Full Text for CTM Book Review 10-11 (Text)

arnurnr~ttt mqrnlngital :tInut41y ContinDiDa LEHRE UNO ~EHRE MAGAZIN PUER Ev.-LuTH. HOMILBTlK THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY-THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY Vol. X November, 1939 No. 11 CONTENTS Page The Roman Doctrine of the Lord's Supper. F. E. Mayer __________ 801 Kleine Prophetenstudien. L. Fuerbringer ____________________ 816 The False Arguments for the Modem Theory of Open Questions Walther-Guebert ________________________ 827 Fighting Liberalism with Blunted Weapons. Th. Engelder _______ 834 Precligtentwuerfe fuer die Evangelien der Thomasius- Perikopenreihe ______________________________________________________________________ M6 Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches __________ 857 Book Review. - Literatur _______ ______________________________________________________ _ 873 lI:In Predtger mUll! nlcht aIleJn we!- den. al80 daaa er dle Scbafe unter- wel8e. wle 11.0 rechte Cbr1aten sollen rein. SODdem. auch daneben den Woal- fen wflhnm. daaa 11.0 die Sc:bafo nlcht anarelfen und mit faIac:ber Lehre ver- tuebreD und Irrtum eInfuebren. Lvthef'. Ea lit bin Dina. daa dlo x.ute mohr bel der Itlrche behaelt deDD die gute Pred1gt. - Apologte. An. 14. U the trumpet live an uncer1a1n sound who Iba1l prepare b1mIeIf to *be battle? -1 Cor. 14.', Published for the BY. Lath. S7JUHI of MIssouri, Ohio, and Other States CONCORDIA PUBLISHING BOUSE, st. Louis, Mo. Book Review - ~iteratur 873 Book Review - 2tterllmr All books reviewed in this periodical may be procured from or through Con- cordia Publishing House, 3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 'Ild lBun, be~ Iidwben illl.ltte~fncn,t~. :Der ~falmen ,meiter :tetl. \}Ut \}reunbe unb 5neriicl)ter ber ~ioel ausgelegt bon \Rubolf ~btamomffi, Lie. theol. 1939. (falmer 5nereinsoucl)~anblung @5tuttgati. 263 @5eiten 6X9. SDer (falmer 5netlagsbcrein ~at es unternommen, cine ~t1iiutetung atttefta~ mentliclJer 6cl)tiften unter bem iJlamen "SDie lBotfd)aft bes ~ften :teftaments" {)eraus3ugeben, unb ber uns botliegenbe lBanb ift ber fUnf3e~nte biefer @5etie. (!;r bietet feine fortlaufenbe ~begefe, fonbern cine ftberfetung mit ~nmedungen bon me~r als ber &iifte bes ~faftetS in ,met groflen ~bteHungen: ,,1. SDer @ottes= fltec~t in ber ~nfecl)tung; II. i:ler @ottesfnecl)t in ber ~ema~rung." i\'Ur ben :t~eologen ift ber braud)barfte :tei! bes lBucl)es Die ftberfetungen unD Die &inmeife aUf bie ~arallelftellen, bie befonberll bei ber 5norbereitung aUf bie ~tebigt gute SDienfte leiiten tiinnen. i:lie ~ulllegung triigt faft Durcl)meg ben (f~arafter er= bau!icl)er ~etrad)tungen, bie sum gronen :tei! fe~r mertboll jinD. SDer 5nerfajfer nedritt im gan3en bie meffianifcl)e ~uffajfung ber ~falmen, Die in Der lut~erifcl)en oRitd)e ag folcl)e anetfannt finb, 3. lB. 16, 40, 69, 22, feiDer aber nid)t imme! mit ber lBeftimmt~eit, bie mit ermatten. ,sum 69. ~falm bemedt er 3. lB.: lI,sufam~ men mit bem 22. ~fa(m 1)at et Die i\'arben Bur ~usgeftaltung unD Den lBemeiS fUr bie @5d)riftgemiijJ1)eit, bas 1)ei!lt, Die @ottgemollt1)eit bes ~etbens :;S~fu, ge~ geben." (16.98.) Unb in ben ~emedungen Bum 22. ~falm mirb gefagt: "SDiefes tief ergretfenbe £ieb, in bern fid) bas ~eiben bes 9)1enfd)en mit bem ~ciben (f1)tifti nermiif)1t" ufm. SDas ift in beiben i\'iillen ou fcl)mad) gerebet. i:lall iJleue :tefta~ ment metft flar nacl), Dafl Diere ~falmen im fttengften 6inne meffianifd) finD, bafl bet ~r1iifer in i1)nen felber rebet, unb biere :tatfacl)e follte flar unb beutlicl) sum ~USDtUcf tommen. ~ber lBetid)tigungen biefer ~rt laflen fid) leicl)t anbtingen, unb bas lBud) ~at fUr Ie ben lBibefforfd)er gronen mlert. ~.