in Europe and America, the book is valuable even though he cannot always a,gree with the author. By voicing the slogan Zurueok zur Reformation! ZU1"uec7c zu Luther! Barth, as we believe, has pointed out the true way to church unity. The only trouble is tha,t neither Ba.rth himself nor the proponents of the ecumenical movements take it seriously; and a,s long as tlmt is the case, nothing will remoye the spiritual chaos which apostasy from the Word of God has caused both in Europe and America. J. T. MUELLER. :Ilie :tfjeofogie Cl:Ierfonki. ~ine Unterfucf1ung nur !!Serbinbung bon ~ominam~ mus unb l))elJftU im 6lJiitmitte1alter. !!Sou 'ill a ! tel' 5l) t e t. ~. lBerters~ mann, !!Setlagsbucf1l)anbfung in ®iiters!ol), 1931. 208 iSeiten. I.j:\reis: RM.7. S))er !!Setfaffer, otbentlief)cr I.j:\tofeffot fut ljiftotifcf)e ::tl)eofogie an bet tl)eo~ fogifef)'lJl)HofolJl)ifcf)en £lutl)er,s~Habemie 3U 5l)otlJat unb I.j:\tibatb03ent an bet Uni~ betfitiit lBcrfin, wiff 3eigen, "wefcf).e ::tenben3en in bet ®ebanfentoelt @etfons ber ::tl)cofogie 5.Jutl)ets itgenbwie bie .smege botbereitet unb lJofitib, 3um minbeften in bel' !;l;qeugung bet geiftigen satmoflJ1)iire, bie 5.Jutl)er erwartete, borgcarbeitet l)aben". 5l)arum fUcf1t er an ®erfon unb aus 3al)lfofen ,(jitaten aus @etfons 6cf)tiften baqufegen, wefcf)e ®eftaltung hie nominaliftifcf1e unb bie m~ftifcf)e lBe, wegung, miteinanber bereinigt, in bet ::tl)cologie bor 5.Jutl)cr gewonnen l)aben unb wie fie fii1: 5.JutI)ers tl)eologifcf)e satbeit oebeutungsboU gewefcn finb. S))abei wirb man fteHicf) nocf) lange nicf)t aUes untetfef)reiben, was 5l)re~ libet S3utl)et fagt; er fcf)eint ®etfon befier au fennen aIS S3utl)cr. - saber babei fticf)t 5l)tet cine anbere \l'rage an, bie meines ~tllcf)tens biet wid)tigct ift: 'illarum waten aUe bie !Reformbewegungen bes 6lJiitmittelafters etfolglo§? saUe bie gtoten !Refotm, fon3Uien, 3um ::tdl untet bet \l'ul)tllng bet tUcf)tigften S3e~ret, Die gat oft, wie ®erf on, hie emfte sa:bfic~t l)atten, "ber .Rircf)e unb Damit aucf) ben in bielet .\'Jin' ficf)t ~amofen unb berfaljrenen ,(juftiinben ber flJiitmitteIaItetlicf)en .smelt iU l)erfen" - warum aUes fo tuirfung§Io§? £lag nief)t hie Urfacfje in ber ::t~eologie bet !Refotmer felbfH S3ag batin nief)t bieUeicf)t "Die .\'Jemmung, hie Den !Reformer nicf1t 3um !Refotmator werDen lie~"? 'illiil)tenb nun bet !!Setfafier auf hiefe \l'tage ldne bitefte, flate santwort gibt, fo ergibt fie fief) DOC~ fur ben, bet S3utl)ets ::t~eo, logie lennt, aus ber ausful;tIicf)en 5l)atIegung bet %l)eologie ®erfons. sam beut" Hcf)ften ttitt es wol)l 3utage, wenn ®etfon bie iU etfttebenbe cf)tiftficf)e 5l)cmut eine meritoria humilitas nennt. l15l)ie niebtige Bage, bie bem smenfcf)en bot ®ott 3ufommt, bleiH immer nocf) - bas ift bcr gtote Unterfcf)ieb bon S3utl)et5 !!Setftiinbni§ bet humilitas - dne bet b i e n it Ii cf1 e S3age. 5l)em3ufolge Meibt bet menfcf1Hef)en .\'JaItung bot @ott immer ein beftimmtet ?illet! etl)arten." sman liet in bet mtef)e bot S3utIJer ba§ sola Scriptura, ba§ man bamats fdjon oft l)otte, ttloljI bal)ingeljen; folange bie smacf)t bet .lJieratcf)ie unattgetaftet o Iieb, wat eben bet l.j:\ajJft aUeiniger sau§leget bet iScf)rift. 5l)as sola gratia wutbe feines ~n~alts entIeed, inbem es in bie gratia infusa betbrefJt wutbe; abet hie teinfte .Reterei wat bas sola fide, bCltn babutefJ wittbe bem iSunber bet .smeg birdt au @ott Ol)l1C mermittlung het ~rieftet geiijfnet, unb fomit wurben hie beiben lBoU" wede bes l.j:\alJfttums untetgra:ben: bie iSaftamen±SlefJte (lein .