Concordia Theological Quarterly
Volume 75:3-4 July/October 2011
Table Contents
Walther and the Revival of Confessional Lutheranism
Martin R. Noland ................................................................................ 195
Grabau Versus Walther: The Use of the Book o/Concord in the American
Lutheran Debate on Church and Ministry in the Nineteenth Century
Benjamin T.G. Mayes ......................................................................... 217
C.F.W. Walther's Use of Luther
Cameron A. MacKenzie ..................................................................... 253
Mission through Witness, Mercy, Life Together in Walther and the First
Fathers of Missouri
Albert B. Collver ................................................................................. 275
Eduard Preuss and C.F.W. Walther
Roland F. Ziegler ................................................................................ 289
Wilhelm Lohe: His Voice Still Heard in Walther's Church
John T. Pless ........................................................................................ 311
Walther, the Third Use of the Law, and Contemporary Issues
David P. Scaer ..................................................................................... 329
The King James Version: The Beginning or the End?
Cameron A. MacKenzie ..................................................................... 343
Theological Observer ...................................................................................... 367
Dean Wenthe: An Appreciation
An Old Seminary, a New President, and the Unfolding
of Divine History
The Sacred Character of Human Life
Book Reviews ................................................................................................... 372
Books Received ................................................................................................ 381
Indices for Volume 75 (2011) .......................................................................... 382
Observing Two Anniversaries
Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther was born on October 25, 1811, in
Langenchursdorf, Saxony, Germany. It is appropriate that this issue honor
C.F.W. Walther on this 200th anniversary of his birth because of his
significant influence as the first and third president of The Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod (1847-1850 and 1864-1878) and also president
and professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (1850-1887). Most of the
articles below, which were first presented at the 2011 Symposium on the
Lutheran Confessions in Fort Wayne, reflect his influence in many areas of
biblical teaching, confessional subscription, and the life of the church in
mission. These historical and theological studies are offered here so that
Walther may be understood in his context and continue to be a blessed
voice in our synod as we face the future.
This issue also recognizes one other anniversary. The venerated King
James Version of the Bible, first printed in 1611, is now 400 years old. The
article below on the King James Version was originally given as a paper at
the 2011 Symposium on Exegetical Theology in honor of this anniversary.
The importance of this translation for the English-speaking world is widely
acknowledged. Although many may think that its day has passed, this
article demonstrates the ongoing influence of the King James Version
through other translations.
The Editors
Cl Q 73 (2011): 275-2!:l7
Mission through Witness, Mercy, Life Together
in Walther and the First Fathers of Missouri
Albert B. Collver
"Oh, how important it is, therefore, my brethren, that we make the sal
vation of souls above all things the chief object of our joint l,lbor in the
kingdom of Christ," said C.F. W. Walther in the opening sermon for the
Synodical Conference in 1872. 1 The I!salvation of souls," that
is the chief of a synod. This sermon is far the only place that
C.F.W. Walther expressed such thoughts. The presidents of Tlw LuthL'ran
Church-Missouri Synod (LCl'vIS) who immediately followed Walther dlsll
seem to have thL' notion that "mission" is one of the primM\' rL'aSUI15 for
the existence of the LeMS. Perhaps through ignorance r,lther than mali
cious intent, critics of the LeNIS have stated that vValther LInd tho5e who
imnwdiately follmved him lvere not missionaL In fact, the allegations do
not stop vvith those involved in the eorly of the LeNIS, but ('xtend
back to Luther and the I{eformation. In the late 19th century, Gustav Adolf
Warneck alleged that the church which out of the Reformation
conducted no mission activity2 (111<-1 that the 16th-Ct'ntury reformers did not
even have the idea of mission,' For many would-be missiolngists! L.uther
and the reformers <11'e of little help in developing a theon' for mission. To
make matters worse, the Lutheran Confessions seem to be of little hl>lp in
this mission task, except for a few theologians,.! [f Luther, the other re
formers, and tlK' Lutheran Confessil)J1s are littlt' to no Iwlp in formulating a
missional theo!ogv, then other sources must be used, most notablv I1Ul1
Lutheran sources. Yet if Luther and the Confessions arc not helpful in the
cr,\\', Walther. "On Pure Doctrine fc)r tilt' 5ai\'C1tioll of C;ouk Upening Sl'rmOl1
for the 5\,llodk<11 ContcrenceIK72," in /\1 liowe ill till' I it '11,<(' "r M:I 1111!1l'1''';, PIt'eldelltwl
:J1'r1l1011 " Letter" tll1d Arldrc<;<;c" f/'£'III lill' /\1/,,0Ilri, Crmi lcm "/ Lillilll 1111,1
CI"ll{(,til, ed, ~Lltthe\\' C ttwris,lIl, \'uriou, transbtors (Bricigl'port,l X: Lutlwr,l1l
PrL'~~, :?OOl)), 1<)<),
2 C;usta\' Adolf \V