~. oR ret man n Courageous Adventures. Old Testament Stories for Boys and Girls. By Laura Hulda Wild, professor of Biblical Literature, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass. The Abingdon Press, New York. 144 pages, 5YzX7Y2, including Bible-passage references, recom- mended books, and outline maps. Price, $1.00. The Rev. Laura Hulda Wild, professor of Biblical literature at Mount Holyoke College since 1917, previously instructor of the Bible in Nebraska and Ohio colleges, four years pastor in a Lincoln, Nebr., Congregational church, Y. W. C. A. secretary, visiting professor to Ginling College for women at Nanking, China, there teaching the Bible [cf. Modernism in Foreign Missions!], twice tourist student in Palestine, author of several books on Bible-study, etc., acceding to the requests of her former stu- dents, now blessed with children, wrote Courageous Adventures "to sup- ply growing boys and girls with a book that contains a point of view toward the Bible, interests them in things Biblical before they attend college, preserves for them the spiritual values of the Bible-stories, and keeps American youth from the mistake of looking upon Bible- stories as mere fanciful folk-tales." To her, Bible-stories certainly are 874 Book Review - 13itetatut not fanciful folk-tales, though also not God's inspired Word; but they arose (from ca. 900 B. C. down) when men advanced and grew out of the childish notions about their gods and so found the true God. "That took a long time, and we have not found out all about Him yet." (Foreword, p. 18.) However, the Bible-stories very plainly demonstrate the development of conscience over against greed (culminating at last in Christ's own supreme conscience response). The Bible-stories of course are not true as history, but certainly as parables, exemplifying the development of man's truth and probity consciousness. Moses did not see a burning bush but a bush of sheer beauty, after his prolonged solitude in the wilderness had made him antioppression-minded. The Balaam's ass story (parallels, Arabian Nights, Wonder Tales of Egypt, etc.) illustrates the truth that man, blinded by greed, can see less clearly the morally prescribed path than can a beast. Witches are very fasci- nating (cf. Hallowe'en) and the witch-of-Endor tale shows us how Saul, for his selfish ends, goes back in the end on all that is good and true, even his own laws. The David stories (David, very much like Robin Hood, a brave, generous, rollicking adventurer) teach us goodness, un- selfishness, generosity (above all, his poems, e. g., Ps.23: "Even should I go my way in a ravine dark as the shadow of death," Macdonald's translation, quoted by authoress). The Jonah and the big-fish story (the big fish stands for some great calamity) reveals how at last Jews began to understand that God loves everybody, even their enemies, and so prepares the way for Jesus' teachings in the New Testament. While we do not recommend the purchase of this book to our readers, we nevertheless believe that every so often our pastors ought to go to the public library and discover for themselves how assiduously Modernists are systematically, psychologically, irreparably, pounding to pieces the Christian faith of boys and girls of high-school and college days by such destructive methods as Miss Wild offers in her new book. No orthodox Christian minister can afford to remain ignorant of the subtle, most effective technique used by Bible foes today to blast from the hearts of our Christian youth the true faith of their fathers. The ability to defeat Modernism presupposes a fair knowledge of its strategy, and it is for this reason that we pastors and teachers dare not ignore such grotesque writings as Courageous Adventures. J. THEODORE MUELLER 'l)er ~rief nn Me ~eliriier. !Bettad)tungen bon ~rltJin lReisnet. ~~t.~.!taifet~ merIag, WHinc1)en. 1938. 