\'Jeif o~ne burcf) bie iieben iSaftamente) unb bie Drbinationslel)te (Iein giiUiges iSaftament ol)ne tecf)tIief) orbinierten I.j:\tiefter). 5l)urcf) biefe beiben S3el)ten fJieIt hie .\'Jieratcf)ie aUe Book Review. - '\)itetatur. 159 m.leH in ~necf)t!ef)afti em~ilrte fief) ia iemanD, fo toUtDe et htb toieber butcf) 1Bann unb ;sntetbift in iRei~ unb @lieb gegtonngt. @301ange biefe heiben 1BoUtoetfe ftanben, toaren batum auef) aUe ffiefotmbet!ucf)e bergeblief)i erft ats .\)ut~er butef) tas sola fide fie minierte, tam dne bauernbe iRe formation bet ~itd)e 3uftanbe. ::t ~ e o. ~ 0 ~ e t. Proceedings of the Eighteenth Convention of the Atlantic District. Price, 25 cts. Proceedings of the Sixtieth Convention of the Michigan District. German and English. Price: German, 13 cts.; English, 12 cts. Con- cordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. The report of the Atlantic District offers an essay by Pastor Paul Lindemann on "Christian Stewardship" (of the body, of the mind, of social relations, of time, and of possessions) "and Its Modern Implications" (for the individual, for the congregation, and for the Church at large). At the convention of the Michigan District Pastor A. F. Bernthal spoke ·on "The Relation of the Early Christian Churches to One Another a Pattern 'and Example to Christian Churches of To-day," and Pastor H. A. Mayer read a paper in the German language on the subject "Die ersten Olwisten- geme·inden Muster und Vorbild fuer unsere Gemeinden." Proceedings of the Thirty-Sixth Convention of the Iowa District. The English essay, delivered by Prof. H. A. Klein, was based on Ques- tion 109 of our Synodical Catechism, "Why do we call the First Person of the Godhead the Father 1" and answers this question in the language of our :Catechism: 1) because He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; 2) be- cause He is also our true Father. The German essayist, Pastor P. E. Ross, applied Rom. 12, 11. 12 to our present times. T. LAETscH. Christmas Tidings. By William Muir Auld. Macmillan Co., New York. 1933. 156 pages, 514X7%. This is a book for art connoisseurs, namely, those in the field of belles- lett1·es. It is a sequel to the same author's Christmas Traditions, issued :a few years ago. It presents a wide array of facts connected with the festival of Christmas, especially such as are associated with a wide choice ·of excellent poetry and with the church-year and its liturgy. If one so 'studies the book, he will find it generally interesting and edifying, per- vaded by an optimistic mysticism. Some of the statements are epigram- matic and challenging, such as: "One of the very remarkable features of the sacred gospels is that they are so written as to make all men the contemporaries of Christ and Christ the contemporary of all time." (P. 8.) «The worst fallacy is the assumption that God cares only for great things. A more unscientific position could hardly be imagined." (P.71, quoted.) "Liturgies are all books of common prayer. They are primarily designed to preclude callow individualism." (P.100.) On page 108 the author offers what seems to be the antecedent of a stanza in Luther's "Cradle Hymn for Christmas" : o my deir hert, young Jesus 8weit, Prepare Thy creddil in my spreit, And I shall rock Thee in my hert And never mail' from Thee depart. 160 Book Review. - .