(ttuurnrbta: ml1tnlugital :!IntttIJly Continuin g LEHRE UNO VVEHRE MAGAZIN FUER EV .• LuTH. HOMILETIK THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY· THEOLOGICAL M ONTHLY Vol. xvn April, 1946 No.4 CONTENTS Page The Formative Years of Doctor Luther. E. G. Schwiebert _____ ___ .. _ 241 The Greatest Missionary Problem. H. Nau _______ .. ____________________ .... _ __ 257 Outlines on the Standard Epistle Lessons ___ .. ____ .. _____ .. ___________________ 267 Miscellanea ______ ____ .. __________ ________ .... ________ .. ____________________________ .. _______________ 280 Theological Observer ______ ______________________ .. ___ .. ___________________________ ______ ____ 297 Book Review _________________ .. ______ ___________ __ ____________ _________ __ ________ __ 315 Ein Prediger muss nicht allein wei- den, also dass er die Schaie unter- weise, wie sie rechte Christen sollen sein. sondern auch daneben den Woe!- fen wehTen, dass sie die Schafe nicht angTelfen and mit falscher Lehre ver- fuehren and Irrtum einfuehren_ Luther Es ist kein Ding. das die Leute mehr bel der Kircbe behaelt denn die gute Predigt. - A pologie, Art. 24 If the trumpet give an uncertain sound. who shall prepare himself to the battle? -1 Cor. 24 :8 Published by the Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis 18, Mo. PDlf'DD EN t/. 8 • • . Book Review All books reviewed in this periodical may be procured from or through Con- cordia Publishing House, 3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis 18, Mo. Paying the Ransom. By Walter E. Hohenstein and Victor A. W. Mennicke. Concordia Publishing House, 1946. 125 pp., 5112 X 7. $1.25. This volume includes two series of Lenten sermons. The first is by Pastor W. E. Hohenstein of Bloomington, Illinois. Its pur- pose is to relate the power of the Atonement to problems in Christian living. It does so by emphasizing not only the power of the Atonement of Christ to provide pardon for sin, but by pointing out its significance for the creating of a new life and the conquest of the flesh. It does this by escaping the pitfall of much ethical preaching, namely, by establishing adequately the connection be- tween Christ's redemption and the doctrine of the regenerate life. The language is vigorous and varied. Pastor Victor Mennicke of Sheboygan offers a series of ser- mons based wholly on the episodes of Christ's suffering in Geth- semane. The author's purpose is to relate these episodes to the Atonement. He does so by means of interesting and concise management of his texts and applications. While he offers occa- sional ethical applications, his chief purpose is the fostering of saving faith in the Atonement. He operates with a more con- ventional use of theological terminology, but without becoming obscure to the average hearer. The two series, accordingly, provide a stimulating and helpful contrast in the purpose and style, and a uniform devotion to the Word of Reconciliation. RICHARD R. CAEMMERER Redeeming Love. By Dr. O. A. Geiseman. Ernst Kaufmann, Inc., Chicago. 126 pages, 51f2 X 8. $1.50. Dr. Geiseman dedicated these thirteen sermons for the Lenten and Easter seasons to "the broken-hearted wives and to the grief-stricken parents of Grace Church whose loved ones have given their lives in service to their country." He treats the fol- lowing themes: "The Fatal Question," "God So Planned It," "Peter Remembered," "Unreasonable Men," "The Most Cruel Cut of All," "We Weep for the Wrong People," "A Lesson from a Dying Man," "New Creatures in Christ," -"What It Means to Be a Christian," "Behold the Lamb of God," "One Mediator," "Death's Sting Re- moved," "A Certain Faith." In simple, telling iEnglish Dr. Geise- man presents the great truths of the Christian religion as these center in Christ and His atoning work as our Savior, and he applies them to the needs of his congregation. The reading of these sermons will serve pastors as preparation for their own Lenten series. J. H. C. FRITZ Rejected of Men. By Prof. Herman Hoeksema. Wm. B. Eerd- mans Publishing Company, 1946. 136 pp., 51f2 X 7. $1.50. The author of these meditations is Professor of Dogmatics and New Testament Exegesis in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The meditations constitute [315] 316 BOOK REVIEW a study of the passive obedience of Christ. They have the form and the language of sermons, and are carefully and adequately planned. They adhere closely to a textual treatment. The texts are drawn from Old and New Testaments. The lessons attached to the discussion emphasize the Vicarious Atonement and at times include also ethical applications. For the most part, the judgments are completely acceptable to a Lutheran preacher. The author takes the position, however, that Messianic prophecies, such as Is. 53 or Ps.69, speak both of Israel or individuals in Israel, in whom Christ was present, and of Christ Himself. He utilizes this principle of interpretation