Lutheran Synod Quarterly December 2017 Volume 57, Number 4 Lutheran Synod Quarterly
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Lutheran Synod Quarterly Lutheran LUTHERAN SYNOD QUARTERLY VOLUME 57 • NUMBER 4 DECEMBER 2017 December 2017 Presidential Quotes From the Past Biblical Hermeneutics in the ELS How to Teach Our Members Regarding Variant Readings The Scriptural Basis for the Lord’s Supper Freedom and Its Implications: Galatians 5–6 Evaluating a New Bible Translation: The Evangelical Heritage Version, New Testament and Psalms Volume 57, Number 4 Volume A Reformation Ode (1517–2017) Sermon on John 11:25–26 for the Funeral of Rudolph E. Honsey: I am the Resurrection and the Life Book Review The journal of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary ISSN: 0360-9685 LUTHERAN SYNOD QUARTERLY VOLUME 57 • NUMBER 4 DECEMBER 2017 The journal of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary LUTHERAN SYNOD QUARTERLY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF........................................................... Gaylin R. Schmeling BOOK REVIEW EDITOR ......................................................... Michael K. Smith LAYOUT EDITOR ................................................................. Daniel J. Hartwig PRINTER ......................................................... Books of the Way of the Lord The Lutheran Synod Quarterly (ISSN: 0360-9685) is edited by the faculty of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary 6 Browns Court Mankato, Minnesota 56001 The Lutheran Synod Quarterly is a continuation of the Clergy Bulletin (1941–1960). The purpose of the Lutheran Synod Quarterly, as was the purpose of the Clergy Bulletin, is to provide a testimony of the theological position of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and also to promote the academic growth of her clergy roster by providing scholarly articles, rooted in the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures and the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Lutheran Synod Quarterly is published in March and December with a combined June and September issue. Subscription rates are $25.00 U.S. per year for domestic subscriptions and $35.00 U.S. per year for international subscriptions. All subscriptions and editorial correspondence should be sent to the following address: Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary Attn: Lutheran Synod Quarterly 6 Browns Ct Mankato MN 56001 Back issues of the Lutheran Synod Quarterly from the past two years are available at a cost of $10.00 per issue. Back issues of the Lutheran Synod Quarterly and Clergy Bulletin prior to the past two years are available at <www.blts.edu/lsq>. The Lutheran Synod Quarterly is abstracted in Religious and Theological Abstracts, PO Box 215, Myerstown, PA 17067 (E-mail: <[email protected]>; Website: <www.rtabst.org/abstracts>). Copyright ©2017 by Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. Requests for permission to reproduce more than brief excerpts are to be directed to the Editor- in-Chief. Contents LSQ Vol. 57, No. 4 (December 2017) Presidential Quotes From the Past ................................................317 Biblical Hermeneutics in the ELS .................................................319 John A. Moldstad How to Teach Our Members Regarding Variant Readings .............329 Matthew J. Moldstad The Scriptural Basis for the Lord’s Supper .....................................369 Gaylin R. Schmeling Freedom and Its Implications: Galatians 5-6 .................................427 Timothy J. Bartels Evaluating A New Bible Translation: The Evangelical Heritage Version, New Testament and Psalms ...............................459 Daniel J. Hartwig A Reformation Ode (1517–2017) .................................................479 Paul Gerhardt Madson Sermon on John 11:25-26 for the Funeral of Rudolph E. Honsey: I am the Resurrection and the Life ................481 John J. Petersen 314 Lutheran Synod Quarterly Vol. 57 BOOK REVIEW Book Review: Lives and Writings of the Great Fathers of the Lutheran Church ..........................................................................487 Paul E. Lange Foreword LSQ Vol. 57, No. 4 (December 2017) N THIS ISSUE OF THE QUARTERLY WE ARE continuing a series of quotations entitled “Presidential Quotes From the Past.” The series includes a number of relevant, Christ- Icentered quotes from the former presidents of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) as we look forward to the one-hundredth anniversary of the synod in 1918. The Rev. John Moldstad, president of the ELS, has provided the Quarterly with an essay entitled, “Biblical Hermeneutics in the ELS.” Hermeneutics serves as the technical term for the study of the princi- ples used by the interpreter of the written Word of God. Hermeneutics strives to uphold the axiom, “Scripture interprets Scripture.” This art of interpreting is done with prayerful guidance, seeking