C!tnurnrbtu - Concordia Theological Seminary

C!tnurnrbtu
m~tnln!liral tlntdltly
Continuing
LEHRE UNO VVEHRE
MAGAZIN FUER Ev.-LuTH. HOMILETIK
THEOLOGICAL QUARTERL Y-THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY
May, 1940
Vol. XI
No.5
CONTENTS
Reason or Revelation.
Th. Engelder . .
Pale
.... ................................. 321
The Prophets and Political and Social Problems.
Th. Laetsch ..... .. .
337
Entwuerfe ueber die von der Synodalkonferenz angenommene
Epistelreihe .......................................... _.............................................. __ ... 351
Miscellanea ___ .............. _..._.. __._.. _.. _. __ ... __ .. __ .___ ..... _... _... _. ____ ._ ............._..... _........_.. 362
Theological Observer. - Kirchlich-Zeitgeschichtliches _..... _._..... _.._._ 377
Book Review. - Literatur __.... __ ........ _...__ ._......_... _. __ .. ___ ._ .. _.. _... ................. 392
BIn Predlpr mU88 DIeM alleln toei114m. also daIa er die Scha1e unterweise. w1e 8le rechte Cbri.ten soDen
Ieln.lODdern aw:h daneben den Woelfen tD8hrett. daa lie die Schafe nicht
Es 1st keln Dine. du die Leute
mehr bel der Klrche behaeIt denn
die gute Predict. - ApoloQie. Arl. 24
fal8cber Lebre ver-
If the trumpet give an uncertafn
sound. who Ihall prepare blmIeIf to
the battle? - I eM. 14:'
~en
UIld mit
tuebren 1Dld Irrtwn elnfuebren.
LutheT
Published for the
Ev. Luth. Synod of MIssouri, Ohio, and Other States
CONCORDIA PUBLISHING BOUSE, St. Louis, Mo.
392
Book Review - 2iteratur
Bo
R ~view -
£iteral:Uf
All books reviewed in Illis periodical may be procrured from or tm,;ugh ConcOl'dia Publishing House, 3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
Sl'oUmtcntllt Jum Slnten XejillmC1lt. .\'lcrllu§gegeoeu bon \]:ltof. D. ~rnft ScHin.
manb XVI, 2: ,,'~)a5 mud} !RutI)", Uberfett unb edlatt bon D. Dr. !IDil"
l)elm mubo{p~. ~T. :Deid)ett\d)e metfllM{JUcf)~anb!ung, 5.lei)J3ig. 47 Seiteu
6Y2x8Y2. ~tei~: RM.2.50.
:DCl: ".!1'ommentar aum Illiten 5t:eftammt", oer bon oem in bet ganaen t~eo,
!ogiicf)cn m5elt liefannten merline! ~tofejjot bet 5t:~eologie Sellin in metliinbung
mit fecf)3e~n anbem nam~aftCTl aHteftamentlid)eu 0lele~tteu ~etaus(legeoen toiro,
gel)t jett letner molfenilUug entgegen unb gilt mit !Red)t afS ein ~etbottaGenbet
toiftenfd)aftrid)et .!1'ommcntat bet 0lcgcntoart, ein Seitenftilcl' aU bem mutefta,
meutiicf)CTl Illusfegllngstoerr bon St:f)eobot ,8af)n unb fUnf angefef)enen neutefta,
menUiu)en 0lelef)tten, bas fa)on Hinger abgefcf)loflen botliegt. :Die Stelfung bet
meatbeitet ift im ganaen eiue fonferbatibc, toie fd)on bie lJ(amen bet 9JHtatoeitCt
~ . .ffiinig unb £l. ~rDdfd) unaeigen, abet frcilicf) nid)t in bem Sinnc, tuie bies fld
bem iHteren, abet bUrC£)UllS nid)t beralteten Rommentar bon !r. i\' . .!1'eU unil i\'tan~
:Defilllcl) bet i\'aU roar. Sl)cr moilcrnen ~of)eren ~rim Illeroen oft ,811geftiinl>nifte
gemad)t, uno bie fefte :;Snfpirationsie~re ift allfgcgeven; abet in fl>rad)Hd)er, i}ijto,
riru)er UllO oft aum inf)altlid)er .I)infid)t Hitt fid) bid (lug bem !IDede lemen.
