Church & Ministry - Lesson 24

CHURCH AND MINISTRY

2004

LESSON TWENTY-FOUR

I. Thesis X Concerning the Ministry

To the ministry of the Word, according to divine right, belongs also the duty [Amt] to judge doctrine, but laymen also possess this right. Therefore, in the ecclesiastical courts (consistories) and councils they are accorded both a seat and vote together with the clergy. (Church and Ministry, p. 332)

II. Scripture Proof

A. Walther:

“The fact that it is the duty of the ministers to judge doctrine requires no proof, for the ministerial office could not be administered without judging doctrine. However, according to God’s Word, the right to judge doctrine has not been taken way from the laymen by the establishment of the ministry. On the contrary, this is their most sacred duty, as in the first place all those passages of Holy Scripture that command laymen to judge doctrine incontestably declare.” (Church and Ministry, p. 332)

B. 1Co 10:15,16

C. 1Jn 4:1

D. 2Jn 10,11

E. Mt 7:15,16

F. Ac 17:11

G. 1Th 5:21

H. Ac 15:6,12,22

I. 1Co 2:15,16

J. 1Co 3:21-23

K. Mt 24:4,5

III. Confessions and Creeds

A. Smalcald Articles, Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, par. 51. (Tappert, p. 329; Kolb and Wengert, pp. 338,339).

IV. Witnesses in Private Writings

A. Luther, Martin (see Lesson 2)

a. “‘It belongs to each and every Christian to know and judge doctrine, indeed so much so that anyone who weakens this right even in the least is condemned….This admonition he certainly addresses to the people against the teachers, commanding them to avoid their false doctrine. But how can they avoid it if they do not recognize it? And what good does it do to recognize it if they do not have the right to judge it? He not only gives them the right to judge but also commands them to judge….’ (Against Henry, King of England, 1522, St. Louis, edition, 19:341 ff.)” (quoted, Church and Ministry, pp. 333-337)

b. “‘Accordingly, we believe as an incontrovertible truth that the right to recognize, judge, or test doctrine is ours and not that of the councils, popes, fathers, and teachers. But from this it does not follow that we have the power to make laws. That authority belongs only to God, but to us belongs the right to recognize, prove, and judge His Law and Word and to separate that from all other enactments. But we have no right to enact laws or to command anything….’” (ibid.)

c. “‘Nevertheless, in every way the matters should be heard soon and rightly judged. To such a trial not only the priests are to be invited but also pious, learned persons from the secular states and eminent members of the church….’ (The Wittenberg Reformation, 1545, St. Louis edition, 17:1159).” (quoted Church and Ministry, pp. 342,343).

B. Gerhard, John (see Lesson 1)

a. “‘Bellarmine objects that since the people are ignorant they cannot judge the doctrine of the pastor in any other way than by comparing it with that of his predecessors or the regular pastors. I reply: That this is false is obvious from the example of the Christians at Berea, who daily searched the Scriptures to find out whether things were as Paul and Barnabas presented them (Acts 17:11). They did not regard the teaching of the regular pastors as the norm by which to judge, but the Scriptures, which were entrusted to them for this purpose by the Holy Spirit….’ (Loci theologici, “De min. eccl.”, par. 88).” (quoted Church and Ministry, pp. 343-346).

b. “‘But,’” Bellarmine might say, ‘if the people themselves could judge the doctrine of their pastor, then no ministers would be necessary.’ I reply” What logic [Zusammenhang] is there in this inference? God has commanded both, namely, that the people should judge the teaching of the pastor, and that there should nevertheless be appointed and regular ministers in the church, for not all are teachers (1Cor. 12:29; Eph. 4:11). It is something else to judge doctrine and distinguish between heresies and true doctrine and between false prophets and true teachers, which is a general calling pertaining to all Christians, than publicly to teach in the church, which is a special calling….” (ibid.)

c. Note: Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621). Nephew of Pope Marcellus II; Jesuit; professor. (Luth. Cyclo., p. 83)

END OF LESSON PLAN