(!!nurndia m4rnlngirul mnutlJly Continuing LEHRE UND VVEHRE MAGAZIN FUER Ev.-LuTH. HOMILETIK THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY-THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY Vol. XVIII January, 1947 No.1 CONTENTS Foreword. W. Arndt __ .. _. _. _____ ... ... _______ __ .. _____ .. _._ . __ . .. _ .. __ .. ___ .__ .___ . __ _ The Minister and His Greek New Testament. Eric C. Malte Outlines on the Nitzsch Gospel Selections __ ._. ___ .. _. ____ . ______ _ Miscellanea _. _______ _ Theological Observer _. __ .. __ . _____ ._ .. ___ . ____ ... _. Book Review __ Page 1 8 24 39 48 76 Ein P rediger muss n ieht allein wei- den, also dass er die Schafe unter- w eise. w ie sie r echte Ch risten sollen sein. 50ndern auch daneben den Woel- fen wehren, dass sie die Schafe n icht angreifen und mit falscher Lchre ver- fuehren und Irrtum einfuehren. Es ist kein Ding. dr.s die Leute mehr bei der Kircpe behl,lelt denn die gute Predigt. - Apolog;e, Art. 24 Luther If the trumpet give an uncertain sound. who shall prepare himself to the battle? -1 Cor. 14:8 Published by the Ev. Lllth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis 18, Mo. PRINTED ,tN tt. S. A. Book Review All books reviewed in this periodical may be procured from or through Con- cordia Publisbing House, 3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis 18, Mo. Melanchthon: Alien or Ally? By Franz Hildebrandt. Cambridge University Press, London (Macmillan, New York). 98 pages, 8% X 5lJz. $2.50. This is an exceptional book with an unusual appeal to every student of the history of the Lutheran Reformation. It is written learnedly by a German theologian now lecturing in Cambridge, England, whose style is ponderous and whose love for Latin, which he quotes profusely (together with Greek), is manifest. Its im- portance lies in the fact that it treats the baffiing problem of Melanchthon's relation to Luther and vice versa. The riddle of Melanchthon's relation to Luther, which was both friendly and inimical, Dr. Hildebrandt finds in the disharmony between his con- fessions and concessions. For his fine confession of the divine truth Luther highly esteemed his colleague; for his disturbing, hurtful concessions to the opposite of divine truth Luther feared and mis- trusted him, and much more, of course, the Gnesio-Lutherans, after Luther's death. While the author suggests this solution of the problem, he does not expatiate upon it, but supplying the material, which enables the reader to judge for himself, he leaves the final verdict with the student of his monograph, for whom he quotes lavishly from both Melanchthon's and Luther's works. The writer finds in Melanchthon concessions to tradition, to reason, to Law, to power (state interests), and to opposition (adiaphora, diaphora). While Luther by no means escapes criticism, yet the weaknesses which later appeared in the Lutheran Church, such as tradi- tionalism, legalism, scholasticism, and the like, are traced to Melanchthon and not to the great Reformer, whom Melanchthon loved and disliked at the same time. Though the numerous cita- tions which the book offers do not solve the problem altogether, for there remains a psychological aspect rooted in Melanchthon's peculiar personality, this valuable study belongs into every college and seminary library, especially because of its important source material in a field that deserves far greater consideration than it has received in the past. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER A Book of Protestant Saints. By Ernest Gordon. Published by Moody Press, Chicago. 376 pages, 7%x5%. $2.50. This book contains fifty-eight very short biographies, giving merely some of the highlights of the men presented. These biog- raphies make good reading for the preacher in his leisure moments; first of all for his own edification, and then to supply him with illustrative material for his sermons. The compiler has given us biographies of such men as Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, Dr. William A. Pass avant, Commander Booth-Tucker, Rappard of St. Chrischona, and Johann Christoph Blumhardt, and of a host of others not so well known. The faith displayed by these men is heartening, indeed. J. H. C. FRITZ [76] BOOK REVIEW 77 Edifying Discourses. By Soeren Kierkegaard. Vol. IV. Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, Minn. 146 pages, 6 X 8%. $1.50. This is the last volume in a series of four offering to the American reading public Kierkegaard's Eighteen Edifying Dis- courses. The work of translating the Danish philosopher, begun by the late D. F. Swenson, one of the greatest Kierkegaard scholars in this country, has been completed by Lillian M. Swenson on the basis of preliminary work done by Professor Swenson. Kierke- gaard, though not an ordained pastor, wrote his Edifying Dis- courses to bring home to the people of his time the great need of repentance, of seeking and knowing God, and of living a God- devoted life. The volume contains four "discourses," entitled: "Man's Need of God Constitutes His Highest Perfection"; "The Thorn in the Flesh"; "Against Cowardice"; and "The Righteous Man Strives in Prayer with God and Conquers in that God Con- quers." The very titles show that Kierkegaard's theology is not that of Luther and the Lutheran Confession. He knows of no distinction between Law and Gospel, but continually intermingles them and thus ends in a rather morbid and repugnant emphasis on work-righteousness. Fundamentally the "discourses" are not Scriptural, but philosophical. However, since Kierkegaard has today attained to a certain popularity, it is well that the Augsburg Publishing House offers this excellent translation of the "dis- courses" (as also other volumes on Kierkegaard) to those interested in the subject. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER Heirs of the Prophets. An Account of the Clergy and Priests of Islam, the Personnel of the Mosque, and "Holy Men." By Samuel M. Zwemer. Published by The Moody Bible In- stitute, Chicago. 137 pages, 7% X 5%. $2.00. Dr. Zwemer, who spent twenty-two years in Arabia and six- teen years in Egypt, in this book writes of the religion of almost 300,000,000 Moslems. The following chapter heads give information in reference to the contents of the book: Pre-Islamic Priesthood in Arabia, Priesthood of Mohammed and the Early Caliphs, The Mosque and Pulpit, The Personnel of the Mosque, The Sheikh- AI-Islam and Mufti, The Oldest Theological Seminary, Religious Funds and Endowments, Sacrifice and Blood Covenants, Mysticism and the Darwish Orders, Sharrrs and Seyyids, The Mahdis and New Messiahs, The Power and Influence of the Clergy Today, Converts from the Clergy. At the close of the book Dr. Zwemer says: "This book was not primarily intended as a missionary study. But it is addressed to missionaries as well as to the gen- eral reader for obvious reasons, and we may say as Dr. James Thayer Addison did in his recent historical study of The Chris- tian Approach to the Moslem: 'This book is written to help us approach with more realism, more intelligence, and more en- thusiasm one of the great tasks which God has set before His Church for the generation to come - the conversion of the Mos- lem World.''' (P.136.) The title of the book is explained in a quotation from Hurgronje's Mohammedanism: "The spiritual authority in Catholic Islam reposes in the legists, who in this re- spect are called in a tradition, 'the heirs of the prophets,'" (P.122.) J. H. C. FRITZ 78 BOOK REVIEW The Corinthian Letters of Paul. Expositions of First and Second Corinthians. By G. Campbell Morgan. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. 275 pages, 8¥2X6. $3.00. There is no doubt that many will cordially welcome this expo- sition of First and Second Corinthians by the late Dr. Morgan, well known in wide circles as a Greek scholar, Biblical expositior, and Bible teacher. His method of interpreting Scripture was unique. Using a clear and simple style, understood even by the humblest of his hearers and readers, he analyzes each Bible book which he treats with punctilious care, emphasizing the salient teachings of every division. His commentary thus makes easy and delightful reading, for his interpretations do not represent so many dis- connected thoughts, but well synthesized teachings that are readily grasped and applied to the Christian's own life. We may speak of them as expository sermons in the best sense of the expression. The reader, of course, must study the book with considerable care, for often the author is not a safe guide. Frequently, for instance, he so applies the etymological meaning of a Greek word as to go far beyond the usus loquendi (d. aUf,LcpEQELV, p. 92). Again, Re- formed prejudice at times does not permit him to accept a word in the real meaning which the Apostle had in mind when employing it (d. "Ye are washed," 1 Cor. 6:11; p. 89 f.). He, moreover, repre- sents the Apostle as forbidding women to speak in church assemblies (d. 1 Cor. 14: 34 ff.), because "there were women in Corinth given to careless and contentious talk, and that is what Paul was pro- hibiting" (p. 181), an exposition which disagrees with the context as well as with 1 Tim. 2: 11-12. The passages treating of the Lord's Supper (chaps. 10 and 11) are expounded from the Reformed point of view, and their interpretation is very unsatisfactory. Despite these faults, however, the commentary is so stimulating and helpful that we heartily recommend it to our brethren in the ministry for discriminate and diligent study. Unfortunately, the exposition of Second Corinthians is rather meager and does not at all do justice to the wealth of pastoral wisdom stored up in that excellent epistle. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER Modernism. The Federal Council of Churches in the Light of Bible Prophecy. By Dan Gilbert, LL. D. Zondervan Pub- lishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich. Brochure, 41 pages. 35 cents. Dan Gilbert, who is well known for his frank and revealing exposure of modern unbelief, shows in this brochure the utter ' destructiveness of Modernism. As a millennialist, however, he identifies Modernism, as represented in the Federal Council, with the "great apostasy" which is to precede the rapture of the Church and the emergence of the Antichrist, much to the detriment of the booklet since his interpretation of "Bible Prophecy" is mani- festly faulty. Nevertheless, in its outspoken witness against modern religious liberalism the brochure offers much to the reader that is helpful. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER Proceedings of the Twenty-Seventh Convention of the Texas District. Concordia Publishing House. 102 pages. 22 cents. These proceedings contain an essay on "The Authority in the Church, with Special Reference to the Call." Those who heard Dr. Studtmann extended a vote of thanks for his "scholarly, timely, BOOK REVIEW 79 and instructive essay." Among the resolutions passed we find the following: "Resolved, That the Texas District encourage the Prae- sidium to create a Department of Public Relations to protect our Church from unfavorable publicity, to answer unfavorable pub- licity, and to place and keep our Church before the American public" (p. 94). J. H. C. FRITZ Radio, the New Missionary. By Clarence W. Jones. Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois. 147 pages, 5% X 7%. $1.25. The author is co-director of Station HCJB, "the Voice of the Andes," and his book is the story of his station. The story is interestingly written and well illustrated. The author endeavors to suggest applications of his experience to mission work in America and abroad. He has an interesting collection of para- graphs concerning the future of sound and radio in the service of the Gospel. He is well aware of the centrality of the Atone- ment in the Gospel message and makes much of the speaker's own faith and power for his task. RICHARD CAEMMERER - Great Interviews of Jesus. By Clarence Macartney. Abingdon- Cokesbury Press. New York and Nashville, 1944. 190 pages, 7% X 5%. $1.50. If I Were Young. By Clovis G. Chappell. Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, New York and Nashville, 1945. 217 pages, 7%X5¥4. $1.50. Decision and Destiny. By George Arthur Clarke. Fleming H. Revell Company, New York and London, 1943. 143 pages, 7% X 5%. $1.50. While these volumes have been on the market for several years, they will be interesting for their variety of approach to the pastor's constant problem: How shall I treat old themes in new ways? Dr. Macartney's volume presents studies of fifteen conversations of Jesus with individuals. He proceeds from the assumption "The things which we remember best in Jesus' teachings were spoken in these personal interviews with men and women." The titles are somewhat whimsical, but the discussions themselves are very close to the thought and implications of the Scriptural accounts. Dr. Ma- cartney is not concerned with the problem of the hearer who is poorly equipped to listen to Scripture teaching. He writes these descriptions for Christian churchgoers who are in need of a new approach to well-known themes. His style is accurate and not too wordy. Frequently the conclusions reach a fine emotional level. While not the newest of Dr. Chappell's sermons, this volume is interesting for its attempt to preach specifically to young people. The texts are normally short and usually quite appropriate. Dr. Chappell tries to work closely with the Scriptural background of his subject, but allows himself to wander broadly through the associations of his theme. The descriptions concern traits of character and fundamental attitudes. The Atonement is fre- quently involved only by inference. Dr. Clarke builds his sermons around indiVidual Bible char- acters, each one of whom he makes the illustration for a decision. He attaches his paragraphs and sections frequently to rather abstract 80 BOOK REVIEW or sententious ideas, and sometimes wanders far afield from the central goals of Christian preaching. Thus the discussion of Daniel is defective in this respect. Other descriptions come closer to an explicit statement of the Atonement. Some of the frequent poetic excerpts are of little value. RICHARD R. CAEMMERER Report on Veterans' Organizations. By the Bureau of Information on Secret Orders which has been created by the Ev. Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. Concordia Pub- lishing House, St. Louis, Mo. 22 pages. Six cents. This report on veterans' organizations, which the Bureau of Information on Secret Orders (Prof. Theo. Graebner, Rev. O. F. Engelbrecht, Prof. Paul M. Bretscher) compiled about a year ago, is now available to all our pastors. The Bureau presents its findings on the following organizations: The United Spanish War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Disabled Ameri- can Veterans of the World War, American Veterans of World War II, and auxiliary organizations. Pastors will find this pamphlet helpful especially at the present time when our veterans are being approached to join one or more of these organizations and are coming to their pastors for counsel and help. PAUL M. BRETSCHER Evangelism in Sermon and Song. By E. O. Sellers. Published by Moody Press, 153 Institute Place, Chicago, Ill. 95 pages, 7%x5¥4. $1.25. This little book gives brief sketches of evangelists - Moody, Torrey, Chapman, Whittle, Fred B. Smith, and Sunday - and of singers - Sankey, Alexander, Towner, Gabriel, and Stebbins. The book makes worth-while, stimulating reading, including chapter I, "Historical Background," and the last chapter, "Conclusions and Convictions." In his last chapter Mr. Sellers says: "Today, a gen- eration later, we are convinced that America is suffering the ill effects of false theology, passivism, doubt as to the birth and work of Jesus, the necessity of the blood atonement, of a coming judg- ment, and an eternal punishment for sin, that has been so widely flaunted since the beginning of this century. Too many seem to have lost an unqualified conviction that men without Christ are eternally lost. They do not have an intense yearning for the salvation of others along with a burning compassionate zeal to win them in the cities, on the highways, wherever men are found, such as was so prominent in the lives of the men we have con- sidered. Thus the fires burn low." (P. 92.) J. H. C. FRITZ BOOKS RECEIVED From the Warner Press, Anderson, Ind.: The Wondrous Cross. By Earl L. Martin, M. A., D. D. 173 pages, 5% X 8%. $2.00. From Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Whirlwinds of God. Messages by Robert G. Lee. 122 pages, 5% X 7%. $1.50. From Light and Life Press, Winona Lake, Ind.: Arnold's Practical Commentary. By B. L. Olmstead. 236 pages. 6¥4 X 9. $1.25.