Church & Ministry - Lesson 16

CHURCH AND MINISTRY

2003

LESSON SIXTEEN

I. Thesis V Concerning the Ministry

A. The public ministry [Predigtamt] has the power to preach the Gospel and administer the holy sacraments as well as the power of spiritual judgment. (Church and Ministry, p. 213)

B. Scripture Proof

1. Mt 28:19,20.

2. Jn 20:21-23.

3. Jn 21:15,16: “feed” “take care of”

4. 1Co 4:1

C. Confessions and Creeds

1. Augsburg

a. “‘Now our adherents teach that the power of the keys or that of the bishops is, according to the Gospel, a power and command of God to preach the Gospel, forgive and retain sins, and administer and take care of the sacraments….This power of the keys or of the bishops is exercised and administered only by teaching and preaching God’s Word and administering the sacraments, either to many or to individuals, according to the call….Therefore, according to the divine right, it is the office of the bishops to preach the Gospel, forgive sins, judge doctrine, and reject teachings that are contrary to the Gospel as well as to exclude from the Christian congregation, not by any human power but only through God’s Word, the wicked whose perversity is manifest. And in such cases the parishioners and congregations owe obedience to the bishops according to Christ’s declaration: “He who hears you, hears Me” (Luke 10:16)’ (Art. XXVIII, par. 5-21; German text, Triglot, pp. 84,86)” (Tappert, pp. 81-84; Kolb and Wengert, pp. 90-94)

2. Apology: See Art. XXVIII, par 12-14; (Tappert, p.283; Kolb and Wengert, p. 290).

3. Smalcald Articles

a. “‘Now everywhere, even our adversaries, must confess that this command is given alike to all [believers] who preside over the churches, whether they are called pastors or elders or bishops’ (Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops, par 60-61; German text, Triglot, p. 520)” See S.A., Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, par 60,61; Tappert, p. 330; Kolb and Wengert, p. 340)

D. Witnesses in Private Writings

1. Chemnitz, Martin

a. See Lesson 7.

b. “‘This office [ministerium] has a power granted to it by God (2Cor. 10:4ff.; 13:3-40 but one that is circumscribed by definite duties and limits, namely, to preach the Word of God, instruct the erring, rebuke the sinners, exhort the lax, console the anxious, strengthen the weak, resist the gainsayers, examine and condemn false doctrine, convict transgressions of morals, administer the divinely instituted sacraments, remit and retain sins, be examples to the flock, pray for the church, privately and publicly lead the congregation in prayer, care for the poor, excommunicate publicly the contumacious, receive those who repent and reconcile them with the church, install ministers according to Paul’s prescription, and with the consent of the congregation introduce ceremonies that serve the ministry, are not at variance with God’s Word, do not burden consciences, but promote order, dignity, propriety, peace, and edification. That belongs to the two chief parts, namely, to the power to preach the Gospel and administer the sacraments as well as to the power of jurisdiction’ (Examen Concilii Tridentini, “De sacramento ordinis,” sec. 1, p. 573” (quoted, Church and Ministry, pp. 215, 216)

2. Gerhard, John

a. See Lesson 1.

b. “‘But all these and similar things by no means deny to the ministry of the church anything except (1) absolute power and (2) political power. The former belongs only to God, the latter to civil government. Therefore, the ministry dare not arrogate to itself either of the two….’ (Loci theologici, “De min. eccl.,” par, 191-192)” (quoted Church and Ministry, 216)