:Die§ gilt uuel) \Jon bm VelDen neueiten s:!icferllngen 3U ben Heinen in bet f)cbtiii,
fd)en mibe! im britten 5t:eil, untet ben Sjagiogtapl)en, ftel)enben !Bild)em lRutl)
uno mage!ieDer. m5ir tebw 3ttllacf)ft bon bem SSild)fein !Rutl) unb erfennen mit
meifalf (tll, bail her metfallet D. Dr. !IDi!~elm !Rubolp~, qlrofejjor bet 5t:geo[ogie
in 0liejlen, in ben dnleitcnben i\'ragen bier befonnener nnb fonferbatiber ift als
man cs ~eut3l!tage getoo~lIt ift. G:t nimmt alS 'llbfaffungsilcit bie :;Saf)re 1000
viS 700 an (S. 7), to03l! toit lJemetfen miid)ten, ila~ man iaum einen fo gto~en
,8eitraum aU3umgmen btaucf)t, benn bas !Bud) ift ofienbar entftanben 3U tinet
~eit, tno Sl)a\lib ag ~onig feI)Oll gto~e mebeutung fUr ~sraer f)aite. :DeI met'
fafter fagt mit ffieC£Jt, ball hie I6teITung unter ben Sjagio\ltapf)en reincstoegs cine
fpiitm lllofaffull\1 an3elge (S. 7) unb Dall bas mud) "borbeutetonomifd)u fel (tin
~lusbtud ~etgenomnten bon bet nad) unferer ftoeraeUgung bedef)tten mobemen
'llllffa(fun\J, ball bas :Deutetonomium ntcf)t bon :Oeofes !)ettU~te, fonbem erft im
~al)te 622 unter bern .!1'onig :;So~a an bie ,offentlid)feit getommen fei) (S. 5).
~t fogt eoenfaITs mit !Red)t, ba~ Me 0l1cmoiuUrbigfeit bet ganaen (\;t3ii~ruug nid)t
OUtd) bie trautigen motfommnille in bet !Rid)ter5cit in i\'tage gefterrt toetbe
(S. 8) uno fegnt bie mobeme ~uffa\fttng bes mttcf)es alS cinet 5t:enben3fd)dft,
Die bie ~~en mit ~eibnifcljen i\'tauen in bel' ,8eit nad) bern {\;);i! unter ~sta unb
1J(c!)emia red)tfettigen foUte, ao (S. 9). Dotoo~r et bon ilent mud)e toieber~oH
af5 cinet ,,(\;rsiigfung" tebet, bie "in bie lBfiltc,eit ber iStaefitifcf)en \5:t3ii~lttngll'
iiteratur gc~ott" (S.8), fo octont er bod) 3utreffenb, bab ell nid)t bon mlenfd)en,
foubern bon @ott reben tooUe (bie Sjauptpetfon bet 0lefd)icljte lei toeber !Rut~
nod) IJtoomi, "bie Sjauptpet\on ift :;Saf)toe", S. 11), unb fUgt l)in3U: ,,0leto1\3 bet'
tuenbet bet ~t3iif)fet alfe Sotgfctft aUf bie ,8eicf)nung bet etn3elnen !rl)at(!Uere,
lInb bie 0lcfcf)id)te erf)alt ein fd)ones ®feid)getoicf)t, inbem in ~ap. 2 !Rut~, in
,Il'ap. 3 IJloomi, in .!1'ap. 4 moas bie :;Snitiatibe ergteift. ~{ber ball lRut~ aUf ben
Book Review -
~itetatur
393
rtd)tigen ~cfet {ommt, ift ~a~roe!l i\'U~rung, bafl bet fluge q:\lnn bet \)1oomi ge"
Hng!, ift ~n~roe!l @nabe, unb bn13 bet ~{)e bes lBons bet etroiinfd)te @?o~n enb
[prott, ift :;Sn~roell @ejd)enf. mlcnn bie @nbe @ottes I)ict in i\'nmilienglticf unD
!Jetil~mtet \)1ad)fommenfd)aft, alfo in lautet UUum! 53ellenllfiirDetUng beftel)t, ift
bas gut altteftamentHd) geDae~t; abet fd)on im ~!ten :.teftnment felllft ~nt man
erfnl)ren, bafl aufleres mlol)(erge~en nid)t bet @tabmejjer fUr @ottes 53ielle ift,
unb boUenllS ber ~l)tift roeifl, ball @ott nid)t immer fo ~nnDl1teiflid) fd)enU unb
bnfl bet mlcg 3um 53eoen burd) ~eiben unb :.tob ge~en fann." (@? 11.) @?o {Bnn"
ten roit noel) anbm q:\unUe nam~aft mnd)en aum lBeroeife, ba13 bet @?tnnbpunft
bes ltlerfajjers ein fonferbntiber ift. ~r miflbeutC± auel) nid)t, roie ofters an,
r,riliSiuciic gefd)eljen ift, bie fogennnnte l\)1ael)ti3cne", .il'a\J.3, unb fagt DatUbe,:
"SDaB bet ~r3uljler ljier nid)t due aUe .Ru\J\Jlerin 3eiel)nen roill, bie cine \Jlum~e
!IlerfUf)tuHgsf3ene borbereitet, ergiM jlel) nus DCt @ef(iifentHel)feit, mit bct er 1n
.il'n\J. 2 9coomi unb lBoal! um ben guten ffiuf bet ffiutl) ljntte beforgt fein lafjen.
