<1tnurnrbiu
(1Jqtnlngiral itnut111y
Continning
LEHRE UND VVEHRE
MAGAZIN FUER Ev.-LuTH. HOMILETIK
THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY-THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY
Vol. VI April, 1935 No.4
CONTENTS
Page
Notes on Chiliasm. Th. Engelder •••••••••••••..••••••••• 241
1st die Variata synergistisch und majoristisch ~
F. E. Mayer .••••••••••••• 254
The Old Testament at Gettysburg. w. A. Maier. • • • • . • • • •• 267
Anklaenge an Schriftlehren in griechischen und latei-
nischen Klassikern. P. E. Kretzmann • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 276
Der Schriftgrund fuer die Lehre von der satisfactio vicaria.
P. E. Kretzmann • • • • • • • • •• 283
Entwuerfe zu Passionspredigten ...................... 286
Dispositionen ueber die altkirchliche Evangelienreihe. . . .. 289
Miscellanea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 303
Theological" Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches. . . .. 305
Book Review. - Literatur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 311
Em Prediger muss nicht allem weideR.,
also dasa er die Schafe unterwelse, wle
aie rechte Christen sollen sein, sondern
auch daneben den Woelfen tDe~r"", dass
sie die Schafe nlcht angreifen und mit
falscher Lehre verfuehren und Irrtum ein·
tuehren. - LutMr.
E> ist kem Ding, das die Leute mehr
bei der Kirche behaelt denn die gute
Predlgt. - Apologi8, Arl.!f.
It the trumpet give an uncertain sound,
who shall prepare himself to the hattIe?
10or. 1J,8.
Published for the
Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States
CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis, Mo.
Theological Observer. - .reircl)Hcl)=3eitgefcl)id)tncl)e!l. 300
Theological Observer. - stitdjndj:=Beitgefdjidjtndje~.
I. .2lmtrik4.
lllul.l bet ei1)uubc. lllul.l ben letten ~ununetn ber berfdjiebenen ~iftriftl.l~
briitter ift erfidjtridj, ban baB lmerl beB Sj€irtn im bergangenen Z\aqre mit
griinerem '€iifer unb €irfoIg lietrielien ltJorben ift. ~aB geqt nidjt nur qer~
bor aW ber ~atfadje, ban man iilierafI mit afIem €itnft neue Wliffionen
etiiffnet, fonbetn audj barauB, ban dne ganae ~naaljl ber ~iftrifte iqten
~eiI bet @eIber filr baB lmerl bet @5~nobe aufgelitadjt qalien. '€iinige, ltJie
bet [olotabo~~iftrift, ber Offaqoma-~if±tift unb bet WlitHete ~iftrift,
ljalien fogar Me iljnen augeltJiefene @5unune iilietfdjritten, ;0 ban bet ~affietet
bet @5~nobe ltJenigftenB einen ~eiI bet @5~nobur;djurb ali±tagen fonnte. lmenn
bet Sj€in bet mtdje ltJeiter ~aft unb Wlut gilit, ltJitb hie ~rlieit bet mrdje
iljten tuljigen ~orlgang neljmen, ia oljne 8ltJeifeI ltJadjfen unb gebeiljen. ~
SDie 8alil ber @emeinben, audj qier im mittleren lmef±en, hie iljt filnfunb~
fieliaigiiiljrigeB Z\uliHiium feietn, meqrl ;idj. ~ie @emeinbe au !llljineIanb,
Ontario, lonnte fogar fdjon baB Z\uliiIiium iljreB adjtaigiiiljtigen Q:\efteljeuB
feietn. met audj auB anbetn ~if±tiften fommen ~adjridj±en bon betarligen
~eftfeietn. SDie Q3ilbet unb bie @emeinbegefdjidjien, hie fidj in ben bet-
fdjiebenen SDif±tiftBliliittetn finben, fiub bon gtOnem lmerl, nidjt nut filt
hie jetige @enetation, ;onbetn audj fiit fiinftige 8eiten. lmenn Wlatetial
biefet ~rl, baB gefdjidj±Iidjen lmett qat, audj an buB ~tdjib unfetet ljifto~
tifdjen @efefI;djaft gefanbt ltJitb, fo ltJtt/) eB fUt ben mtdjengefdjidjtfdjreiliet
bon gtonem lmerl fein. - ;tJaj3 bie Q:\tiibet in @5iibametlfa in aieIfJeltJunter,
aggreffibet lmeife arlieiten, geljt auB jebet ~ummet bet lieiben borl qetauB-
