Robert W. Bertram [June 2, 1967] ABSTRACT Theologically the 1967 LCMS Convention Workbook, genuinely struggling to realign its problems around the gospel, offers a promise to the synod. Even when that gospel centrism is criticized by accusers who complain about an alleged “whittling down” all doctrinal issues to “the gospel itself,” in the bargain “the gospel itself” is …
Some Theses for Discussion on the Dogmatic Constitution De Revelatione of the Second Vatican Council
Robert W. Bertram [8 March 1967] ABSTRACT While mirroring our own twin concern for a high doctrine of biblical inspiration and modern biblical studies, the Vatican II document “De Revelatione” also mirrors our own dilemma less of scripture vs. confession (tradition) than that third alternative, traditioning scripture. The Council’s document, however, while surmounting past intellectualism in favor of …
The Radical Dialectic Between Faith and Works in Luther’s Lectures on Galatians (1535)
Robert W. Bertram [Printed in Luther for the Ecumenical Age Edited by Carl S. Meger. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1967. Pp. 219-241.] 1. THEOLOGIA BREVISSIMA ET LONGISSIMA Although sinners are justified solely by their faith, that, as Luther knew, does not yet exhaust the description of them as “Christians.” “He who wants to be a true …
The Word of God in the Genesis Creation Account
Dr. Edward H. Schroeder [Printed in Nexus, Vol. 6:1 (March 1966).] In the Holy Scriptures the “Word of God” is not just divine information. It is God in action speaking about me. If the opening chapters of Genesis are to be the Word of God they must say something about me and what God is doing, has …
Is There a Lutheran Hermeneutics?
Edward H. Schroeder [From The Lively Function of the Gospel, in The Caemmerer Festschrift, St. Louis, Concordia Publishing House, 1966, p. 81-97. Later published in The Promising Tradition: A Reader in Law-Gospel Reconstructionist Theology, ed. By Edward H. Schroeder, St. Louis, Missouri, 1973. Reprinted with permission. ] Is there a distinctively Lutheran interpretation of the Scriptures? In …
The Relationship Between Dogmatics and Ethics in the Thought of Elert, Barth, and Troeltsch
Edward H. Schroeder [Printed in Concordia Theological Monthly, vol. 36:11 (Dec. 1965).] Edward H. Schroeder is associate professor at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind. This article is a condensation of a doctoral thesis which the author submitted to the theological faculty of the University of Hamburg, July 1963. INTRODUCTION A concern for dogmatics and a concern for ethics …
The Complete Centurion
Robert W. Bertram [Printed in Concordia Theological Monthly 39 (1968): 311-327. Reprinted with permission.] This essay was originally presented as a lecture at the Evangelische Akademie in Bad Boll, West Germany, on Oct 25, 1965, when the author was working as a Fulbright guest research professor at the Institut fur okumenische Theologie, the University of Munich. The evangelical …
The Relation of Other Disciplines to the Study and Teaching of Theology: An Attempt at a Lutheran Perspective
Edward Schroeder [Paper presented at the Workshop for Teachers of Theology and Religion, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, August 22-25, 1965.] A. Distinguishing between the discipline of theology and the so-called non-theological disciplines. No one in this audience is likely to deny that theology is a distinctive discipline, unique for some reason or other in the midst …
BE IT EVER SO HUMDRUM
[Address at the Annual Youth Workers Conference, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, February 24, 1965] This, by contrast with my first paper this morning, is the light-weight paper of the two, though this one too still tries manfully to conform to the conference theme, “there’s no place like home.” In fact, as I warned you this morning, we …
Even Rome Can Be Home
[Address at the Annual Youth Worker’s Conference Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana February 4, 1965] If the above title, in addition to it being frivolous, is also misleading – suggesting perhaps a commercial for the Alitalia Airlines or an invitation to Protestants from the Curia – I can only plead that I have tried to adhere, if only …