always the blessing of God the Holy Spirit. It includes first and foremost the deeply held belief that the preserved, transmitted text(s) before us is in its entirety the verbally inerrant and inspired Word of God. The topic of variant readings is a complicated one. However this is not a good excuse to avoid discussing the topic. There are many voices out in the world today challenging the authority and authenticity of the Bible. We must equip our people with a basic knowledge of this subject. Most importantly, we must always stress that we have the inspired, iner- rant word of God, and that none of its teachings are in question. This is the point of the essay, “How to Teach Our Members Regarding Variant 316 Lutheran Synod Quarterly Vol. 57 Readings,” by the Rev. Matthew Moldstad. The Rev. Moldstad is pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in North Mankato, Minnesota. The essay entitled, “The Scriptural Basis for the Lord’s Supper,” offers the main biblical texts concerning the Lord’s Supper. The doctrine of the Supper is explicated and the great comfort of this teaching is presented. The Holy Supper is indeed a treasure for Christians. In preparation for the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, the ELS General Pastoral Conference received three essays summarizing Luther’s commentary on Galatians (LW 26). The third essay in this series, entitled “Freedom and Its Implications: Galatians 5–6,” was written by the Rev. Timothy J. Bartels, who is pastor of Saved By Grace Lutheran Church in Gresham, Oregon. In this, the last section of Galatians, Paul speaks of liberty. Jesus set us at liberty from the tyranny of the law. He broke its shackles for us. As Paul speaks of this liberty, he reviews grace alone, guards against abusing grace, instructs on pastoral theology and concludes his letter to the Galatians. The essay entitled, “Evaluating a New Bible Translation: The EHV, New Testament and Psalms,” gives an overview of the new Bible trans- lation, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV). The present translation includes the New Testament and Psalms, while the Old Testament is forthcoming. The New Testament and Psalms were prepared this year as part of the commemoration of the five-hundredth anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. This translation was produced by pastors and professors of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and the ELS. This essay was written by the Rev. Daniel Hartwig, who is pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Okauchee, Wisconsin. Also included in this Quarterly is a sermon for the funeral of Rudolph Honsey, written by the Rev. John Petersen, pastor of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota; a Reformation Ode by the Rev. Paul Madson; and a book review by the Rev. Paul Lange, pastor of Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Bowling Green, Ohio. – GRS Presidential Quotes From the Past LSQ Vol. 57, No. 4 (December 2017) ITH A PURE AND UNSULLIED GOSPEL AS OUR possession we and our like-minded brethren in other synods should of all men be most zealous in exerting ourselves to Wthe utmost to share this precious heritage with our fellowmen. Yes, our synod should not only be known as one which wants to be faithful to the Word, as Scripture requires, but also as one which is most zealous in teaching that Word to our fellowmen, as Scripture also requires. In this connection it is not out of order to remind ourselves to be on guard against assuming a negative complex in which we emphasize everything we are against instead of letting the glorious comforting and soul-saving Gospel, which we have and are contending for, be the hall- mark for which we wish to be known. No church can grow or expect to attract many people to its standard if it does not have something posi- tive to offer men, something to give them which they, perhaps unknown to themselves, are longing for and which can make them happier and more blessed for this life, to say nothing of the life still to come. What better reputation could we have than to be known as a church which has an anxious passion and an earnest zeal for sharing the precious Gospel- heritage we have with everyone who is still without it? Excerpt from M.H. Otto, “President’s Message,” Synod Report, 1957:9. 318 Lutheran Synod Quarterly Vol. 57 Biblical Hermeneutics in the ELS John A. Moldstad President, Evangelical Lutheran Synod LSQ Vol. 57, No. 4 (December 2017) ONFESSIONAL LUTHERANS AGREE ON THE proper approach to Holy Scripture. “We believe, teach, and confess that the only rule and governing principle according to Cwhich all teachings and teachers are to be evaluated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments alone, as it is written, ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ (Ps. 119[:105]). … Holy Scripture alone remains the only judge, rule and guiding principle, according to which, as the only touchstone, all teachings should