gege'6enen fitdjIidjen 8eitfdjtiften qetbot. SDa finbe± fidj nidjt nut inter~
effante firdjIidje 8eitgefdjidjie, fonbetn audj teidjIidj Wlaterial an .l3eqre unb
lmeqte. ;tJaB ,,€ib.-.I3utq. ~itdjenliratt filt @5iibametifa" etfdjeint feit bem
1. Z\anuar hiefeB ;s:aqteB mit einem neuen~itelliratt in mobetnem ~ett"
brud. - SDie ~rembfPtadjige Wliffion inmitten beB ~trantifdjen ;tJif±tiftB
aeigt fdjiine ~orlfdjtitte uniet ben @5IoltJafen, ben .l3e±ten, ben .l3i±tauetn, ben
Z\taIienetn unb ben Z\uben, ltJoau nodj bie ~tlieit bet Z\nneren Wliffion ( im
eigentridjen @5inne beB lmorlB) in ber @tonf±aM ~eltJ Vorl fommt. SDiefeB
ganae lmetf ltJitb bon bet @5~nobe untetftii1;}t unb fofte! etltJa $14,000
jiiljtIidj. ~. €i. ~.
The National Lutheran Council Holds Its Election and Issues
Pronouncements on War and Movies. - When the National Lutheran
Council met in New York City January 17 and 18, it was found that of its
twenty-two commissioners nineteen were in attendance. A report says:
"The former officers were reelected: President, C. C. Hein, D. D., Colum-
bus,O.; Vice-President, N. C. Carlsen, D. D., Blair, Nebr.; Secretary, M. R_
Hamsher, D. D., Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Treasurer, the Hon. E. F. Eilert, New
York City. The latter officer enjoys the honor of having served con-
tinuously since the organization of the council in 1918. Those who will
serve as the additional members of the executive committee are the Rev.
Drs. J. A. Aasgard, T. O. Burntvedt, G. A. Brandelle, E. B. Burgess, and
E. H. Rausch." We submit here, in the first place, the resolutions pertain-
ing to war that were adopted: -
20
806 Theological Observer. - ~itd)lid)".8eit\1ef d)id)tlid)es.
"1. The Lutheran Church is against everything that breeds war. War
is the logical consequence of selfishness and greed and must be stopped at
its source. Resolutions and agitation against war are futile so long as
we want to be the beneficiaries of that which causes war. What a man
sows, that shall he reap, is not simply a discovery of science. It is a dec-
laration of eternal truth by God Himself.
"II. Lasting peace is only possible if it is a peace with purpose. With-
out purpose it only furnishes added opportunity for that which causes war.
The glory of God and the good of man are the prerequisites for enduring
peace on earth.
"III. The National Lutheran Council calls upon the nation to rededi-
cate itself to the elimination of the causes of war within the nation and
among the nations of the world and the establishment of these high pur-
poses of enduring peace. Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,
saith the Lord.
"The National Lutheran Council calls upon its constituency to work
and pray for this consummation.
"IV. Our Government is the guardian of the rights and liberties of
its citizens and as such must take the steps to protect these rights and
liberties which sound judgment and high purpose dictate. No steps should
be taken which lead to war or preparation for war which are the result
of selfishness or greed and the desire for profit on the part of the nation
or groups or individuals or which come from propaganda founded on false-
hoods and undue emphasis of partial truths. The Government in the
exercise of its duties and responsibilities must seek to avoid requiring of
its citizens violation of conscientious scruples. Individual citizens and
groups must not hamper or handicap the Government in the enforcement
and maintenance of that which is essential to the life and existence of
the nation."