@?oroenig bet 6d)titt, Den ffiut~ tun foU, unfern germanifd)en unb d)tiftliel)en lBe"
iltilfen bon roeib1id)er .8utiicf~aftung entf\Jtiel)t, fo mUffen mit boel) nnetfennen,
bafl bet ~r3alj(er fiel) aUe wtiilje gegeoen flat, etroaigen wtiflbeutungen bor3u~
oeneen, nid)t blofl burel) .!tap. 2, fonbern eoenfofelit hurd) bie lSegriinbung, bie
mutl) fUr iljten @?d)ritt lJat (,'on bi;t ber ~roe [53iiferJ', .il'a\J. 3, 9) roic nud) Durel)
bie 'ltd, iDle 1B0as batauf reagier! (10. 11 b. 13). Unb tuenn jld) auel) nid)t aus
ber mlcH fcljalfen luflt, bat ~(oomi eine 6ituntion !)etbei3ufillJten tuUnfd)t, in
ber bei einem 5J.l1anne (eid)t bie ~emmungen luegfaUen, ;0 barf fie nad) ber ~(tt,
luie 1B0as in .!ta\J. 2 gefd)ilbert ift, 'Damit red)nen, ba13 er jle nid)t in unfd)i\ner
mleife nusnii~t." (6. 32.) ~r bef\Jrid)t unD etf1iirt bie fogenannte ~ebitatse~e
nad) 1 wtol.38; 5 9TIof. 25, 5-10 (@? 37). ~oer fteHid) finben jld) aud) abau"
iudjenbe religionsgefd)iel)triel)e lBemetfungen, o. lB. menn er liei bem ~Tusbrucr
"unict ben i\'liige1n beil @ottes ;siltael", .RalJ. 2, 12, "ag~\Jtifd)e @iitterbilbet"
lJmmricI)t (6.26). :DC! gan3e .Rommentar ift fo Qngelegt, ba13 erft eiue tuiirtlid)c
i\berfc~ung bargeooten tuirb; Dunn folgen p1jHofogiiel)c ~tUattln\len unll lJierauf
bie ~uillegllng. ~t ift tura gefa13t, mie bies ljeutautage mel)t unb me~r gefd)ieljt,
unb aullerbem roitb ffiaum gef\Jnrt hurd) &aljlteid)e ~ofUt3ungen, nad) unferet
~njid)t faft 3U viele unb au fernliegenbe, fo ball ein nid)t allfeitig orientiertet
~efet aiemliclj oft bns ~lbfUt3ungsbet3eid)niS auffd)lagen mufl.
ffiubolpli fd)lieflt
bie '1'iu§Tegung mit ben mlorten: IIwtit bet \)1amcngcDung unb bet fna~~en i\'efb
ftellung, bnll £loeb bet @roBvater SDabiDs rourDe (~a~. 4, 17b), fcljHett bie (\;t~
Jiif)funu unb etteiel)t bamit gleicljacitig iljten ~lilJcpunit: bie ~anbftem\)e unb
Uinberlofe tnitb ~ljnfrnu be§ grli13ten .il'iinigs bon :;Sstael unb bamit bes regie,
renben ~errfel)er£)aufe§, roeH fie jlel) unter bie i\'ittid)e ~n~roes begnb. 60 loljnt
bet @ott :;sstaelS. Unb gliin3enber tonnten bie llliUnfd)e bet 5J.l1anner (Rap. 4, 11 b)
tmb i\'tnuen (14 b) bon lSet~le~em nid)t in ~rfiillung ge~en" (6. 46). ~. ty.
iBilldljHfe fiit hie &emeinbe. SD e r 3 ro e i t e ;s e f a i n. mon ~alts mlUlj.
fdet~betg. 182 6eHen 51/2 x8lJ4. q:\rei§: stnrtoniert, RM. 3.20; gebunben,
RM.4.20. :D e t 3 III e i test 0 ri n t lJ e t b tie f. mon ~rid) 6tange.
86 @?eiten, 51J2x8%. q:\reis: .Rationiert, RM.1.70j gebunilen, RM.2.50.
@uftnb 6cljlii13manns metlngsoud)ljnnblung. ~ei\J3ig unO ~amburg.
:Die ~etnusgaoe bet 6erle IIlSioellji!fe ~at 3iemltd) allgemein ~nUang ge"
funben, unb 3mat im groflen unb ganaen betbientetmaflen. :Die merfaffer bet
netfd)iebenen lBiid)et maren 3um gro13en :.teil tonfetbatibe :.t~eorogen, bie bom
ll
394
Book Review -
~tteratUt
ebangeHfdJen, refpeftibe lutgerifdJen, 6tanbpunft au~ igte 6d)riftauslegung bat'
boten. 'Ilie girt botTiegenben !Biinne tet~en jid) if,mn lllorgangern l1lilrnig an,
leiber aoer nidjt aUf betfe!oen 6tufc. 'Ilie ~lus!e(lung bet .reapitel 40-66 be!!
~efajabud)e5 cdennt aITetbings 'oie mejjlClnifclJen :teUe an, nid)t nut: in bet fibet'
fetung aller einju)Higigen 6tellen, fonbem oefonbers aud) in ben llLusfil~tungen
iloer ;Sef. 53. Beiiler ift aoet nas ifagogifci)e irunbament be~ gan3en !Bucl)es n{ef)t
im (finUang mit gewiffer lut!Jetifd)er :tgeologie, weil bet ~{us!eget fief) bie falfcfJe
llLujiel)t angeeignet gat, baf; biefe .RapHel bes ~efaiabud)es nief)t bon :;Sefaia ~et'
ftammen, fonbern bon einem unbefannten (trulanten in !Babt)Ionien. !lIud) wenn
~lpoft. 8, 28 nicf)t filr ehten bioelgHiuli1gen 2::~eo!ogen ausfd)!ailgeflenb tniitc, fo ift
boel) fel)on bot me!)r a[s bieqig :;Sa~ren barau! ~ingewiefen tl1otben, bab bie !Be,
,Jugna~men bcs l!lerfaffets bon .reapitef ,10-66 bie ®eograpl)ie Des ~ei!ioen ~an'
bell llorausfeljm uUll oedi er bom 6iunblmnrt dnet perfiintid)m Stcnntng tebet.
