Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Project Documents Graduate Research 2013 A Comparison of Certain Doctrinal Views of Martin Luther and Seventh-day Adventists in the Context of Present-day Dialogue Kenneth L. Knosp Andrews University This research is a product of the graduate program in Doctor of Ministry DMin at Andrews University. Find out more about the program. Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Recommended Citation Knosp, Kenneth L., "A Comparison of Certain Doctrinal Views of Martin Luther and Seventh-day Adventists in the Context of Present-day Dialogue" (2013). Project Documents. 67. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/67 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Project Documents by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT A COMPARISON OF CERTAIN DOCTRINAL VIEWS OF MARTIN LUTHER AND SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS IN THE CONTEXT OF PRESENT-DAY DIALOGUE by Kenneth L. Knosp Adviser: P. Gerard Damsteegt ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT Project Document Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: A COMPARISON OF CERTAIN DOCTRINAL VIEWS OF MARTIN LUTHER AND SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS IN THE CONTEXT OF PRESENT-DAY DIALOGUE Name of researcher: Kenneth L. Knosp Name and degree of faculty adviser: P. Gerard Damsteegt, ThD Date completed: November 2013 Martin Luther stood on the principle of Sola Scriptura or “Scripture Alone.” Based on this principle Luther declared the Reformation tenet of justification by faith. While both faiths, Lutherans and Adventists base their source for their beliefs and practice on Holy Scripture, Lutherans, however, have a strong respect for certain traditions. Careful research was done to fully investigate a thorough comparison of Luther’s beliefs with that of the Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary A COMPARISON OF CERTAIN DOCTRINAL VIEWS OF MARTIN LUTHER AND SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS IN THE CONTEXT OF PRESENT-DAY DIALOGUE A Project Document Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Kenneth L. Knosp November 2013 © Copyright by Kenneth L. Knosp 2013 All Rights Reserved A COMPARISON OF CERTAIN DOCTRINAL VIEWS OF MARTIN LUTHER AND SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS IN THE CONTEXT OF PRESENT-DAY DIALOGUE A project document presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Kenneth L. Knosp APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: ______________________________ _____________________________ Adviser, Director, DMin Program P. Gerard Damsteegt Skip Bell ______________________________ _____________________________ Jerry A. Moon Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Jiří Moskala ______________________________ _____________________________ Denis Fortin Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ..................................................................... 1 Statement of Purpose ........................................................................... 1 Justification for the Project Document ................................................ 1 Delimitation of the Project Document ................................................. 2 Methodology and Sources.................................................................... 3 Expectations from This project Document .......................................... 4 2. SCRIPTURE AND AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH ............................. 5 Introduction .......................................................................................... 5 Luther on Scripture and Authority ....................................................... 5 Adventist Position on Scripture and Authority .................................... 9 Adventists and Lutherans in Dialogue ................................................. 14 3. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH .................................................................... 15 Introduction .......................................................................................... 15 Justification by Faith ............................................................................ 16 Law and Gospel ............................................................................. 16 The Incarnation .............................................................................. 22 Christ’s Ministry of Redemption and Atonement .......................... 23 Baptism .......................................................................................... 26 The Ordinance of Communion ...................................................... 30 Seventh-day Adventists on Justification by Faith ................................ 32 The Great Controversy ................................................................... 32 Law and Gospel ............................................................................. 33 The Incarnation .............................................................................. 34 Christ’s Ministry of Redemption and Atonement .......................... 37 Baptism .......................................................................................... 38 Foot Washing ................................................................................. 40 The Ordinance of Communion ...................................................... 42 Adventists and Lutherans in Dialogue on Justification ....................... 44 Summary .............................................................................................. 46 iii 4. COVENANT, LAW, AND SABBATH ..................................................... 48 Introduction .......................................................................................... 48 Luther on Covenant, Law, and Sabbath ............................................... 48 The Origin of Sin on Earth............................................................. 48 Ten Commandments, Sabbath, and Law ....................................... 51 Luther’s Exegetical Problem and Blind Spot................................. 55 Origin of Sunday Worship ............................................................. 61 Luther, His Colleagues, and Sunday Worship ..................................... 64 Adventists on Covenant, Law, and Sabbath ........................................ 69 The Origin of Sin on Earth............................................................. 69 Ten Commandments, Sabbath, and Law ....................................... 72 The Enforcing of a Sunday Law .................................................... 79 Origin of Sunday Worship ............................................................. 86 Adventists and Lutherans in Dialogue on Covenant, Law, and Sabbath ........................................................................................... 87 Summary .............................................................................................. 88 5. SANCTIFICATION AND CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR .......................................... 90 Introduction .......................................................................................... 90 Luther on Sanctification ....................................................................... 90 Baptism of the Holy Spirit ............................................................. 90 The Gifts of the Spirit .................................................................... 95 The Disposition of Sin ................................................................... 98 Growth of Character and Walk with the Lord ............................... 99 Seventh-day Adventists on Sanctification ........................................... 100 The Baptism of the Holy Spirit ...................................................... 100 The Gifts of the Spirit .................................................................... 102 Emphasis on the Gift of Prophecy ................................................. 103 Christian Behavior, Sin, and the Health Message.......................... 105 Growth in Character and Walk with the Lord ............................... 109 Adventists and Lutherans in Dialogue on Sanctification ..................... 113 Summary .............................................................................................. 114 6. CHRIST’S HIGH PRIESTLY MINISTRY ................................................ 116 Introduction .......................................................................................... 116 Luther on Christ’s High Priestly Ministry ........................................... 116 Christ’s Ascended Ministry ........................................................... 116 Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King ................................................ 118 The State of the Dead ..................................................................... 119 Adventists on Christ’s High Priestly Ministry ..................................... 120 Christ’s Ascended Ministry ..........................................................