Needless to say, we are in entire sympathy with the objectives of this
declaration. But a resolution which appears not entirely proper is No. III.
These Lutheran commissioners are indeed within their rights when they
say: "The National Lutheran Council calls upon its constituency to work
and pray for this consummation"; but when the Council "calls upon the
nation to rededicate itself to the elimination of the causes of war," con-
cluding this exhortation with a Scripture-passage, one feels that it lays
itself open to the charge of endeavoring to influence people by the Word
without having laid the foundation through the preaching of repentance
and faith. The Reformed have always been committing this mistake, and
Lutherans should avoid it.
Quite commendable and certain of receiving the endorsement of all
people for whom the Ten Commandments are still in force are the resolu-
tions of the National Lutheran Council on the moving-picture menace.
On account of their timeliness we reprint them here in full: -
"During the past year a great campaign for cleaner motion-pictures
has been waged. Voices of protest were raised in many quarters against
what was held to be the corrupting influences of many of the pictures.
A wave of moral indignation swept over the land. The outraged moral
:sense of Christian people expressed itself in no uncertain terms.
Theological Observer. - Rird)lid)<,8eUgefd)id}t1id)es. 307
"Motion-pictures might be at all times, and often are, legitimate enter-
tainment as well as an important educational factor. Their influence can
be wholesome and salutary. They have great potential value for society.
But at the present time many pictures stand charged with serious offenses
against decency and morality.
"The public has a right to demand that those who are the players in
the pictures shall live lives that conform to the decent standards of society.
But at ,the present time it seems that the producers seek to capitalize on
the scandals in the lives of their so-called stars.
"Newspapers and other publications bear a part of the blame for the
corruption of morals which is going on through degrading pictures. Often
favorable reviews are given of unwholesome pictures, and advertising
columns are filled with highly suggestive copy. Bill-boards in theater en-
trances contain similar advertising material which is an offense to morality.
"The tremendous responsibility of producers and all who have any-
thing to do with the presentation of degrading motion·pictures becomes
evident when we consider that approximately twenty-eight million minors
visit the movies every week. Of these, eleven million are below thirteen
years of age. What a betrayal of trust to present before these vulgarity,
brutality, underworld scenes and practises, nudity, illicit love, and a false
and distorted view of life! 'Whoso shall offend one of these little ones
which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged
about his neck and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea.'
"We deplore the sad state of affairs which a study of moving pictures
reveals and the flagrant breach of trust on the part of those who are re-
sponsible. We rejoice in the emphatic, though long overdue, protest against
these conditions which has been made in recent months. We cherish the
hope that this is not a burst of indignation which soon will spend its
force, but that it marks the beginning of a long-time effort and continued
vigilance. Believing that the aroused Christian sentiment of the nation
will prove itself a force which no group can defy or ignore indefinitely,
we pledge our full support to the movement for the renovation of the
movies.
"We appeal to our Lutheran people to withhold their patronage from
all motion-pictures which have a degrading influence and are a menace to
home, church, and country.
"We call upon them to make their influence felt in creating a public
opinion which will demand the suppression of that which corrupts and
distorts life.
"vVe hold that as citizens they must bring pressure to bear to secure
legislation which will deal with the evil at its source, that is, where the
pictures are made.
"We condemn as an unmitigated evil the present system of enforced
block-booking and blind-buying.
"In the final analysis the Gospel is the only real remedy for every
social evil. When men have in their hearts the love of God, who loved us
first, they experience the expulsive power of this new affection. "With this
holy love in their souls, they will neither participate in making, or have
the desire to witness, soul-destroying pictures. Therefore the first duty of
308 Theological Observer. - Rirdjlidj'3eitgefdjtc9Hidjeg.
the Church also in this situation is to 'preach the Word; be instant in
season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering
and doctrine,' 2 Tim. 4, 2."
From the report in the N. L. C. News Bulletin we take over a few
more interesting items': "Rela,tions with the Lutheran World Convention
were studied and clarified. Time and prayerful attention were given to
the present pitiful plight of the German missionary societies' various sta-
tions in Ohina, India" and Africa caused by the economic crises .in Ger-
many. [The cause of the difficulties appear to be the policy of Germany
not to permit money to go abroad. It seems that this policy is so com-
prehensive tha,t even sums given for chaJ"itahle and religious purposes are,
as a rule, not allowed to leave the country. One report says that in
November only about $3,500 was sent the German mission-stations from
Germany itself. - A.J Attention was called to the fact that the new
Webster International Dictionary, despite the efforts of Dr. George Linn
Kieffer to make it possible to give a reliable and accurate statement under
the word Lutheran, still contains a statement utterly misleading. The
council's secretaJ"y will address a protest to the editor, and our Lutheran
editors will be asked to can the attention of our people to the matter."
A.
Committee of the U. L. C. for Negotiations with Other Lutheran
Bodies. - From the Lutheran we learn that, in keeping with the resolu-
tion passed by the Savannah convention of the U. L. 0., a committee which
is to carryon negotiations with other Lutheran general bodies in order to
establish unity has been appointed. It consists of thc following members:
Dr. F. H. Knubel, President of the U. L. C.; Dr. H. H. Bagger, President of
the Pittsburgh Synod; Dr. C. M. Jacobs, President of the theological semi-
nary in Philadelphia; Dr. John F. Krueger, Professor at Hamma Divinity
School, Springfield, 0.; Mr. E. F. Eilert, a publisheJ", for many years mem-
ber of the U. L. C. Board of Publication; Mr. E. Clarence Miller, Treasurer
of the U. L. 0.; My. J. K. Jensen of Wisconsin, Treasurer of the Synod of
the Northwest; and Mr. Edward Rinderknecht of Toledo, O. The Lutheran
is right when it says, "The work assigned these Oommissioners on Lutheran
Church Relationships is of supreme importance." A.
Discussion about the Effectiveness of Sunday-Schools. - In the
Oh"istian Oentu1'Y an article appeared which advocates the discontinuance
of the present Sunday-school system and urges that parents be held respon-
sible for the religious training of their children. The arlicle provoked
a great deal of discussion, and the Christian Century of February 13 prints
a number of letters which relate to this issue. Some correspondents dis-
agree with the arlicle in question. Others, however, are quite emphatic
in endorsing it. There is one letter parts of which we feel we ought to
quote because it is to be feared that the situation it depicts is more gen-
eral than one would like to believe. Writing from a city in the Middle
West, this correspondent says: "I have been for a number of yeaJ"s inter-
ested in the work of the Sunday-school. However, of late years, and es-
pecially the last few months, I have felt that this work in practically all
its phases has been clearly a case of love's labor lost. I might cite as an
instance of this what I have observed as the result of teaching a class of
girls this fall and winter. These girls are about twelve years of age, have
309
been regular in their attendance at Sunday-school for years, and come
from the best families in thc city. Their attitude during the worship
service is that of indifference or forced attention, and during the class
period they are rude, bossy, and impertinent among themselves and to their
teacher. In quizzing them one Sunday about the life of Christ, I dis-
covered that they did not know even the main facts of His life. They
thought He was born in Jerusalem. They knew nothing of the story of the
flight to Egypt. His visit to the Temple at the age of twelve was very
hazy. One girl volunteered that He was baptized by John the Baptist, but
where and under what conditions they did not know; nor did they know
who John the Baptist was. They ridiculed the miraculous power that
the Bible has attributed to Christ, and they showed throughout the lesson
that they were unconcerned about His life and His teaching and even out
of sympathy with His acts. They were scornful because He was so 'dumb'
as to let Himself be crucified, when it would have been so easy for Him
to have saved His life and escaped from the hands of His enemies. In re-
gard to character development I cannot see that our Sunday-school has
made much progress. In discussing the moral question involved in regard
to cheating in their school-work, they were emphatic in their belief that
it was all right 'if you could get away with it.' When I suggested that they
substitute money in place of knowledge, they expressed the opinion that
it would be wrong to take the money because 'money was of more value
than knowledge.' In referring to one's conscience, one pupil, in a very
boastful way, said that she had no conscience and laughed at one of the
other pupils when she admitted that she thought she had. At one of the
sessions, in a talk about prayer, they brushed the topic aside. Most of
thcm volunteered that they mwer said any prayers. One girl admitted
that she did, but it was because her grandmother made her."
