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Martin Luther's Hermeneutic As the Proclamation of the Gospel

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Martin Luther's Hermeneutic As the Proclamation of the Gospel MARTIN LUTHER'S HERMENEUTIC AS THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL PRE-MODERN LUTHER FOR POST-MODERN TIMES By Barry Grant Rasmussen A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requiremenfs of the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Religion University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba March" 1999. Tm LINTyERSITY OF MANTIOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES *** ** COPIT,IGHT PER]VISSION PAGE HARTIN LI]TEER' S EEIÌ{ENET'TIC ÁS TEE PNOCI,.AI,ATION OF ÏEE GOSPEL: Pf,E-T{ODERN LI'TEER FOR POSI-UODERN TI}TES A ThesislPracticum submitted to the Facurty of Graduate Studies of rhe u.iversity of ùfanitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Barry crant Rasuussen @1999 Permission has been granted to the Library of rhe university of Manitoba to rend or se copies of this thesisþracticum, to the N¿tional Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or selì copies of the firm, a¡d to Dissertations Abstracts rnte¡nationar to pubtish an abstract of this thesis/practicum. The author reserves other publication rights, and neither this thesis,/practicum nor ertensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's written permission. National ubrary Bibl¡othèque nationale I*l du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et B¡bl¡ographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Slreel 395, rue wellington Ottawa ON KlA 0N4 ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Oút l¡le NÕt@ rëlércñæ The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copynght in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts from it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sal1s son permìssion. autorisation. 0-612-41622-4 Canadä TABLE OF CONTENTS Prefnce...... List of Abbrevinl ions Glossary.. vii lntrod uction A Description of Luther's Hermeneutic...... I Other lnterpreters of Luther... 25 Thesis and Organization 35 Chapter l: Law and Gospel ......... 50 The Distìnction between Law and Gospel as Hermeneutic 5l The Gospel-Word, Jesus Christ, is a Word of Promise from God . ..... 55 The Goal ofBoth Law and Gospel o¿ The Sitz im Lehen of the One Addressed 72 The "Law" "Kills" . 75 Law and Gospel Work Together 84 The "Happy Exchange" 9l Scripture Applied to Life Proclamatiou . .. t0l Conclusion 107 Chapter 2: Justification by Faith lil The Beginning of Luther's New Hermeneutic . .. .. .. llt "Right eousness" I l5 Alien Righteousness .......... 127 The External Word: Given by God for Us ..... .............. 137 Christ is Signifier and Signified 153 Subject and Object. .. t6l Certainty of Salval ion 166 Conclusion 175 Chapter 3: The Bondage of the Will lntroduction 180 Relationship between the Bondage of the Will and Justification by Faith l8l God's Word is not a Past ¿ogo.t 191 Liberum arhilrium Belongs to God Alone 199 Raptured zo3 Freedom 2t1 111 l)eu,s r¿veluÍtts and l)eus ahscottdiltt.s . .. Conclusiol't ??o Chapter 4: The Sact'aments lntroduction 243 The Direction of Communication .. .. .. .. 247 t55 The Ubiquity ofGod and the Presence of Chríst in the Lord's Supper .. Clrristology )11 Present Proclamation and the Work of the Holy Spirit ..... 289 Conclusion 297 Chapter 5: The Experience of Anfechtungen Introduction 304 The Promises of Satan in the Experience of Anfechnngen 305 Experience: The Basis lor Speculation or the Material of God's Creative Activity 3 I I The Example ofthe Saints 320 Salvation and Righteousness are One ì?5 The lncarnatlon and Providence -\Jl Conclusion 354 Clrapter 6: T'he Church lntroduction 358 Adam is God's First Proclaimer 359 God Speaks 383 The Body of Christ 399 Conclusion 4t5 Chapter 7: The Other Introduction 418 The Creation of Faith ......... 421 An Eschatological Ethic .. 433 The Love of God God's Death ¡tro nohìs 449 The Social Order and Change .... 459 Conclusion 467 Selected BibIiograPhY 474 Preface I would lìke to take this opportunity to thank a number ofpeople for their lrelp in this project First and foremost, I would like to thank my wife Karen Rasmussen. She has been a wonderlul and patient supporl in the rnany hours that this thesis represents. She helped motivate me when the work was difficult and celebrated with me when it was going well. I would also like to thank my children, Amy and Michelle. It is not easy to be the children ofa clergy-person and having this extra burden to deal with takes patience and maturity on theìr part. lt is a great pleasure for me to watch them grow into fine young wornen. It is impossible to adequately express my gratitude to my family for their love and support. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my extended family for their interest and encouragement My father has shown, by example, what it is to have a questioning intelligence and a healthy suspicion ofauthority. He has also been an example ofpatience which I have tried to emulate as I worked toward the completion of thìs project. My mother has been an example of admirable determination which never gives up. Most of all, I am graieful for their caring and for tlre proclamation of the Gospel which enabled me to trust God's promises. I would also like to thank my two sisters, Debl¡ie and Deana, for their friendship and loyalty. Finally, I would also like to thank my inJaws for all their interest and encouragement. Thanks to Vernon and Arlyn Cooke, Sheryl and Murray Lengyel, and Collen and Martin Kuilman. I arn also very grateful to two ofmy colleagues. Pastor lngthor Isfeld was particularly helpful in the early process of this work. He happily lent me many books and journal articles. I Besides often talking to me about theology, he also helped me with my early struggles to learn German. I would also like to express my deep appreciation for Pastor Thomas Lurvey. He has supported me in friendship and has provided a balance in my life by taking me out to play golf, bridge and racquetball. Our conversations on theology and pastoral work have been helpful in many ways. I would also like to express nry gratitude to the churches I have served as pastor. Many thanks of support and encouragement to the people at my previous congregation at First Lutheran Church in Winnipeg and to the people in the Rockwood Lutheran Parish at Teulon and lnwood I am also grateful to the many university students who came to talk to me in my position as chaplain at University of Winnipeg. The concerus of all those people helped shape this thesis. I am most grateful to rny beloved Doctor Father, Professor Egil Crislis. He is a caring man of considerable lealning and wisdom. His love of history and theology is infectious. By example. he has tauglrt how learning about the theological struggles ofpast generations have relevance for the issues ofour present generations. Dr. Egil Grislis bas given a perspective that is passionate and, at the same time, graciously avoids extremes. On a more personal note, I aln deeply indebted to him for his many kindnesses to me and my family. He has been constantly aware of my worries about my extended family. He also supported rne by having a remarkable ability to know when I needed encouragement and when I needed to be challenged. I am also deeply grateful to the teaching of Dr Dawne McCance. Her course on Western Hermeneutics challenged my thinking at the assunìption level. She introduced to me the writings ofmany ofthe contemporary nrajor thinkers on questions of interpretation, communication and conmunity. 'l'his present thesis reflects a nurnber ofthe issues that she raised while examining ll) modern henneneutical theory. I arn also indebted to Dr. Aubrey Neal. He bas always warmly welcomed me inlo his ofììce and we have had several long conversations about hermeneutical issues. Ile lras given me a heightened sense ofthe stakes involved with hermeneutical issues. Language and method can hide human actions and intentions wjth dernonic results Abbreviations Corpus Reformatorum LW Lutber's Works WA D. M Luthers Werke. Kritische Gesamtausgabe. (Weimar,l883-) WABr D. M, Luthers Werke. Kritische Gesamtausgabe: BrieÂvechsel WADB D. M. Luthers Werke. Kritische Gesamtausgabe. Deutsche Bibel. WATr D. M. Luthers Werke. Kritische Gesamtausgabe: Tischreden, Glossary The use oftechnical terms and concepts in a study ofthìs type is necessary for the sake ofthe precision ofanalysis, The terms and concepts defìned below have also been explained in the text of the study at least once. In the text, I have often explained the use of these concepts as they apply directly to \ìr'hatever subject is under investigation. Alien righteousness (iasdlia Cltristi øliena). This refers to the righteousness possessed ofand gifÌed by Christ Salvation ocouls because someone other than the believer is righteous. Righteousness is not a possession or attribute that can be presented before God. Nevertheless, since Christ is present to tlre believer in faith, Christ's righteousness becomes the righteousness of tbe believer. [See glossary on Htt¡4t.y ]ìxchtntgef Alien work: This refers to God's work of wrath.
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