Concordia Journal COncordia Spring 2011 Journal volume 37 | number 2 Fall 2010 volume 36 | number Renewing Community: The Benidt Seminary Center 4 The Tapestry of Preaching Isaiah’s Servants in Chapters 40–55: Clearing up the Confusion Walter J. Koehler COncordia Journal (ISSN 0145-7233) COUNSELING & publisher Faculty Dale A. Meyer David Adams Bruce Hartung Paul Raabe President Charles Arand Erik Herrmann Victor Raj CONFESSION Andrew Bartelt Jeffrey Kloha Paul Robinson Executive EDITOR David Berger R. Reed Lessing Robert Rosin The Role of Confession and Absolution in Pastoral Counseling William W. Schumacher Joel Biermann David Lewis Timothy Saleska Dean of Theological Gerhard Bode Richard Marrs Leopoldo Sánchez M. New Edition with Introduction by Rick W. Marrs Research and Publication Kent Burreson David Maxwell David Schmitt EDITOR William Carr, Jr. Dale Meyer Bruce Schuchard Travis J. Scholl Anthony Cook Glenn Nielsen William Schumacher Managing Editor of Timothy Dost Joel Okamoto William Utech For over 25 years, this book Theological Publications Thomas Egger Jeffrey Oschwald James Voelz has provided an authenti- Jeffrey Gibbs David Peter Robert Weise EDITORial assistant cally Christian resource for Melanie Appelbaum enriching pastoral counseling All correspondence should be sent to: and deepening a ministry of assistants CONCORDIA JOURNAL reconciliation. Koehler weaves 801 Seminary Place Carol Geisler a multilayered account of the Joshua LaFeve St. Louis, Missouri 63105 relationships between psy- Matthew Kobs 314-505-7117 cj @csl.edu chology, pastoral counseling, and the theology of individual Issued by the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, the Concordia Journal is the successor of confession and absolution, Lehre und Wehre (1855-1929), begun by C. F. W. Walther, a founder of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Lehre und Wehre was absorbed by the Concordia Theological Monthly (1930-1972) which was also pub- igniting a conversation that lished by the faculty of Concordia Seminary as the official theological periodical of the Synod. has only expanded in the Concordia Journal is abstracted in Internationale Zeitschriftenschau für Bibelwissenschaft unde Grenzgebiete, New Testament years since. The introduction Abstracts, Old Testament Abstracts, and Religious and Theological Abstracts. It is indexed in ATLA Religion by Dr. Rick Marrs underscores Database/ATLAS and Christian Periodicals Index. Article and issue photocopies in 16mm microfilm, 35mm the new developments in that microfilm, and 105mm microfiche are available from National Archive Publishing (www.napubco.com). conversation, bringing this Books submitted for review should be sent to the editor. Manuscripts submitted for publication should classic work to life once again. conform to a Chicago Manual of Style. 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On the cover: Fasting cloth tapestry attributed to the 15th c. saint Nicholas of Flüe (1417-1487), depicting Christ the King To purchase Counseling & Confession: The Role of Confession and surrounded by six key scenes from salvation history along with the symbols of the four Evangelists. (Eric Stancliff, Concordia Seminary curator) Absolution in Pastoral Counseling visit the Concordia Seminary © Copyright by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri 2011 bookstore, CSL online store at http://store.csl.edu, www.amazon. www.csl.edu | www.concordiatheology.org com, email [email protected] or call 314-505-7117. COncordia Journal CONTENTS EDITORIALs 101 Editor’s Note 102 Renewing Community: The Benidt Seminary Center Dale A. Meyer ARTICLES 107 The Tapestry of Preaching David R. Schmitt 130 Isaiah’s Servants in Chapters 40–55: Clearing up the Confusion R. Reed Lessing 137 HOMILETICAL HELPS 165 BOOK REVIEWS Spring 2011 volume 37 | number 2 editoRIALS COncordia Journal Editor’s Note In his touchstone article on preaching, published in these pages, David Schmitt hearkens to a scene from the influential German film Wings of Desire, where angels enter a room and hear all the thoughts of all the people in the room, an unwitting concerto of voices. Schmitt equates it with the “tapestry” of voices speaking within the context of a single preacher’s sermon. To extend the image even further, I sometimes wonder what it would be like, on a given Sunday morning, to simultaneously hear the concerto of voices from the myriad pulpits around the world: the distinctive tenors and tones, the multivarious languages, the innumerable accents of the word of God brought to bear upon particular situa- tions