While we must all remember that it would be wrong for us to think
that all Sunday-schools may find their description in this gloomy letter,
we should not close our eyes to the fact that many serious-minded fellow-
citizens outside of our own communion realize the inadequacy of the re-
ligious training given by the average Sunday-school. A.
Father Divine is a New York Negro who speaks, brokenly, the jargon
of theosophy and promises his followers, his worshipers, all material and
spiritual wealth and numbers among his adherents, as Rev. W. Behrends
of Long Beach, Cal., states, not only Negroes, hut also whites. This body
should be listed, perhaps, on page 475 of Popular Symbolios as True Idea
Association. That seems to be its official name. Its organ, the Light, says
(September 14, 1934): "The message in this issue will be read by nearly
a hundred thousand happy and enthusiastic followers of Father Divine,
representing every State in the Union and about twenty foreign countries."
The message states: "For this cause I materialized myself as a Person,
that I might materialize everything else that is good for the people ....
I have everything they seek, everything they desire, and everything they
need. I have it. That is what is stirring up the Nation, because I have the
Keys of all the hidden treasures of the Earth as well as the hidden trea-
sures of Heaven. The heaven and earth are one, in My Consideration, and
under my Jurisdiction." Other messages: "Father Divine is God in Bodily
Form. . .. God is, with or without a person: hence it is a principle and
310 Theological Observer. - .Rit4JI~"3titl1ef4J~tli~~.
not a Person I am advocating. Yet the Principle has been personized ....
Every (Labor) Union in the U. S. of A. must deal justly among the people,
or else I will striloe on them .... Now, why is it you all Love Me so? It
is not because I am any personal relative of yours; it is because you are
Spirit of My Spirit and Mind of My Mind. It is because I am of no race,
neither creed nor color." Out in Long Branch, Cal., the Caucasian element
predominates in the Father Divine constituency. Well, why not? Cali-
fornia is the looale of Catherine Tingley's society and related cults. Nor
must the Americans of the East look down on California. Krishnamurti
had quite a following for a time in the East. E.
II. ,2(u511lUb.
~eue, weriuDlle lBilielfunbe. <§in )!Bedjfellilatt fdjreilit: ,,!Sor me~reren
~onaten fauj'te bet )!Biener \lSrofeffor unb 2eHer be~ beutfdjen ardjiiologi~
fdjen ,;snftitut§j, \lSrofeffor ~unfer, bon iigIJptifdjen SJiinblern ~apIJrWfrag~
mente, bie fidj liei nii~eret \lSriifung ag iiuf)erft wettbolle artdjtiftIidje lBiliel~
te~te ~er~ftellien. WUf 190 lBliittern finben fidj Wlifdjnitte au~ bem
~att~~ebangelium unb ben \lSaulu~liriefen. ~iefe ~ofumente follen au~
bem aweiten ,;sa~r~unbett ftammen unb ge~iken bamit au ben iiIteften li~~
~er liefannten lBilie~anbfdjtij'ten." )!Bir ~offen, baB un§j balb weitere Wu~~
mnft iilier Diefe SJanbfdjtiften erreidj±. W.
,,~ie ~emllen !!lio GJrlmbe nD sur~. ,;sm l~ten ,;sa~re routben bie
,;sefuiten !Roque GJonaalea, lmfo~ !Robtigue~ uub ,;so~anne~