- --~-------------- ~-------
arnurnr~iu
IDqrnlngirul i1nutqly
Continuing
Lehre und Wehre (Vol. LXXVI)
Magazin fuer Ev.-Luth. Homiletik (Vol. LIV)
Theol. Quarterly (l897-1920)-Theol. Monthly (Vol. X)
Vol. II December, 1931 No. 12
CONTENTS
Page
ENGELDER, TH.: The Theology of Grace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 881
KRETZlVIANN, P. E.: Reich Gottes, Kirche, Gemeinde,
Synode ................................................. 886
MUELLER, J. T.: Introduction to Sacred Theology ........ 898
LAETSCH, TH.: Studies in Hos. 1-3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 909
LOTH, A. M.: Haggai 2, 7-10 ........................... 920
Dispositionen ueber die zweite von der Synodalkonferenz
angenommene Evangelienreihe.............. . . . . . . . . . .. 928
Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches. . . . .. 939
Book Review. - Literatur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 952
Ein Prediger muss nicht allein weide",
also dass er die Schafe unterweiseJ wie
sie rechte Christen sollen sein, sondern
auch daneben den Woelfen weMen, dass
sie die Schafe nicht angreifen 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. 2~.
If the trumpet give an uncertain sound,
who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1 Oor. 4, 8.
Published for the
Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States
CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo.
i
898 Introduction to Sacred Theology.
biteH 6adje bet lie fonltituietenben &emeinben. jilletben 3. fB. hie i?efjr"
betqanblungen aUf allen ~iftriftsf~nben ag 6timme bet ®elamtl~nobe
etW:h:t unb ttifft bie 6~nobe ag 10Idje motfeqtungen flit bie metiiffenb
ridjung foldjet ?Befenn±nilfe au 6djtift unb ?Befenntnis, fo geUen 10Idje
?BefdjHijfe flit !lie 9 a n a e 6~nobe. ~bet babd bIew! fidj bie6~nobe
bodj in allen ~i:ilIen bettJuf3t, baf3 lie nut teptilfentatib ijanbert.
~. (if. ~te~mann.
Introduction to Sacred Theology.
(Prolegomena.)
The Nature and Constitution of Sacred Theology.
13. The Purpose of Christian Theology.
In the performance of his sacred functions the Ohristian theo-
logian must at all times conscientiously keep in mind the true objective
of his theological activity. The purpose of sacred theology, so far as
it regards lost and perishing mankind, is not the spread of culture nor
the establishment of civic righteousness on earth nor the satisfaction
of the intellectual craving of the human mind nor the enrichment of
human knowledge, but the eternal salvation (OOJ1:fJela, salus aeterna).
of sinners. In other words, the objective of sacred theology is not
academical or speculative, but intensely and absolutely practical
(htibitus practicus) , since it leads perishing souls to Ohrist and
through Him to communion with the true God, here in time inchoa-
tively and hereafter in eternity perfectly. This exalted purpose of
Ohristian theology Holy Scripture expressly states in indisputable
terms, 1 Tim. 4, 16: "Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine ... ;
for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear
thee"; Mark 16, 15. 16: "Preach the Gospel. . .. He that believeth ...
shall be saved." If modern rationalistic theology rejects eternal sal-
vation as the primary and preeminent purpose of sacred theology, it is.
because this obnoxious type of pseudotheology is not Biblical, but
carnal; not the divine theology of Ohrist's Gospel, but the man-made
theology of a social gospel. The Lutheran dogmatician Meisner is
right when he declares: "Whoever does not continually pursue and
keep in mind in his entire study (Theorie) this purpose [the salva-
tion of men] does not deserve the name of a true theologian."
(Lehre und Wehre, 14, 76 ff.)
In accordance with the principle just stated the Lutheran divines
have defined the purpose of sacred theology as follows: "The object
with whom theology deals is man as he has become a sinner, inasmuch
as he must be led to eternal salvation." This definition is truly Scrip-
tural. The object of sacred theology is not man in general, but
homo peccator, or sinful man, for whose salvation God has sent His.
Introduction to Sacred Theology. 899