and communities. In the midst of the synchronicity, I believe we would discern a thread of melody throughout it all, the working of the Spirit enlivening and enlighten- ing the Scriptures in the word made flesh. Even though we are in midst of Lent, with a late Easter still to come, I can’t help but think the sound would echo the harmonies of Pentecost. This issue of Concordia Journal, in a sense, opens a new focus on preaching for the coming seasons. Schmitt’s article, “The Tapestry of Preaching,” serves to introduce the themes that will be more deeply explored at Concordia Seminary’s next Theological Symposium, “Rediscovering the Art of Preaching,” September 20–21, 2011. Let this serve as your save-the-date notice. Moreover, you may have already found the new “Preacher’s Studio” series on ConcordiaTheology.org, where the homiletics faculty has convened lunchtime conversations with various chapel preachers to talk about all that goes into their creative journey from text to pulpit. All of this focuses on what should ever be at the heart of those called to preach, their congregations, and the church as a whole—the renewal of preaching in this time, place, and world. Because if preachers are being honest, we know we have—at least occasionally—struck a discordant note amid the homiletical harmony. Toward that end too, Reed Lessing attempts to clear up the dissonant confusion about the Old Testament songs of one who must have been an excellent preacher in his own right, Isaiah. Lessing’s words are a prelude to his forthcoming commentaries on Isaiah in the Concordia Commentary series. Finally, on a different note, I wish to highlight the lead book review by Terry Dittmer. Not only does it examine the recent book by former Concordia Seminary pro- fessor John Oberdeck, Eutychus Youth, it also surveys the horizon of youth ministry and resources for that ministry, all done by one who is a leading figure in the church’s min- istry to young people. Lest we forget that we preach the whole word of God to the whole people of God, teenagers included. Travis J. Scholl Managing Editor of Theological Publications Concordia Journal/Spring 2011 101 Renewing Community: The Benidt Seminary Center I am pleased to announce the Johann Hinrich Benidt Seminary Center. This center will become a major gathering place for the daily life of the Seminary commu- nity and is the first major phase of the eventual renovation of the entire 1926 campus. Johann Hinrich Benidt was the grandfather of the sainted Charles E. Benidt. Through his vision and the generosity of the Charles E. Benidt Foundation, Concordia Seminary is making great strides to provide an up-to-date campus to resource the church with gospel workers for the twenty-first century. The Benidt Seminary Center will include the hitherto unnamed kitchen build- ing, Wartburg Hall, Koburg Hall, and adjacent outdoor areas. On the first floor of the kitchen building, the main kitchen will be totally renovated to provide the best in kitch- en design and equipment, healthy food, and greater efficiencies. The second and third floors, underused until now, will house a large area akin to a congregational “parish hall,” a small kitchen, student association offices, and other meeting rooms. Wartburg Hall (that’s the dining hall closest to Luther Tower) was renovated in 2007 and will continue to be used for daily dining, for its snack bar, computer stations, televisions, and Wi-Fi. The other dining venue, Koburg Hall, will be refurbished and will continue to host catered events and larger meetings, both for on and off-campus groups. The lower level beneath these three buildings will be completely renovated and repurposed to house the Re-Sell It Shop and the Food Bank, popular places for seminarians. The renovations to all these buildings are student-centered. Three outdoor areas next to the Benidt Seminary Center will provide ample and pleasant places for formal or informal gatherings. To the east, a courtyard, landscaped and with pavers, will be installed between the kitchen and Founders Hall (the dormitory affectionately called “Isolation”) and between Wartburg and Koburg. To the south, the lawn next to Koburg will become the new home to the replica of the 1839 seminary. This log cabin will be refurbished, surrounded with gardens, and will provide another place for gatherings and will also be a great spot for photos. West of the Benidt Seminary Center, the area now occupied by the library fountain, a significantly enlarged plaza will provide an outdoor space for large outdoor gatherings and, as always, infor- mal meet-and-greets.