Lutherna View of Church and State

JUSTIFICATION

2006-2007

LESSON ONE

I. Introduction

A. Martin Chemnitz

1. 1522-1586.

2. At age 31 (1553) was called to the University of Wittenberg to continue study in theology and do some part-time teaching.

3. He lived in the home of Philip Melanchthon who prevailed on him to lecture on Melanchthon’s own Loci Communes.

4. 1554, left Wittenberg to become the Assistant to the General Superintendent of the Churches of the City of Brunswick. For next thirty years, until retirement in 1584, studied and lectured on Melanchthon’s Loci.

5. One of the principal figures in the development of the Formula of Concord.

6. Though Loci Theologici is his lectures on Melanchthon’s work, often obvious Chemnitz pays little attention to Melanchthon’s work and in some cases, totally disagrees with Melanchthon without publicly rebuking Melanchthon.

7. Popular adage: “If Martin [Chemnitz] had not come along, Martin [Luther] would hardly have survived.”

B. Loci Theologici

1. Edited in name of his heirs by Polycarp Leyser.

a. The Elder: 1552-1610.

2. This part published in 1594.

3. Translated by J.A.O. Preus.

C. Before this, dealt with: (p. 443)

1. What God is and what His nature is.

2. How man was created in image and likeness of God.

3. How he fell.

4. What horrible corruption followed, coming upon all human powers.

5. The voice of the Law, which before judgment seat of God reveals, accuses and condemns this depraved nature together with all its fruits.

D. Doctrine of justification distinguishes church from all others.

1. Augustine: “The church distinguishes the just from the unjust not by standards of works but by the standard of faith.” (quoted, p. 443).

2. This locus is the pinnacle and chief bulwark of all teaching and of the Christian religion itself; if subverted, impossible to retain purity of doctrine in the other loci.

3. Luther: “After my death this doctrine will again be brought into obscurity.” (quoted, p. 443).

E. Methodology of approach to this study. (p. 444)

1. Explain what the Gospel is and how distinguished from the Law.

2. The meaning of “to justify”, “righteousness”, and “to be righteous”.

3. The meaning of “freely” and “the grace of God”.

4. Explain what justifying faith is and what is included with it.

5. Because works of Law must be removed from the article of justification, show which works are to be understood.

F. The church must be concerned about language.

1. To understand terms, must remember that Holy Spirit uses certain terms not found in common usage.

2. To avoid devising new ideas or producing new dogmas.

3. To identify and avoid errors.

II. The Gospel: The doctrine of free reconciliation or of the benefits of the Mediator. (p. 445)

A. Christ Himself gave His doctrine this name and apostles called it “the ministration of the new covenant”. (2Co. 3:6)

B. Name is derived from Septuagint.

1. Prophets used Nebrew “bāsar” when they foretold the preaching of grace or the new covenant.

2. Trans in LXX by Gk. “euangelizesthai”. (sic)

a. Is 52:7 - “good news”.

b. Ro 10:15 - Paul interprets Is. as a description of new covenant.

c. Ps 40:6-8.

d. Heb 10:5-7 - Applies Ps. to Christ.

e. These passages foretell the future preaching in the era of the new covenant (using “bāsar”), trans. in LXX by “euaggelitzesthai”).

C. It is also called “thōrah” (law) in general sense, e.g.

1. Is 2:3.

2. c.f. Ro 3:27 - “law of faith”.

3. c.f. Ro 8:2 - “law of the Spirit of life”.

D. But “public title” of the doctrine required a showing of the difference between teaching of Moses and teachings of Christ, even in their very names.

E. “Bāsar”/“euangelizesthai” (sic) (OT/LXX) (p. 446)

1. Not used for indiscriminate announcing of just any kind of good and happy news.

2. Used for announcement of liberation from enemies, restoring of peace and tranquillity which was brought to them in their anxious waiting.

3. Rationale applies well to preaching concerning the benefits of the Son of God.

4. Also, because doctrine to be preached to all nations, adopted a word not only known to the Jews from LXX but had been in common usage among the Greeks.

F. Greek term, in ordinary speech, had three meanings. (p. 446)

1. The happy announcement itself about good and pleasant things, particularly of the felicitous outcome of a battle (eg Plutarch).

2. The reward and gift given to the bearer of good tidings (eg Homer).

3. The sacrifice and prayers which are observed because of the announcement of good news (eg Plutarch)

4. Note: 3 meanings almost completely agree with Scriptural use of the word.

G. Definition of terms in Scripture (p. 447)

1. Ought be no doubt Holy Spirit has knowledge of words.

2. Words He uses in treating heavenly doctrine are significant.

3. Scripture treats of one and same concept but using different words.

a. By comparison, a sure and certain meaning can be gathered; and

b. So that with the words, which due to brevity we can retain more easily than lengthy discussions, we can always carry around the doctrines and keep them before us.

H. A great many terms are applied to the doctrine of the Gospel, categorized as:

1. Some are of a general nature.

a. Is 2:3 - “the Word”

b. Ro 6:17 - “the teaching/the doctrine”.

c. Were used in NT because in OT it had been described by the same terms. (e.g. Ps 119)

2. Certain terms denote a kind of notation, paraphrase or explanation of the word “Gospel”, eg:

a. Heb 6:5: “the good Word of God”.

b. 1Ti 4:6: “the good teaching (doctrine)”

c. Ro 16:25: “the proclamation” (Gk: kērygma) - it must be preached with strong voice, clearly, from the heart, earnestly, cheerfully.

3. Certain terms for “Gospel” speak of its author or origin, namely that it is not a teaching known by nature to human reason, but is a mystery, hidden from the ages, which the Son of God has told us.

a. Mt 13:52.

b. Mk 1:27.

4. Certain terms point to and describe the subject matter of the Gospel.

a. Mt 13:19.

b. Mk 1:14.

5. Certain terms refer to the effects of the Gospel.

a. Jn 6:68.

b. Ac 5:20.

6. Certain terms pertain to the instrument by which the promise of the Gospel is apprehended.

a. Ro 10:8: “Word of faith”.

b. Php 1:27: “the faith of the Gospel”.

7. Certain terms are metaphorical.

a. Mt 9:17.

b. Mt 13:24,27.