(Hamil. Review, XXVII, 168 ff.) - 'Ilie ~usle\1ung bes 3111eiten Rotint~ethiefes
~at bet Deiter bes ganaCll Untetne~mens, D. @tid) Stange, fefoer oelorot.
\/{u41
~ier finben wit ben l1lertboUiten :teiI ber ~toeit, 111te in ben ftii~et etief)ienenen
Q:\(inben, in bet bOt3ilglid)en i1berfe~ung bes ®tUnote 6ies. 'Ilie ~nlage bet Q:\ii41er
forbert ef)er fursc lSetrad)tungen unD er(l(tuHd)e ~lnl1lenblingcn ag eigeutH41e
(2'regefe. 'Ilic 1.)(tUptgebanfen bes !Briefes nnll abet butd)tJ.1cg in feiner mleije
lUtebetgegeben, unb bet 2::~eolo\l wit\) an bic!en !lIusfil~tungen fetne l)eUe irteube
~alJcn. (fin tUtaCt Ouerfd)niti am (gnbc bes Qlanbes, beWett "SDas m50tt bon
ber llletfiil)nungll , htingt ®ebctnfen in dner !!Betic, bie aU eiftigem i\'orfd)en (1'1.'
Hlornen. - 'Iler llletleger oemerfi, bat bie in bet 6ede nod) fel)lenben (tbangdkn,
Mnbe, bie \ilpoltelgefd)id)te, bie Offenbarung :;Sof)annis unb bie brei :;Soljaimcs'
flriefe tm Baufe bet niid)ften ;;sal)re foIgen unb baf; aud) aus bem ~Hten 2::eftament
ioeitere Qliinbe in ben fommenben :;Sa~ren erid)cinen werben, a.!B. &'defeNd, ~ere'
mia, .I;Iioo.
~. cY:. ,\1' t e il man n
Why God l
an. By P. B. Fitzwater, D. D., Bible teacher in the
M:oody Bible Institute. The Bible Institute Colportage Association, Chicago. 79 pages. Price, 60 cts.
lVIore than once the present reviewer has declared that religious
literature from non-Lutheran sources is in nearly every case of inferior
quality. The truth of this assertion is exemplified by the book under
review. We read: "God would have incorporated Himself with the
race" - that is, the Second Person of the Trinity would have assumed
our human nature - "even though sin had not entered." (P, 5.) How
does the author happen to know this? "There are no contingencies in
God's plan." (P. 6.) This sentence has a rather fatalistic and Calvinistic ring to it. "Jesus Christ is not the King of the Church." (P. 40.)
What an outrageous statement! We readily perceive that this sharp
distinction between Church and Kingdom is part and parcel of a modern
chiliastic group. Ti'ue believers are certainly in the Church, and St. Paul
says that the Father "hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear
Son," Col. 1: 13. Concerning the unbelieving thief on the cross we
read: "He was not responsible for the sin that was in him because
he was born that way." (P. 46.) A very superficial view of original
sin. - True enough, the author says many fine things about Jesus Christ:
"He is now and forever the God-man." His virgin birth, His vicarious
Book Review - \litetatUt
395
suffering and death, and His glorious resurrection are confessed. The
author also correctly teaches that Christ, when tempted by the devil,
could not sin: "There was no possibility of failure on His part." Unfortunately, however, he spoils all this by declaring concerning the Virgin
Mary: "She was not the mother of God, as some falsely teach." (P. 13.)
If Jesus Christ is true God and true man in one undivided and indivisible Person, and if the blessed Virgin gave birth to that Person,
she must be the mother of God. According to Luke 1: 35 Mary gave
birth to the Son of God. According to Luke 2: 11 she gave birth to
Christ the Lord. According to Acts 20: 28 God purchased the Church
with. His own blood. Now, if the divine and the human nature are
so intimately united in the person of Christ L~at the Holy Spirit can
call the blood of Christ God's own blood, the mother of Christ is,
in deed and in truth, the mother of God. In the fifth century the heretic
Nestorius raved against this expression; his error was condemned by
the Council of Ephesus in 431. Twenty years later, at the Council of
Chalcedon, the Church again confessed the truth: "According to divinity,
begotten of the Father before all ages; according to humanity, born in
these last days for us and our salvation of the Virgin Mary, the mother
of God." In the sixteenth century, when men again presumed to contradict the Scriptural and churchly doctrine, the Church reiterated her
good confession: "Hence we believe, teach, and confess that Mary conceived and bore not a mere man and no more, but the true Son of God;
therefore she is also rightly called and is the mother of God." (Formula of Concord, Epitome, VIII, 12.) If Mary is not the mother of God,
then she gave birth to a mere man, then Christ is not the God-man,
then the personal union of the two natures in Christ falls to pieces,
then a mere man sUliered and died on the cwss, and then the whole
human race is lost. Can the author not see that it is somewhat dangerous
to reject the doctrine under consideration? And does it seem to him
a light thing to accuse the pure Church of all ages and her faithful
teachers of teaching falsely? Taki.·lg over the foregoing review by N. Rasmussen in the Luthenm Standard, we would add the following. The
book under review substantiates the charge that Chiliasm perverts the
hope of the Christian by fixing it not so much on the bliss of heaven
as on the fabled "golden age" of the millennium. The concluding
paragraphs of the book read: "When the purpose of God shall have
been fulfilled in gathering out a people for His name, Acts 15: 14, Christ
shall return in person and power to establish His kingdom on the earth.