to arrive at some of his applications. This point of view does lead the author to a useful review of the faith of the Old Testament as Christ-centered. A Reformed stress is the assumption that the Penitent Thief was saved through elective sovereign grace. The author considers only one alternative, which he rejects, namely, that the thief came to faith by free will. He does not discuss the possibility that the Impenitent Thief was lost because of his own rejection of the Gospel. A helpful and useful emphasis is that on the flesh in contrast to the spirit of the Christian (p.103 ff.). RICHARD R. CAEMMERER The Amazing Christ. By D. C. Baer. Lutheran Literary Board, Burlington, Iowa. 105 pages, 5¥2 X 7%. $1.00. This new book of Lenten addresses contains ten sermons, the themes of which are: "The Amazing Christ"; "Christ's Loneliness"; "Christ's Uniqueness"; "The Strength and Manliness of Jesus"; "The Friendship of Jesus" ; "Vicarious Suffering and Progress"; "Why Did Christ Die?" "When Satan Enters a Man's Soul"; "Out of the Shadow into the Dawn"; "The Power of His Resur- rection." Sermons are published not to be copied, but to be studied for information and inspiration, and Dr. Baer's sermons always inform and inspire. His addresses possess novelty of ap- proach, depth of thought, practical application, simplicity of diction, dignity of style, and, above all, the proper emphases on the funda- mentals of sin and grace. There are, however, statements that invite criticism, as, for example: "Jesus ever emphasized the sin- fulness of sin, but we do not find Him indulging in the cheapness of making threats or holding before men the terrors of hell" (p.16). In the light of Mark 9:42 ff. this statement can hardly stand. Again: "There must have been some good in Judas, some spark of divinity, or he never would have become a disciple" (p. 82). One wonders just what that means. Or: "Because God is a suffering God, we who are made in His image suffer, too" (p.61). But the vicarious suffering of God's Son is not a parallel of the suffering of God's children. The book therefore must be used with care, though the sermons, on the whole, are helpful, especially since they con- tain much worth-while apologetic material. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER The Spirit of Lent. By Theodore Heimarck. Augsburg Publish- ing House, Minneapolis, Minn. 162 pages, 5ljzx8. $1.50. As the Lenten season comes each year, the busy pastor is very well pleased when he is able to lay his hands on sermonic material or sermons which will enable him to preach Christ and Him Crucified with renewed fervor and meaning to his people. BOOK REVIEW 317 This collection of eleven Lenten sermons offers the minister material which he can use to good effect in his pulpit, although the sermons are more appropriate for Sunday morning services than for the special midweek Lenten services. A glance at the chapter head- ings or themes for the series of sermons indicates the wealth of material that is at the minister's disposal in these sermons. The themes are: "The Judgment of the Lord's Supper"; "On Hinder- ing God"; "The Song in Lent"; "Jesus and Our Scheme of Things"; "The Garden in Lent"; "Free, for What?"; "The Tears in Lent"; "Self-Sacrifice in Lent"; "Lent and Self-Examination"; "Lenten Memories"; "The Lenten Cross in Our Day." The sentence structure, in fact the style in general employed in these sermons, is simple yet direct and captivating. ALEX WM. C. GUEBERT An Outline of Missions. By John Aberly, Professor Emeritus of Dogmatics and Missions at the Gettysburg Lutheran Theo- logical Seminary of the United Lutheran Church. 1945. Muhlenberg Press, Philadelphia. 306 pages, 5% X 8%. $3.00. Doctor Aberly spent many years in India before becoming a faculty member of Gettysburg Seminary. One notices that a man with personal experience in the foreign mission field has written this book, for he senses exactly what ought to be said in a work of this kind. The author says this outline was prepared in response to a call for a book on the subject adapted to students in theological schools. We would say this book will lend itself admirably to almost any group wishing to make a survey study of foreign missions. Therefore it ought to be found in the hands of topic leaders in men's clubs, ladies' auxiliaries, youth groups, Sunday schools, and so on. Weare sure teachers in the upper grades of our day schools and of high schools will find this just what they have been looking for for their mission study classes. It is a survey of world missions. Some contemporaneous Outlines of Missions omit entirely the history-making pioneer mission work of men like Ziegenbalg and Pluetschau and even Frederick Schwartz. This book does not omit them. However, it does entirely omit mention of the work of the Synodical Conference in Nigeria in West Africa and of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia among the natives of Australia. Mary Slessor in Africa is merely mentioned. Missouri Synod fields in Brazil and Argentina are mentioned with two and one-half lines each. In things Chinese Dr. Aberly slips occasionally, as, for instance, p. 115 he has ch'in for ch'ing; on p. 123 he called the puppet emperor of Manchuria (or Manchukuo) Henry Pu instead of Henry Pu-yi; on p. 124 he has "tuchin" for "tuchun." There is the indication of a contradiction between pages 44 and 171: in one place it is a Spanish captain, and in another it is a Portuguese captain. On page 66 mention is made that the Leipzig Mission received support till 1894 from the Synodical Conference, since which time it operates its own missions. Actually some congregations within the Synodical Conference gave support from time to time to the Leipzig Mission, but the Synodical Conference as such did not. And then after 1894 it was not the Synodical Conference, but the Missouri Synod which operated its own mission in India. 318 BOOK REVIEW We like the mature judgment the author passes on many mis- sion problems and also on the situation in India. His ideas on mission methods are sound. The author has the unique ability to weave together the threads of history into a composite pattern which is comprehensible to the average student. An exhaustive index and a very extensive and up-to-date bibliography complete the book. One could have desired section headings to make reading easier and make it more convenient for textbook use, also a map with each chapter. The book lays no claim to being exhaustive, but we think it is in its way a very usable book that should com- mand large sales. E. C. ZIMMERMANN Plain Talks on Practical Truths. By Wendell P. Loveless. Moody Press, 153 Institute Place, Chicago 10, Ill. 144 pages, 5% X 7%. $1.50. This book contains some things that are good and some things that are not good. It is good when the author stresses salva- tion as a gift of God in Christ our Savior without any merit on the part of man; when he takes the right view of the Sabbath and of Sunday; when he tells us that the Bible needs no human inter- preter, but that the Holy Spirit is His own interpreter. The author says: "Much of our difficulty has arisen out of our slavery to mere theological theory and ecclesiastical tradition; and the sooner we return to the simple, clear presentation of truth contained in the Holy Scriptures, the more ready we shall be to believe the Word of God without any mental reservation and to help others believe it" (p. 45) . As not good we mention the author's rather lenient attitude towards false teachers in his chapter "What Do We Mean by 'Separation'?" Furthermore, in his chapter on "Eternal Security" the author denies that a believer can again fall away, while the Savior clearly says, "They on the rock are they which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe and in time of temptation fall away," Luke 8: 13. The Christian, however, should not let the fact that some believers fall away again disturb him concerning the eternal security of his own salvation, for that does not depend upon others nor upon himself, but upon God, who has called him to faith in Christ and has promised to keep him in that faith unto eternal life. JOHN H. C. FRITZ Our Careers as Citizens. By W. M. Richards and Bliss Isely. Beck- ley-Cardy Co., Chicago. 396 pages, 5% X 8%. $1.40. Although this is not a theological book, we nevertheless give it a place in these review columns because it teaches young boys and girls and young people what they ought to know about their citizenship. A Christian ought to be the best citizen; in fact, he is. In order to make the most of his citizenship, the Christian ought to be well informed in reference to the history, the constitution, and the government of his country, and also know what his responsibility of citizenship is. We fear that many citizens lack much such knowledge. While the book has been written for the youth of America, many adults would derive much benefit by reading it. Our teachers can use the book in schools, and our BOOK REVIEW 319 pastors might recommend it to their young people. - An Appendix contains: "The Mayflower Compact, The Constitution of the United States of America, The Declaration of Independence, The American's Creed, The Flag, Political Parties, Candidates, and Presidents, Information About the United States, Our National Parks." JOHN H. C. FRITZ Miracles of Science. By Arthur L. Brown, M. D., F. R. C. S. Ed. Fundamental Truth Publishers, Findlay, Ohio, 1945. 