Church & Ministry - Lesson Four

CHURCH AND MINISTRY

2003

LESSON FOUR

I. Thesis IV Concerning the Church

A. It is to this true church of believers and saints that Christ gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and it is the proper and only possessor and bearer of the spiritual, divine, and heavenly gifts, rights, powers, offices, and the like that Christ has procured and are found in His church. (Church and Ministry, page 49.)

B. Scripture Proof

1. Mt 16:15-19: addressed to Peter.

2. Mt 18:1,18: shows pertains to all His disciples.

3. Mt 28:20: therefore, they possess with Him all things.

4. Jn 20:20,23

5. 1Co 3:21-23

6. 1Pe 2:9

C. Confessions and Creeds

1. Augsburg, Art. XXVIII. (Tappert pp. 81-94; Kolb and Wengert pp. 90-103)

2. Smalcald Articles.

a. “‘The keys are an office and power given by Christ to the church.’ (Part III, Art. VII; Triglot, p. 493)” (quoted, Church and Ministry, p. 51; see Tappert, III, VII, par. 1, p.311 and Kolb and Wengert, III, VII, par. 1, p. 321)

b. “‘For as the promise of the Gospel belongs to the whole church primarily and immediately, so also the keys belong to the whole church immediately…; for the keys are nothing else than the ministry of the Word by which that promise is communicated to all who desire it….’ (ibid. [“Of the Power and Primacy of the Pope”], part XI, par. 22ff.; German text, Triglot, p. 510).” (quoted, Church and Ministry, p. 51; see Tappert, part 11, par. 22ff., pp. 323-327 and Kolb and Wengert, part 11, par. 22ff., pp. 333-337)

D. Witnesses in Private Writings

1. Luther, Martin (see Lesson Two)

a. “‘Our Creed, therefore, is so arranged that the phrase ‘forgiveness of sins’ must stand behind ‘a holy Christian church’ and after ‘I believe in the Holy Spirit’, so that people may know that without the Holy Spirit there is no holy church, and without the holy church, no forgiveness of sins.’ (“Tract Concerning Confession,” Halle edition, 19: 1051-54).” (quoted Church and Ministry, p. 56)

b. “‘The keys belong to the whole communion of Christians and to everyone who is a member of that communion, and this pertains not only to their possession but also to their use and whatever else there may be’ (“Letter to the Council and Congregation in the City of Prague,” Halle edition, 10: 1845-47).” (quoted Church and Ministry, pp. 57,58)

2. Polycarp Leyser

a. aka Polykarp Leyser. The Elder; father of Polykarp Leyser the Younger; 1552-1610; professor and general supt. at Wittenberg 1577-1587; supt. at Brunswick 1587-1593; court preacher at Dresden 1594. (Lutheran Cyclopedia, p. 469)

b. “‘The expression ‘keys of the kingdom’ therefore embraces every official transaction, power, and authority by which all things are done that are necessary for the kingdom of Christ and the rule of His church….’ (Harmonia quatuor evangelistarum, c. 85, p. 1626….)” (quoted Church and Ministry, p. 59-61)

3. Augustine (see Lesson Three)

a. “‘The church, founded by Peter, received of Him through Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven, for what the church is properly on Christ, that Peter is figuratively on the rock; by rock Christ is symbolized, by Peter the church’ (De doctrina Christiana 1.18).” (quoted Church and Ministry, p. 66)

b. “‘Not one man but the whole church has received the keys. Therefore also the preferring [excellentia] of Peter is praised because he symbolizes the universal and one church’ (De diversis, par. 108).” (quoted Church and Ministry, p. 66)