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As I was cross-referencing the German edition to the English edition of Pieper's Dogmatik, I discovered another series of significant omissions made by the English translators/editors. These omissions exceed those missing on Usury and Life Insurance. So I decided to study the omitted material in the German edition and oh! I became more and more puzzled, even irritated, on why these sections were omitted for they give tremendous Church History... they explain further why the Church is in such a dilapidated condition... today, here and now. But they also show to the Church of today the way out of its sorry condition.
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| Franz Delitzsch (Germany) |
Pieper took great pains to give an objective presentation for his Dogmatik theology so that everyone could see which way is the right way for the Church. And he felt compelled to defend the "Missouri Synod" for it had become the object of attacks as "an evil in the Church" by Germany's theologians in general. But one famous German theologian stood out as a witness against this charge, at least in his early life: Franz Delitzsch. So Pieper gave several pages of quotes and information on Delitzsch in support of the “evil” of... that “Missouri Synod”.
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| C.F.W. Walther (America) |
And in the midst of Delitzsch's memories, one man in particular stands out...
Now I begin a series of blog posts bringing Pieper's full uncut account of Church History covered in his Dogmatik pages 195 to 205… of Germany and on Franz Delitzsch [English edition pages 167-171]. All text in green shading was omitted in the English edition – several pages of material – so this is the first time it is being presented in English.
Translation by BackToLuther; all underlined words were emphasized in the original German; red text and/or red bold text are my emphasis; many items hyperlinked for reference, hyperlinked page numbers in square brackets [ ]; all unshaded text was included in the English edition but I re-translated it to avoid copyright complaints by CPH.
—————————— Part 1 ———————————
It would not appear quite fitting that the church situation in our American Lutheran Church should be described in detail in a dogmatic writing. It must, however, first be borne in mind that our Church in modern and most recent [196] theological literature — and especially also in dogmatic works — is considered more or less in detail. This, as we have seen, is done in an accusing and condemning manner, as if with our adherence to the Scripture principle we spread dead orthodoxy, and so we are to be seen as an evil in the Christian Church. …
… [197 middle] At the present time [~ 1924], the separation of church and state has been officially declared in also Germany. This has raised the question of how the Church of Germany had to re-establish itself in the changing circumstances in order to secure her life. The episcopal constitution has been thought of, and some have already been introduced. There is no objection to the episcopal constitution in itself; but without a return to the Word of the Apostles and Prophets as God's infallible Word, the basis on which the Christian Church is built is lacking, and even the “bishops” are only a piece of decoration that obscures the sad state of affairs in the church. At present Lutheran countries and Lutheran regions are complaining that not only the great Roman sect, but also the different Reformed sects devote themselves especially to propaganda. Without a return to Scripture, the Church of Germany is not only powerless against the propaganda of Rome, but is also unable to cope with the propaganda of such Reformed sects, which, in addition to errors, still admit Scripture as the Word of God and also teach the satisfactio vicaria. By surrendering the Scripture as the Word of God and by the associated surrendering of the satisfactio Christi vicaria the modern theologians of Germany have delivered the weapons of the Christian Church to its enemies and are eo ipso just as powerless against Rome and the sects as political Germany [1924, post WW I] is a pawn of the arbitrariness of its enemies after delivery of its weapons. The theology of Germany must return to the theology which it rejects in the theology of the “strictly confessional American Lutheran Church” as Repristination Theology. Moreover, we should recall in this connection that this [198 >] theology comes from Germany, from Germany's best period in the previous century.
After the struggles for freedom against the French world domination, a considerable religious awakening went through Germany. It proceeded primarily from lay circles, but also extended to a part of the student youth. The majority of the fathers of the Missouri Synod belonged to the group of believing students at the University of Leipzig, which is described as follows: “They gathered together on certain days every week for common prayer, for the common reading of the Holy Scriptures, for the purpose of edification and mutual exchange over the One, as was necessary.” 615) Franz Delitzsch († 1890) [ADB article] also belonged to this student circle.
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| 4th Coalition against Napoleon's French Empire |
- - - - - - - - - continued in next Part 2 - - - - - - - - - -
Pieper gives not only true Church History, but the background of World History for Germany as its faith was floundering. And there will be more mentions of World History in this continuing series. But more importantly we see a ray of light beginning to break forth in the gloom of political darkness… in what were termed “lay circles”.
That's right, if you follow this blog you are following “dead orthodoxy” promoting “an evil in the Christian Church”! Not just Franz Pieper, but also Franz Delitzsch has a defense for you… (Would some accuser now call me “Franzie baby”... please?)
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Part 1 - this introductory blog; “an evil in the Church?”
Part 2 - “no other than the Lutheran faith”; “behind 300 years in matters of faith”
Part 3 - Holy Scriptures & Luther; LC-MS & Luther
Part 4 - Lutheran Confessions; old dogmaticians
Part 5 - “You, my Walther…”; Missouri Synod fathers
Part 6 - German layman, beautiful hymns; “Lutheran Judaism”; “lay circles” - Fundamentalists
Part 7 - later (grieving) Delitzsch; von Hofmann & von Frank
Part 8a - whither is Lutheranism bound?; Missouri's church literature
Part 8b - great chasm — supermen to stragglers
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