287 pages,7%X5%. This volume contains forty talks delivered by transcription over various radio stations, particularly "in Chicago, where the two stations owned and operated by the Moody Bible Institute have recently carried the program: Miracles of Science." Accord- ing to the author the purpose of these talks is "to impress his hearers with the indisputable, scientific fact of a personal, omnipo- tent Creator-God and to exalt the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ." The appeal is primarily based on intelligence and logic. In general the contents are Biblical, though occasionally marred by millennialism (p. 63) . The talks are based on the wonders of nature, as witnessed in such a variety of subjects as bees, plants, protoplasm, water, atmosphere, animals, and many other sources. An amazing array of facts is involved, giving the reader a deeper understanding of the words of the Psalmist: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are Thy works," and "The heavens declare the glory of God." Dr. Brown appeals from these miracles of science, as he calls them to the reasonableness of the Bible and its claims. He fails to realize fully that the wonders of nature cannot convert man even though they may cause him to stand in awe of God. At times there is a mention of the work of the Spirit, but the appeal is not so much to the means of grace as to the intellect and reason- ableness of faith. A careful use of these talks will suggest many illustrations to the pastor for his confirmation and Bible classes and even for the sermon. The popular and easy manner of the author makes the book delightful reading. Whether all the scientific data set forth can be substantiated must be left to the scientist rather than to the theologian. Some of the sources cited failed to impress one as convincing. ARTHUR C. REPp My Notes for Addresses at Funeral Occasions. By Rev. Wm. P. Van Wyk. Baker's Book Store, Grand Rapids, Mich. 140 pages, 5% X 7%. $1.25. In the preface Rev. Van Wyk gives us the reason for choosing the title of his book. He says, "In a strict sense we do not speak of 'sermons' at funerals. It is for this reason that we have chosen as the title for this book My Notes for Addresses at FuneraL Occa- sions. Strictly speaking, funerals are not ecclesiastical, but family affairs." On the basis of thirty-six choice Bible passages from the Old and the New Testament, filled with comfort for wounded souls, the Rev. Van Wyk offers outlines, more or less extended,in which he brings to the bereaved that comfort which only God's Word can offer when loved ones have been taken out of time into 320 BOOK REVIEW eternity. Any pastor in perusing these outlines will find many nuggets of thought which he can use to a very good purpose when he must comfort his parishioners who have seen the grim Angel of Death snatch one of their loved ones from their side. ALEX WM. C. GUEBERT A Garland of Gladness. Devotional Studies in the Beatitudes. By Alexander Maclaren. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. 132 pages, 51/4 X 8. $1.50. Alexander Maclaren is listed on the roster of great preachers. Daily he read his Hebrew Old Testament and his Greek New Testament. He was an expository preacher, giving much attention to the exegesis of the sermon text. His sermons, therefore, do not abound in mere platitudes, but in the depth of Scriptural thought. He was a master of using illustration. His pulpit utterances con- tained many well-said and striking statements. His sermons were very well prepared. He used no manuscript in the pulpit. He is quoted as saying, "1 have always found that my own comfort and efficiency have been in direct proportion to the frequency and depth of daily communion with God. The secret of success in everything is trust in God and hard work." Preachers will do well to study his sermons. Of the present volume of sermons on the Beatitudes, Stuart P. Garver says in the preface, "The sermons included in this present volume are essentially as they appeared from the pen of the scholarly and deeply spiritual Dr. Alexander Maclaren. Antiquated words and involved sentences were edited, with the modern reader's tastes in mind. The chapter headings, also, as well as the outlined arrangement of each sermon were added for the advantage of Bible teachers and preachers." BOOKS RECEIVED From Concordia Publishing House: JOliN H. C. FRITZ His Cross and Mine. Daily Devotions, February 23 to April 21, 1946. Durch Kreuz zur Krone. Andachten fuel' die Zeit vom 23. Februar bis zum 21. April 1946. 5 cents each; 48 cents a dozen; $3.00 a hundred. From Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Seven Simple Sermons on the Second Coming. By Wm. Her- schel Ford, D. D. 104 pages, 5lj2 X 8. $1.25. The Hour of Power. By John E. Huss. 98 pages, 5% X 8. $1.25. From Wm. B. Eerdrnans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.: His Decease at Jerusalem. By Abraham Kuyper, D. D. 103 pages, 5% X 8. $1.00. TO OUR SUBSCRmERS Because the paper situation is still critical, it remains necessary to dis- contiuue subscriptions to all of our periodicals with the last number paid for under the subscription agreement. Therefore renew your subscription promptly. Send all remittances to Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis 18, Mo.