This kingdom shall come into realization when He shall sit upon the
throne of His father David, Luke 1: 32. The completion of the work
which the Father entl'usted to Him requires the personal return of
J eSllS Christ to the earth. . .. Upon the ruins of the kingdoms of this
present evil world will be established the Messianic kingdom. The
Stone hewn out of the mountain without hands will smite the image
of the Antichrist and pulverize it. When the dust thereof is scattered
as the chaff on the summer threshing-floor, then will appear the kingdom of the Son of Man, Dan. 2: 44, 45. Christ will then reign until He
396
Book Review-2iteratur
has put all enemies under His feet. This is the golden age of which
the wise men of all ages have dreamed and [which] God's prophets
have foretold. Peace will then fill the earth because righteousness and
justice shall prevail. The knowledge of the Lord shall then cover the
earth as the waters cover the sea. Sin and sorrow shall be no more.
And then, when His mediatorial work shall have been completed, He will
yield the kingdom up to God, and God will become all in all, 1 Cor.
15: 24-28. Hallelujah! Amen." (Pp. 66, 78.)
TH. ENCELDER
Winona Echoes 1939. Forty-three Notable Messages by Speakers at the
45th Annual Winona Lake Bible Conference. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Hapids, Mir"h
320 pages, 6X9. Price:
Cloth, $2.00; paper, $1.00.
The Winona Lake Bible Conferences have become so well known
throughout our country that they require no further introduction or
description. At Winona Lake, Ind., Fundamentalists of many denominations meet each summer for Bible-study and the discussion of timely
theological subjects. Among the addresses offered in this volume we
note "Paul in Damascus," by H. W. Bieber; "The Power of the Holy
Ghost," by G. Douglas; "Calvary," by R. G. Lee; "God's Message to
ca in a
r of Crisis," by P. W. Hood; "Witnessing Christians,"
by A. S. Johnson. But in a special way the Winona Echoes 1~~~
"
dedicated to the memory of the late evangelist and Bible-teacheJ:'
W. E. Biederwolf, who was one of the main supporters of the Winona
Bible Conferences. Besides a sketch of his life we find in them tributes
by many of his friends, a picture of the well-known and popular Bible
Conference promoter, and the last sermon he preached shortly before his
death in the Royal Poinciana Chapel, Palm Beach, Fla. What delights
the Christian reader of these Echoes is the clear and convincing testimony
of salvation through faith in Christ, set forth by various men from
different points of view. In an age when Modernism is so very widely
spread it is gratifying to notice that there are still witnesses of the
Gospel who glory in preaching Christ Crucified.
J. THEODORE MUELLER
)Seitriige 5ur g;iJrberung dJtiftndier ::tf)clIIllgie. 40. !BanD. 4. &';left. U r ~
dJriftentum unb @efdJidJte in ber neuteftamentlicl:)en
:r 1) e 0 r 0 9 i e f e i t b e r :;s a 1) r 1) u n b e r t IlJ e n b e. mon Lic. Habit
Romab iillcib, '3)oaent an bet Unibetfitiit !BetHn. [. !BertelSmann,
@titerslo1). 1939. 36 @5eiten 6x81!2. ~teiS, iat±oniett: RM.1.00.
'3)ieier Illuffat otientied trefffidJ tiber bie berfd)iebenen :;Sbeen nnb midJ~
tungen, bie feit bem ~al)re 1900 in ber neutcftamentlidJen i\'orfd)ung jJrominent
gehlorDen finb. ~{ngefnUvft llJirb in)onbetTJeit un bie lJeamen Illbo1f &';lamna unv
Illlfteb @5eeberg. '3)ie reIigionsgefdJid)tIicl)e @5dJu{e llJirb gefd)Hbert. lJ1atUdid)
luerben aud) anbere i\'orfcf)er, llJie ~[). ,8al)n, Ill. @5cf)fatter, !Ruboff ,otto, .!Htte{
unb 1JJ1. '3)ibefius, etllJas befVrod)en. '3)ab bet metfafler bon ort1)obo[et "mer~
fteifung ll tebet, etregt ,8llJcifel bnrUber, ob er genuin~{utTJerifcf)e 5d)tiftforfcf)ung
iill. sa t n b t
objeftib beurteHt.