300 €5eiten 6X9. :;Seber forgf(Htige lBibelIefer ltJeiji, baji bet ~ebtaetbtief tin eigenartiges lBudj ift. iibet bem merfaffet unb ben etften 13efern Iiegt ein tiefes '!lunte1, bas trot aUllerorbentHdjer, ausgebe~nter unb fdjarfjlnniger fl'orfdjerarbeit immer nod) nic~t geltJiel)en ift. Unfer lHutot ~at geltJiji redjt, ltJenn et fagt: ,,'!lie @ebanfen bes lBriefes jlnb lJaulinifd)" (15. 5); ebenfo ltJerben abet ltJo~1 auel) bie meiftetJ 13efet i~m beiftimmen, ltJenn et fortfa~tt: "S)et €5tH abet ltJeicf;lt fa fe~t bon bem ber anbern grojien lBriefe bes lHi'oftelS ab, baji biefet minbeftens alS un~ mittelbater lHutor Iaum in fl'rage tommt." .Riinnen ltJit mit bem merfalfer geljen, toenn et ben ;titel "lHn bie ~ebtaetJ/ ft)mboHfdj erHart, ali! ~abe ball !!Bot! J/~ebtaetU ~iet feine ett)mologifdje !Bebeutung: bie ~inUbet3ie~enben ober mot~ Ubet3ie~enben 1 .!taum. €50 etltJa~ witb ben matern, bie bem lBucf;l biefen ;tHel Book Review - 2itetatut 875 gaoen, fd)lnerHd) in ben €Sinn gefommen fein. '£lali bet lEtief an bie ~emeinbe on ;;setufalem gerid)tet hlUtbe, ~arten Inir aUerbings aue!) fUt eine betfe~rte ~on~ jeHu!. ;r~. 8aljn mar ber lJJleinung, bet lErief fei fUt cine aTil ;;subendjtiften oe~ fte~enbe @emeinbe in mom fJeftimmt gemefen. (.I;ine anbere ~nfid}t ift, ball bet Xitel etma um bail ;;sagt 200 tiber ben lEttef gefeut murbe unb auf einem lJJlili~ betftiinbniil oetuljt, inbem man auil bem ;;sngalt beiS lEriefes meinte etfd}lielien au fonnen, bat bas €Sd)teiben an lJete~rte ;;suben getie!)tet fei, bat abet eigentlid} lueber ;;subcnd)riften nod} ~eibend)riften f1Je aieU angetebet mtirben, fonbern ~ljti" ften im alfgemeinen. :;'I'm botfiegenben Wert merben einleitenbe j'J'rngen nidjt bes fiingeten erottett; au d) aUf grammatifd)e q5unfte luirb nid)t bier cingegangen, (.I;s ift bem ll3et~ faner batum iU tun, bie @cbanfen beil lEriefes 1Jacfenb barBufteUen unb auef) bie mnmenbung nid)t aU berfiiumen. '£lie '£latfteUung ift in bet Xat an3ieljenb. Wail luir aU tabefn Ijaben, ift bie Xljeologie bes ll3erfaffers. (.I;r fommt mit aUet1ei metflutirbigen ll30tausfeuungen an ben lErief Ijeran unb finbet biefe barin be~ ftiitigt. Dffenbnt fagt iljm bie Xljeologie ~atf lEattljs au. Wit finben 3. lE. biefen ~lue,f1Jtud): "j'J'tir ben ~1Joftef ift immer ,ljeute' bet ;;sUngfte Xag" (15.22); unb biefen: "Wet abet an bet 5d)ludle BUt (.I;migfeit, angefid)tiS bet (.I;ntfd)eibung, bot bie il)n bas ~eute nes (,5;l)riftus itelft, betfagt, mer ba nid}t 3ugteift, fUt ben luitb bas l)etamtifd)e Wort iUt furd)tbaten WaljtlJeit, ber mith fortgefd)tuemmt, ber fommt niemaTil luieher in eine iiljnHdjc 211gej benn bie 8eit, flit bie er fid} in ber ~bmdfllng ber @nllbe entfd)eibet, ift in fefbft baiS 9Hemllg" (15. 21). '£las ift oRrifiiStl)eologie. l5~nergiftifd)~1Jefagianifd) {auten biefe €Siiuc uber .Ra1J. 6,4 ff.: "Wit fd}iiten fie [biefe €steUe] ... ats ein flares Wort, mit bem unll gefagt )uirb, ball ell 3ulett eben boclj auf bie (.I;ntfd)tibung bes lJJlenfd)en anfommt. '£lCt lJJlenfd) fann bie fid} iljm barbietenbe @nabe 311tlicitueifen, er fann ia obct nein fagen, er fann nus eigencm (.I;ntfcljlufl nbfaUen- (€S. 109). ~Uerbings fann 'oCt smcnfclJ aus cigenem (.I;ntfd)lufl min fagenj abet mit bem ;;safagcn berljiift cs fid} anbetll. itber ~ljrifti Wed finben fid) mand}e fd)one l5iite. !illir 3itieten einen ba" bon: ,,'£laiS li [nad) ;;set. 31 ben ~~riften] "in~ ~er3 gefd}tiebene ®efet ift lein 2eiftungsgefet, fonbern tin ®laubensgefet, niimlid} ba~ ®efet bell ®laubenil, bet ba giaubt, bafl bet cingcborne €Soljn @ottes aUell gelciftet unb bas ganic ~efeu ctftiUt Ijat" (6. 215). (.I;igentlimlid) 1ft bie ~nfd)auung, bali bas ll30n ;;ssrne1 bes ~lten Xeftaments ein ,,@lcidjniSu flir bie gefamte lJJlenfclj~eit fei (€S. 36). !illaiS ber ll3etfaftet fagen aU molfen fd)eint, ift, bali bas :Sstae1 bes ~lten lEunbell etn ;r1J1Jus neiS neuteftamentficljen @ottesboifes gemefen fei. '£larin ftimmen luit i~m nattirlid} bei. '£lie (.I;infteUung beiS Wedes ift reformiert, mie aus biefem I5nt etfid)tHd} ift: .'£ler ~lIltljanillung [bail ift, bem ~eHigen Illbenb" ma~l] fommt je~t nut nod} bie lBebeutung cinet ®ebiid}tniilfeiet 3U" (€S. 201). 9Hd)t feHen befommt man ben (.I;inbtud, bali me~t geiftteid)e lEettad)illng crill lualjre 5d)tiftauslegung geboten luitb. ~. 2ttffjetB i!efjre tum ben 5wei !ReidJen. Unterflld)± bon feinem ll3erftiinimis bet lBerg1Jtebigt aUll. ('\;in lEeittag 3um q5roblem ,,®efeu unb (,\;bangefiumu• mon ~atolb '£liem. erfiinftd)en ~f)riftenftanb in ftd). ,Tlenn in bem \JaIl gingeft bu etnf)et gana in f t e m b e m Tlienft unb lIDeden. . .. $)enn flit bid) f e 1 b ft b!eibft bu an bem G'bangelium unb ~a!tft bid) nae!) (t~rifti !!Bott, bali bu getn ben anbern ~acfenftreid) leibeft uftu. ~ ! fog e f) e t 's ban n beine§ fein miteinanoet, bali bu 3ugietd) @ottes ffi:eidj unb bet !!B e It ffi: ei d) g e n u g tUft li u Ii e r lid) un bin ned ie!), augleid) itbc! unb Unted)t 1 e i b e ft unb bod) uM unb Untcd)t fttafeft; 3ugIeid) bem ubc! nid)t tuibetftc~eft unb bod) l11iberftegeft. $)enn mit bem etnen fiel)cft bu auf bie!) nnb aUf bas Tleiuc, mit bem anbern aUf ben ~ac(1ften nnb aUf bas @5eine' (1. c.) - ~iet ge~t's nad) bem @[auben, bort nad) ber 5.lie&e." - metbinben abet bie @ebote ber ~etg.ptebigt ben {Ef)riften, bebingungslos nnb in bollftem maf;e, mu!! 'oa ber ~~rift nid)t beqtueifeln? G'r f)at ja taufenbmal bas @ebot "lRid)tct nid)t" ufl11. libettteten. @el11i[l; nun abet Me~rt uns 5.lutl)e·r, bab bas @efet na3u gegeben ift, baf; es ben menfd)en 3um mcql11eifeln btinge unb bet ~f)tift in bas G'bange!ium gettieben l11etbe, um nann in ber Rraft bes (:fbangeliums bie ®ebote immer beffet aU erfUllen. Unb bies, bie 13ef)re bom Untetfd)ieb bes @e= fetes unb bes G'bangeliums, l11itb in unferm !Slid)lein an ber ~anb bon £lutgets @5ef)riften fein batgelegt. - ;tteffHd) ftnb aud) bie ~usfli~run\len libet bie ~uf= gabe bet Dbrtgreit unb bie I.llflidjt bet Untertanen. ,,@ott f)at bas tueltlic(1e ffi:egiment bet mer nun f t untertuotfen unb befol)len, l11eH ell nid)t ber @5eelen ~eil nod) etuiges @ut, fonbern allein leiblid)e unb 3eitlid)e @Uter tegimn fOU." (!!B. ~. 51, 243. 6t. 13. 5, 857.) \Jernet: IIDbetfeit foIl nid)t l11egren, l11as iebet= mann le~ten unb glauben tuill, es fei G'bangelium obet 2ligen; ift genug, bab fie Book Review -53iteratur 877 ~ufru~r unb Unfrteben au Ie~ren Ille~rt." om.~. 18,298. St. 53. 16, 50.) I/ilag ift 53ut~erll ESteUung: ilie Obrigfeit, aud) Illo fie in d)rtftHd)en ~iinben ift, regiett nid)t Uber bie &ellliffenj lllo~I aber mub fie aUen ftbergriffen in i~r \Reid) um ber llleHlid)en Orbnung llliUen Ille~renj unb fold)e ftbergriffe Hegen bort bor, Illo .Reterei 3um ~ufru~r unb au ilffentrid)er 53lifterung Illirb." (5.76.) - iler [~tift ge~otd)t aud) ben ,Illunbedid)en ~erten' unb Illitb feinem UnllliUen niema!!l tebolutionietenbetllleife 53uft mad)en. . .. ,8u einem aggteffiben tebolutioniiren iUlibetftanb fie~t 53ut~er aud) bei ~bangeIiumllbetfoIgung feine bibIifd) begtUn< bete !lJHigHd)teit." (5.94.) - "Aber voerfluchet sey aller gehorsam ynn ab- grund der helle, so der oberkeit, vater und mutter, ja auch der kirchen gehorsam ist, das er Gott ungehorsam sei. . .. Hie kenne ich widder [weder] vater, mutter, freundschafft, oeberkeit oder Christliche Kirche." (iUl. ~. 28, 24.) - mom .Rtieg fagt 53ut~et: l/iUlet Sttieg anflingt, bet ift unred)t, unb ift billig, bab ber gefd)Iagen ober bod) 3ulett gefttaft Illetbe, ber am etften balJ Wleffet 3udt." iler !nottrteg abet, IIber aus !not unb Slllang Illitb aufge. brungen, nad)bem er ift bon einem anbetn angegtiffen/l, ift bered)ttgt j unb ber, bet mit gutem &ellliffen fid) 3U einem !notftieg bered)tigt glaubt, foU alfo beten: "meber ~@tt, mein &ott, bu fie~eft, bab id) mub ftiegen, Illont'g ia germ taffenj abet aUf bie ted)te Utfad)e baue id) nid)t, fonbem aUf beine &nabe unb !Barm< ~et3igfcit./I (®.~. 19, 645 ff. St. 53. 10, 513 ff.) - mom I/d)tiftlid)en Streu33ug/l fagt 53ut~et: I/~ber Uber aUelJ belllegte mid), bab man un t e r d) rift lid) e n !n am e n Illiber bie ~Urten 3U ftteiten bornn~m, Ie~rte unb rei3te, gerabe alS fo!!te unfer mort ein ~eer ber [~tiften ~tiben Illiber bie ~Urten, aliJ Illiber [~tifti \'reinbe, 1lle1d)elJ ift ftradlJ Illiber [~tiftt 53e~te unb !namen./I (®.~. 30, II, 111. 5t. 53. 20, 2113.) - ~ft 53ut~er berantlllortlid) fUr balJ lanbes~mHd)e .!titd)en< regiment? Unb tuar er gar "tin \'rUrftenfnecl)t"? Unfer !BUd)lein liibt 53ut~er barauf antllJorten. "Satan pergit esse Satan. Sub papa miscuit ecclesiam politiae, sub nostro tempore vult miscere politiam ecclesiae. Sed nos resistemus, Deo favente, et studebimus pro nostra virili vocationes dis- tinctas servare." (~nber!l XV, 256.) ,,~ett fe~rt fiel) bas !Blatt urn. ilenn man mael)t aull bem \'rauftamt ein mUnbHel) ~mt, unb tuoUen bie tue1tliel)en Sjerren bas geiftliel)e \Regiment fil~ren unb ben !j.\tebigtftu~l unb .!titel)e regieren, bab iel) prebigen foU, lllalJ ber \'rUrft gem ~ilrt." (iUl.~. 46, 737. 5t. 53. 7, 1791.) Unb: I/®it mUffen bas .Ronfiftorium 3erreibenj benn tuir llloUen fut3Um bie ~uriften unb !j.\apft nid)t brinnen ~aben./I (iUl.~.~. \R. 6, 344. 5t. 53. 22, 1511.) Unfer ~utor ~at fleifiig in 53ut~er gelefen unb 1m groben unb gan3eJt gut gelefen. ~~. @ n g el b e r Preparing Preachers to Preach. By R. Ames Montgomery, D. D., LL. D., professor of Homiletics, Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Chi- cago. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich. 249 pages, 5Jhx7%. Price, $1.75. Here is a book which we recommend to our pastors for careful reading, not merely because the subject of sermon-making requires persistent study throughout their ministerial career and in this work various authors ought to be considered, but because the volume before us presents the subject in a novel, striking, and thorough manner, well adapted to the needs of our time. Dr. Montgomery, a conservative Pres- byterian theologian, advocates a return to such preaching as was in vogue when ministers and congregations were still Christian and rever- 878 Book Review - .\3iteratur enced the Gospel. Today preaching has been eclipsed by the prodigious influence of the "new science" and affected by present-day "mechanistic psychology," so that now "the Bible must be restored to a place of authority in preaching, from which it fell when we got rid of an inspired Book" (p.23). Today also more than ever "personality values must be given primary consideration when young men are enrolled as candi- dates for the Gospel ministry" (p.21). Lastly, "preaching must recover the power of appeal" (p.26). Preaching must be textual, and to this end the pastor's constructive study must be carried on regularly and systematically. Much of what the author writes will not be new to our readers, but the entire presentation is new, fascinating, and con- vincing. New material, however, is offered in these chapters: "The Minister's Study," "What Is Effective Preaching?" "The Warrant for Preaching," "The Preparation of the Preacher," "The Inspiration of the Preacher," "The Preparation of the People." Other chapters are: "The Eclipse and Relumination of Preaching," "The Text," "What to Observe in the Use of the Text," "The Sermon Subject," "The Introduction of the Sermon," "The Sermon," "The Conclusion," "Essential Homiletic Qualities of a Good Sermon," "Style," "Species, or Types, of