\3itetatut:. Some statements we cannot endorse, as when th~ author says that to St. Paul "the Christ of history remained ever somewhat vague and shadowy" (p. II ), or that the truth of Christianity "can be disengaged from the par- ticular terminology of the creeds" (p. 70). On pa,ge 73 John 17, 3 is ascribed to St. John, whereas it is a word of the Savior Himself. The discussion of the Sacmments on page 79 is beautiful, but not adequate. But such inadequacies will readily be caught by the ca,reful reader. They do not detract from the stimulus of the book for one who wishes to feel the beauty of the Christmas-message. P. E. KRETZMANN. &mtBlaTenber fur ebangeHfdje Q}clftridje. 1934. :;Sn 9Caef)foTge \lon :;So 15 ef) net ~ 11 e r forfgefU1)tt bon ~. :t t 0 f ef) f e. 61. :;SaI)t\lang. metrag [. ~et±ers~ mann, @Uters!oI). 258 l5eiten 4% X 6, in .\3dnltlanb mit @oTbtitel ge~ bunben. ~tcis: M.1.80. !fiir ~aben fef)on ltlieber1)oTt 1Iiefen ~mtUalenbet etroa~nt. Obroo1)l l)au~b faef)lief) fUr beutfef)e met1)iHtniffe eingctief)tet, ift er boef) fo 1)anblief) unb fef)Bn unb> aud) lnerfboU burdj Me bd jebcm :tag angegebenen Htd.Jengefd.Jid.Jt!id.Jen @ebenf, tage unb ~usf~tUd)e gtotet Iffiiinnet in I5taat unb .ffitd.Je, bat er itbetaU feinen 'illert 1)ot. 13. \J it to ti n g n. BOOKS RECEIVED. From Ooncordia Publishing HOIJse, St. Louis, Mo.:- Trials and Trails. By H. A. Schroedel'. 257 pages. Price, $1.50, postpaid. &mertfltlttfdJer ~ltreltber fiir brntfdje .I!lttijeraner anf baB ~aijr 1934. 163 l5eiten. ~1:CiS: 15. [g. Lutheran A1nnual, 1934. 163 pages. Price, 15 cts. Concordia Collection of Sacred Choruses and Anthems for More Ambitious Choral Organizations. No. 39: Seek Ye the Lord. Mixed voices. By J. O. Wohlfeil. 3 pages, 6%XIO%. Price, 15 cts. From Harper a B1'others, New Y Q1'k: - One Thing I Know. By A. J. Russell. 411 pages, 5X7%. Price, $2.00. From the Abingdon P1'ess, New Y01'k, Oincinnati, Ohicago:- I Follow the Road. A Modern Woman's Search for God. By Anne Byrd Payson. Introduction by E. Stanley Jones. 210 pages, 5X7%. Price, $1.00. NOTICE TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS. In order to render satisfactory service, we must have our current mailing- list correct. The expense of maintaining this list has been materially increased. Under present regulations we are subject to a "fine" on all parcels mailed to an incorrect address, inasmuch as we must pay 2 cents for every no·tification sent by the postmaster on a parcel or periodical which is undeliverable because no forwarding address is available or because there has been a change of address. This may seem inSignificant, but in view of the fact that we have subscribers getting three or more of our periodicals. and considering our large aggregate subscription list, It may readily be seen that it amounts to quite a sum during a year; for the postmaster will address a notification to each individual period- ical. Our subscribers can help us by notifying us - one notification (postal card, costing only 1 cent) will take care of the addresses for several publications. We shall be very grateful for your cooperation. CONCORDIA PUBLISIlING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo. Kindly consult the address label on this paper to ascertain whether your subscription has expired or will soon expire. "Feb 34" on the label means that your subSCription haEl expired. Please· pay your agent or the Publisher promptly in order to avoid interruption of service. It takes about two weeks before the address label can show change of address or acknowledgment of remittance. When paying your subscription, please mention name of publication desired and exact name and address (both old and new, if change of address is requested). CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo.