[In “Viewpoint,” Missouri in Perspective 1:5 December 24, 1973] Arthur Carl Piepkorn does not need for us to say this, seeing how obvious it is: he was the Missouri Synod’s most sweetly orthodox teacher, not only to the Synod itself but in behalf of the Synod to the rest of Christendom. Yet that same Synod in its …
A Personal Memorandum
Robert Bertram ABSTRACT By silencing its teachers, the synodical administration is silencing the Word of God. Yet, ironically, this silencing seems to have produced a better hearing for the Word of God than ever before. (Stephen C. Krueger) 13 December 1973 To: My Brothers and Sister in the Faculty Majority and Staff From: Robert Bertram 1) The saddest …
Critique of President Preus’ Statement
Edward H. Schroeder [Presentation to LC-MS Northern IL District Pastoral Conference, Oct 16 & 17, 1973] Others have responded to the Preus “A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles.” William Lazareth, Walter Keller, Paul Bretscher, Paul Jacobs, the New England Pastoral Conference, Twin-Cities Pastoral Conference, Southern Illinois Pastors and Teachers Conference, Concordia College (Portland) Faculty, Theology Division …
TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS…. Redeemable for Christian purpose?
Robert W. Bertram [Printed in Seminar 5 (April 24, 1973), p. 3-4.] If Transactional Analysis (TA) could limit its soteriological pretensions and could admit that what it is describing is not the whole of human existence, but is only a very partial abstraction from the whole, then TA could give real promise of being redeemable for Christian …
The WORD for New Orleans
Robert W. Bertram [1973] 1) Neither pope nor council nor synodical convention can decide that its doctrinal statements are scriptural. Only the scriptural Word can decide that. 2) If there are doctrinal statements which are believed to be scriptural, that belief can never be imposed but, like the Word itself, can only be confessed — from faith …
Poem to John Tietjen On the 20th Anniversary of his Ordination
Robert W. Bertram Michaelmas, 1973 Revelation 12:7-12 “For even in the face of death they would not cling to life”— these dragon-fighting angels, this bloodied brotherhood of Michael’s men. For men they were, though angels too, yet not the sort of angels who already gathered round the throne and faced-to-face with deity. These not yet gloried angels …
INFORMAL REMARKS ON THE HISTORICITY OF ADAM
Robert W. Bertram Presentation, 1973 Question: If we are to be faithful to the Smalcald Articles, Part III, must we not confess along with Luther that sin originated in the historical person of Adam? In other words, does not Luther here express the doctrinal belief that sin entered the world through one man—Adam? Answer: These two questions, at …
GOSPEL REDUCTIONISM: Some Theses for Comment and Discussion
Edward H. Schroeder [Two presentations at the Missouri Forward group of the LC-MS Northern Illinois District, River Forest and Broadview, IL, October 8-9, 1972] 1. The full phrase of the critics, “Law-Gospel Reductionism”, alleges that our theology discards necessary and valued Christian material while we hold to the erroneous opinion that merely holding on to L/G is …
Johann Eck and Jacob Preus – Parallels: 1530 & 1972
Edward H. Schroeder [Part of a presentation given at an LCMS Pastors Conference, Thief River Falls, MN, Sept. 11, 1972. The day was titled “The Praxis of the Forgiveness of Sins: A Response to the Fact- Finders’ Report of the Concordia Seminary Faculty.” Most of this presentation is in outline form, only this segment is written out.] …
The Lively Use of the Risen Lord
John 20:19-31 Robert Bertram [Concordia Seminary Chapel, April 13, 1972. Published in Concordia Theological Monthly 43 (July-August, 1972): 438-441. Reprinted with permission.] So Jesus rose from the dead and showed Himself to His disciples. So What? What is the use of that? By putting the question that way, I run the risk, I know, of sounding flippant, …