Sermons." In short, here is an old, experienced professor of homiletics, a repre- sentative of the "old school," who nevertheless in a new, understanding way tells our present generation of ministers what preachers of the Gospel really should do to be faithful to their holy task. The very fact that a non-Lutheran has written the book makes it all the more interesting. We have heard that in many circles in our Church because of the prevailing depression salaries, which render it almost impossible for individual ministers to purchase new books, "reading clubs" have been organized in which book expenses are pooled and the burden is thus made light. Afterwards, in outstanding cases, books, annotated by critical brethren, are thoroughly discussed at conferences, usually under the guidance of a brother offering a formal, lengthy book re- view. The plan is excellent, and Dr. Montgomery's book is worthy of such study. J. THEODORE MUELLER The Son of God Rides On. Outlines on the Gospels of the Ancient Church. By R. E. Golladay, A. M., D. D. The Lutheran Book Con- cern, Columbus, O. 391 pages, 5%><7%. Price, $1.75. Much painstaking and careful work has gone into the making of this volume, presenting an abundance of sermon material on the familiar Gospel-lessons of the ancient Church. Using this material will help the preacher to present in a fresh way the old well-known Gospel pericopes. 'We suggest that the preacher first carefully study his text and then read what Golladay presents and use the material in the preacher's own outline. The pericope Matt. 20: 1-16, for instance, is treated by Gol- laday under the heading of "Work and Wages" and ends with the question, "What kind of worker in God's kingdom am I? are you?" The scope of this pericope is that salvation is not by merit but by grace. To this Golladay calls attention, but his treatment of the text does not make this fact stand out, and his climax in the conclusion puts the emphasis where it does not belong. What the hearer ought Book Review - £itet:ntur 879 to carry away is not the thought what kind of a worker he is, but that, though a miserable sinner, a gracious salvation has been provided for him. On page 194 Golladay says: "It has always been true, it is now true, and it always will be true, that many resist, and finally resist, this threefold work of the Holy Spirit. For this sin there is no forgiveness, Matt. 12:31; Heb. 10:26, 27." The sin which cannot be forgiven is the sin against the Holy Ghost, but the description given by Golladay does not describe the sin against the Holy Ghost. To the text Matt. 22:1-14 Golladay gives this heading, "Why God Chooses Only a Few." On pages 345 and 346 we read such statements as these: "He gave man the power of choice. He permits man to exercise his power of choice. . .. "God's process of choosing men is in reality a process of human self-elimination. Some do not care. Some keep on putting off. Some become antagonistic. Some are too well satisfied with their own condition, their own acquirements, so that, while pretending to come, they are never qualified as guests at the feast. . .. Those who are finally chosen are those who (a) have accepted God's invitation, (b) come to God's own feast, (c) allowed God to qualify them by acceptance of His own proffered gifts." We are somewhat surprised that such synergistic statements are still being printed at a time when we had reason to believe that the synergistic doctrine of man's salvation had been abandoned as unscriptural by the church-body of which the author is a member. J. H. C. FRITZ Wonderful-and Other Sermons. By William Ashley Sunday. Zonder- vall Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich. 126 pages, 51f4x8. Price, $1.00. Billy Sunday was a Fundamentalist preacher, who in his own