Book Review - 13iteratut
397
What Is Buchmanism? By W. G. Schwehn. (Tract No. 132.)
Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. 31 pages, 5x71f4. Price,
12 cts. per copy, postpaid; dozen copies, $1.20, and postage.
Concordia Publishing House is to be commended for publishing this
tract on Buchrnanism, or Moral Rearmament, one of the ephemeral phenomena of our bewildered and confused religious worTd. Rev. Schwehn,
pastor of our Lutheran Church at Hannibal, Mo., investigates the claims
of Buchmanism as to its success in "transforming lives," shows that it
does not understand the true character of sin, totally ignores the
vicarious atonement, justification by faith, and therefore lacks every
basis for a true moral rearmament. The tract is intended for the general
public, and we hope that it will enjoy a wide distribution among OUi'
laity. There is room for debate as to the author's statement that
Buchmanism "had its origin in this country." It is true that Frank
Buchman was trained for the Lutheran ministry in America and still
is on the roster of ministers in the Pennsylvania Ministerium. But the
movement was started by Buchman at Oxford and had its first successes
on European soil.
F. E. MAYER
Daughter of the Euphrates. By Elizabeth Caraman. Harper & Brothers,
New York. 277 pages, 5lhx7%. Price, $2.00.
In Kurdistan there existed up to the time of the late World War
a fairly flourishing Armenian Christian Church, which in spite of
frequent bitter persecutions and horrible massacres adhered steadfastly
to the faith of their fathers. During the World War (1915-1919), however, the enraged Turks, through unmerciful billeting, rape, murder, and
exile, destroyed entire Christian towns and communities, among these
the village of Habousie, where the author had spent her sweet childhood
days. As a girl of eleven she saw her father murdered and her mother
led off to a fate uncertain only as to details-rape and murder. With
an unusual fortitude and resourcefulness, however, she herself finally
effected her escape and that of her sister - sole survivors of a family
which before the persecution numbered over forty members. The
pathetic story is plainly but charmingly told, and throughout the writer
makes the impression that what she says is absolutely true. At times
she speaks with almost too great frankness, so that it may be well to
reserve the story for experienced readers. Western Christians will lay
aside the book with a feeling of shame at their own petty "sacrifices"
on behalf of Christ when they compare them with the almost superhuman sacrifices made by these simple Armenian Christians in the
East. The book has many an important lesson to teach to our presentday Christian generation.
J. THEODORE MUELLER
Iillcg lIub 3ttfttnft bet ffiemcin!le ~~fu. :Das \3amm @lottes unb bcr 1illiber'
cl)tift. €3ieoen \j3rcbigten tibet Dffenb. 12-14. mon !mag . .ldef1mut~ \}rc!).
(ialtller mminslJud)~anblung, €3tllttgart. 60 €3dten 5lhx9. ~reis:
RM.1.20.
:Die ~iet gebotenen !lltebigten tllurben im €3ommet 1938 in :Dorpat (G:ftranb)
ge~QIten, alfo ein ~a~t bot bem Untllettcr, bas tiber bie beutfd)en 13ut~eraner
her baHifcf)en ~robin3cll flmill\1cbrod)en ift. :Dod) IlJat bie 9lotlage infolge bet
398
Book Review - \!iteratut
nnmittelbaren ~ii~e bes !8otfd)ettJismu5 fd)on gto!> \lenng. irUt ben metfaffer unb
feine 311I)Orer hlat bas, tvas er bon $l'umpf unb stroft lagt, wa~rnd) me~r aIS
bfo~e I.jl~rafe. stlie I.jlrebigten jinb butrI)\)aud)t bon ~eiber 2icbe 3U 0:(ltifto unb
ieinem !!!lort. stlie IJJCctnung bes merfaffers, bab bie 8(1)t 666 bie Illiotte 1I.~aiier
o;nero/l bebeute unb baB bamU antid)riftlid)c IJJCCid)te gemeint felen, bie in elnem
nod) 3ufiinftigen Drd(1) unb &';)enfd)er 11),e 6pite erreid)en )uUrben, ronnen tvit
nid)t tcilcu, ba uns bet \j.lapft ber Illntid)tift ift. :;"5m aUgemeincu anet 1)aben tvit
~iet treffIid)e tut~erifcl)e 6d)tiftauslegung mit ernfter, padenber, aettgemiibet
Illnluenbung.
!!!l. III t n II t
"mid &nabe nub ~riebe", 1 \j.letr. I, 2. ~ine !8iliehl.lod)e Ubet ben erften
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71 €ScUm 6 ~< 9.
(~inc im allgemdnen trefflid)e €Setie bon fed)s l)JortrCigen. irtifd) unD frCiftig
tvirb ge3eid)net, tief ins \!eben with 1)ineingegtiffen, bide !8etfpiele werhen gegeoen.
stlen grollen @ebanfen, bie ber Qtpoftel nieberfcl)reibt, whb nad)gega:ngen. <nne
~r!1illjctUng, bie bon mer§ oll mers ge~t, ift natiirlid) ausgefc!)loffen.
'!lab bies
bie {etten !IDorte \j.letti jinb, ift eine lJJCeinnng, bie ill it nid)t teifen. ~nod) weniger
ftimmen tvit hem merfaifer Dei, wenn er in bet befannten €SteUe bon bet S''diiUen.
fa~rt, 1 \j.lett. 3, 19-21, dnen ~inweig aUf bas groBe ~rbatmen :;s~fu jie~t.
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mcrM)tte. :;sn formcller S';>inf1d)t finb bie moritage \JorbilbHdl. !!!l. III r n b t
'!lie lBolimud)t ~~tt. ;;rine Unterloeifung hn ~bangeHum. mOlt :martin ~1iget.
(£1)r. ~aifer.met!ag, IJJCUnd)en. 147 €scHen 5%'X8%,. ~art. RM.3.00.
Um Die jungen ileutfc!)en ba3u ou bring en, \ld) mit ;j~fu au befd)iiftigcu,
ge~t DCt metfaffer aus bon ciner msal)t~cit, bie bon allen, bie nid)t einfad) ®ottes<
leugner finb, anedannt mitb, ber statfad)e bet IllUmad)t @ottes. ~r witft hann
bie irrage aUf: !!!lie fteUt jid) :;"5G\:fuS 3U ber ~1Umad)t @ottes1 mon 1)iet all~
befptic\lt er bie ~)Serfon nnb bas !!!liden unferil .\jeHanbes. 1JJ1an mUll augeben,
ball aUf ciefc m.leife gefd)idl unb ttefjeuiJ eln @ejpriid) Ubet ~G\:fus eingcleitet
tuiti>. ilie ~usfU1)tungen finll fonfret unb padenb. irolgenbe fed)s Rapiteliiliet<
fd)tiflen geben dhJas llluffCl)lu); tiber ben @ang bet (~riirtet1!ngm: :;s~fug red)net
mit ber 1ll1lmad)t @ottesj ::\C5:fus lebt in bet l)Jolfmact)t feines matCtS; :;s'l:fus
ftiibt aUf bie ~igenmad)t ber lJJIenfd)enj :;s~fus whet in ber O~nmacl)t be~
.Rreu5eSj ~~fns wirft burd) bie Ol}nmad)t feiner @emeinbe; :;"5~fus tommt in
ber QWmacljt (\Jotles. stlic bogmatifC£)c ~inftellunll bes !llierfes ift reformiert.
!!!l. !It r II b t
(!)j)tte~ !lIhut nnt i5!ltge. mon \j.laul €Sd)emjJp. ~1)tA~aifer.medag, IJJCUnd)en.
121 €SeHeu 6X9. \j.lreiS, fartoniert: RM.2.20.
'!lie lllustDQ~! bet ste.t;tc in Diefer @3ammlung bon 25 @ta:bteben 1ft tetor
~aHigj Die ;;rrUiitung bes ::tebtes UllO bie Illnmenbung aUf ben oefonberen iraU
ift mit einigen lllusn(1)men gut getroffen. stlas lJ1ibean bet :!)orfgemeinbe, in
beten lJJCitte bieie llieben ge1)aften wothen finll, mUll iegr ~ocf) fein. !!!lit tvunbern
IIns, DO bie stlut('~fcljnittsgcmetnbe bie fcljwungbolle €Sprac!)e wUrbigen unb be~
fonbers, 00 fte bem \j.l~i!ofop~ieren Ubet "bie matfel1)aftigreit bes ::tobes nnb beffeu
€Sd)atten anf bas \!elien" folgen fann. stler merfaffer fcljeint unfers ~tad)tens 3U
Book Review - 2itetatut
399
fe~t unier bem ~influffe bes bart~tanifd)en fagen tvit Heber bes call1inijtifd)en
- l{leHimgmus 3U fte~en unb fd)Hbett bas 2eben, uno geraDe bas ber (5;ljtiften,
ill 311 bunnen jJatben. \.man lJermitt bas @et~arbtid)e ,,9Jlein &;letse ge~t in
i6jJriingen". 'tIas mag b(1)cr lommen, baB bie 2eljre bon bet ffiecf)tfertigunll unb
feine bas 'tIunIe! bes Glrabcs crleUd)tellbe S';lcrdid)feit nicf)t geniigenb betont tllirb.
'tile ~lnfjJtad)en IlJerllCll abet beU! l.J5aftor bei bet Iltusatbeitung bOll 53eicl)en~
llrebigten mancf)el1 ~inr gebcn.
jJ. ~. we a l) e r
The Fine Art of
~. By Andrew W. Blackwood. Cokesbury
Press, Nashville, Tenn. 247 pages, 5'-hx8. Price, $2.00.
After reading this book, we can still better appreciate as a precious
heritage our Lutheran form of worship, including the sermon, the liturgy,
the lectionary, the hymns, the music, and the appointments themselves,
wherever all these still conform to good tradition. But the book directs
us to give better attention to some things which we have, so that they
will better serve their purpose. We refer to the training of the leader
in worship, the public reading of the Scriptures, the selection of the
hymns, the leading in prayer. Every church service should have not
only a unified plan but also, in all its parts, serve a distinct purpose: the
edification of the worshiping congregation.
The sermon should supply the needs of the congregation and be well
delivered, the Scripiure should be read so that all can hear and understand the collects and p:tayzl"S :;hDUld be well chosen and well spoke:1.
the hymns should be selected to conform to the particular service and be
well sung to suitable hymn tunes, the congregation should heartily join
in the singing of the responses, the attitude of the worshiping congregation and of the spiritual leader in God's holy temple should be that
of awe and reverence. All this must be learned and practiced. The
public reading of Scripture, for instance, is a real art. And we have
often wondered how much a congregation has understood of the collect
and made it its own prayer. Nor should we introduce something into
our church services "just because it is nice." Let our church services
confonn to good usage, be dignified and edifying.
J. H. C. FRITZ
j
1
Stories d i>opular Hymns. By Kathleen Blanchard. 142 pages. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich. Price, $1.00.
A book of stories on our favorite hymns ought not merely to retell
the various legends that have in the course of time gathered around
these hymns. That is largely what this book does. In recent years a
number of reliable works have been published that give authentic
information about most .of our hymns, so that no author has an excuse
for rushing into print with stories about our hymns without checking
all available sources carefully. That is what the present author has
often failed to do. The story about Neale's great hymn "Art Thou
Weary, Art Thou Languid?" is a case in point. The author calls it
a translation from the Greek, even though Neale himself wrote nearly
seventy-five years ago that it was not a translation. Another example
is the account given of the hymn "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee."
It is stated as a historical fact that Bernard of Clairvaux is the author,
400
Book Review - 53iterutm
in spite of the fact that all research thus far has failed to establish any
proof. At best it can only be said that the hymn is ascribed to St. Bernard. Finally we hold it to be unwise in any collection of popular
hymns and hymn stories to omit the most popular hymn of all, namely,
Luther's "A Mighty Fortress." That hymn has been translated into
more languages than any other single hymn in the world, yet the author
makes no mention of it nor of G€rhardt's "Commit Thou All Thy Griefs"
nor of Nicolai's "Wake, Awake" nor of Tersteegen's "Gatt ist gegenwaertig." In fact, Lutheran hymnody is represented by one hymn alone,
Rinckart's "Nun danket aIle Gatt," although sixty-seven hymns are
discussed!
W. G. POLACK
~on
gcftern nnb ~eute. ~in llud)'oenHid)es sabe, gefammeH 1mb ~m!U~{le\leb'!l
bon SjallS 'Dittmer. @iittingCIT, manben~oecr & iRupred)t.
Sjiet hlt.b uull cine 6ammluug bon @efd)id)ten, ~itaten, sanetbotcn unb
'llusfptlid)CIT geboten, bie bem bielbefd)1iftigten !lJaftor gute SDienftc leillen fann,
nic~t fohlo~l unb l)auptf1id)lidJ flir bie ~tebigt a!§ flit :;SUuftratioucn im 6d)uh
unb ~onfitmanbcnuntetticl)t [ohlie flir jfjibemalfcn. ®1il)rcno mancl)c bet sailS.
,lige aUf beutfd)taubifd)c mer~1iltniffe 3ugefef)uiiten finb, fo liiilt fief) bod) bei
hlcitem bie grililte !mel)t3al)( aud) l)ier in 'llmerifa berllJerten. !nUt feitcll rtott
etn Sitat bie 'llnbaef)t.'tIas lSuef) hlirb 1)iermit unfem SJe!ern allgc!egentr"
empfolJ1Cl1, hlomit nid)t gcfagt ift, ball tvir aUes, tuas in vem mano cntl)(!lten i ••
tlidl)amo~ unterfd)reiben.
~. ~. ~ ret Ilt a 11. 11.
)
ECEI
From Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Mich.:
Tangled Threads. By Paul Brockhaus. 189 pages, 5lJ4x7%. Price,
BOOI1
$1.00.
The Glory of His
Price, $1.00.
'!lice.
By W. H. Wrighton. 126 pages, 51(4X7:.
From Bicn Press, 843-845 Wells St., Chicago:
The Mystery of East Mountain Temple. By John Bechtel., Hongkong, China. 127 pages, 5X7:\h. Price, $1.00, net.
From Fleming H.RevelZ Company, New York, London, Edinburgh:
The Minister's Annual. Vol. 12. Compiled and edited by Joseph
McGray Ramsey. 576 pages, 5:\hx81(z.
From the Abingdon Press, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago:
Remembering Christ. By Walter Russell Bowie. 183 pages, 5%X7Jh.
Price, $1.50.
From Cokesbury Press, Nashville, Tenn.:
The Psalms for Every Day. With a Thousand lllustrations from
Life and Literature. By Jane T. Stoddart. 382 pages, 6X9. Price, $3.50.
From Thomas Nelson & Sons, New York:
For Hungry Souls. By Roy G.Mansbach. 30 pages, 6%X9. Price,
35 ct<;.
From Light and Life Press, Winona Lake, Ina.:
Youth Speaks! By Leslie Ray Marston, Ph. D.
Price, $1.25, postpaid.
206 pages, 5X7%.