way and often with drastic emphasis preached sin and grace. This appears also in the present volume, which has all the excellencies - and the faults - that characterized the evangelist's preaching. Some of his illus- trations are dignified and fitting, others are on a lower level. The author does not regard Baptism as a means of grace. On account of the lack of a thorough theological training the author is guilty of other lapses and inaccuracies, for which the charitable reader will make allowances, as when he has no earthquake in connection with the resur- rection of our Savior. P. E. KRETZMANN The Implications of Public Confession. By Abraham Kuyper, D. D., LL. D. Translated from the Dutch by Henry Zylstra. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich. 88 pages, 51J2X7%. Price, 75 cts. Some of Dr. Kuyper's books, like Women of the Old Testament and Women of the New Testament, have been warmly welcomed, also in Lutheran circles. The present book does not have such a general appeal. It is a typically Reformed presentation of the way of reception into church-membership. Many portions are definitely anti-Lutheran and not in accordance with Holy Scripture. The author is opposed to the Lutheran rite of confirmation and presents his views in statements 880 Book Review - \3iterntUt which are worthy of consideration, even if one does not admit the correctness of the logical deductions which the author draws. He states: "H a term is necessary, therefore, we could name the 'receiving' the 'admission to making public confession.' This preliminary exami- nation may never represent anything more than the vestibule through which one passes to public confession. Not the 'being received' but the 'public confession' represents the holy and decisive moment for the great decision of your life. . .. But there are those who would not have it so. These wanted the event of 'receiving' to represent a touch- ing and exciting ceremony. Hence this event was converted into what the Lutherans had long made of it. The pastor and the elder 'took' the confession. Later the Church 'confirmed' it." (P. 59 f.) While the argu- ments of the author will not hold, there is much in its presentation that might well be kept in mind by the Lutheran pastor who tries to keep the work of indoctrination from degenerating into a mere form. P. E. KRETZMANN Prayer-Meetings that Made History. By Basil Miller. 104 pages, 5xH!z. The Warner Press, Anderson, Ind. Price, $1.00. The author tells of fourteen remarkable fulfilments of prayer, changing the life of individuals, inaugurating world-wide missionary or charitable movements, etc. Many of these interesting and faith- strengthening results of prayer may be used by the pastor in the pulpit. in his Bible class, or on other occasions. Not all movements, however, described by the author were unmitigated blessings. Faith in their Savior and His promises prompted the prayers of these people, and Christ heard them. But in only too many instances the erroneous views held by them caused them to undo much of the good that Christ would have accomplished through them had they followed His Word exclusively instead of permitting their own mistaken notioIlB to influence their actions. TH. LAETscH NOTICE TO OUR SUBSCRmERS In order to render satisfactory service. we must have our current mailing-list correct. The expense of maintaining this list has been materially increased. Under present regulations we are subject to a "fine" on all parcels mailed to an incorrect address. inasmuch as we must pay 2 cents for every notification sent by the postmaster on a parcel or periodical which is undeliverable because no forwarding address is available or because there has been a change of address. 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