In a May 2018 blog I lamented that there were so few sermons of Pieper that found their way into publication. But I recently discovered another sermon obtained in 1997 from Australian Pastor Bryce Winter (ELCR — Evangelical Lutheran Congregations of the Reformation) who translated it. This sermon will be presented in three parts due to its length. One will note Pastor Winter's usual method of inserting alternate translations in parentheses for possible better understanding of the original German words. I have made only minor edits. Now with thanks to Australia...
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| Pr. Bryce Winter |
Opening Sermon (on Ro. 16:17)
Delivered by Dr. F. Pieper.
(Translation by Pastor Bryce Winter, ELCR 1997)
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Text: Romans 16:17-18: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Venerable fathers and brethren! In Christ, dearly beloved hearers!
If we look around in visible Christendom, then we are chiefly confronted by one extremely distressing scene: its division. Those who in the same way call themselves after Christ's name, are divided into a number of groups (factions) which are themselves engaged in mutual combat. This state of affairs is rightly deplored by all sides as miserable (pitiful) and is described as extremely harmful for church and world. Also we agree with full conviction in lamenting this state of affairs. But we are moved to examine the matter still closer when we hear and read the accusation that also just we Lutherans of the Synodical Conference cause and continue division by the position of our church, namely, in this way that we require the adherence to all parts of Christian doctrine and do not cultivate church fellowship with false doctrine. We reject the accusation raised against us as unjust and maintain the opposite with all determination that by the position of our church we are not bringing about division, but union and agreement. Who decides the propositions in this conflict? God's Word. God's Word clearly answers and decides all questions that have to be answered and decided in the church until the last day. This is also the case concerning the division within the Christian Church. The entire Scriptures are full of instruction concerning this point. In the text which has been read out we have
The instruction of the Apostle Paul concerning division in the Christian Church.
From this instruction we emphasize especially three points:
[1] How division originates;
[2] How division is to be judged; and
[3] How division is to be removed.
First of all, we learn from our text something for our comfort. Our text reminds us, namely, of the fact that division in the Christian Church is nothing new. When we in our time lament over this division and have to endure this division, then we should not think that something strange is happening to us. The misery of division occurred also in the church of the Apostles and before the eyes of the Apostles. That also now arises (follows from) out of our text. When the Apostle still so urgently admonishes the Roman congregation with a final detailed explanation of Christian doctrine, to direct their attention on the people who are causing the division and gives instruction to isolate such people, then he is not fighting a scarecrow (dummy), but real existing dangers and actions which have already happened at other places.
However above all things the Apostle now teaches us about the important point how or whereby division originates in the Church. He says: “Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to (alongside of) the doctrine which ye have learned.” Thus division is then caused, division then originates, when people come forward (arise) in the Christian Church, who alongside of the doctrine, that is, teach something different than Christ's Apostles, speak something different in the Christian Church than Christ's Word and find supporters for this (error). This results from the nature of the Christian Church. The Christian Church here on earth is a completely unique Kingdom, absolutely distinct from the kingdoms of this world. The different kingdoms of this world have different rulers and laws and accordingly are ruled differently. The Christian Church here on earth is not man's, but Christ's Kingdom and has in all countries and for all times until the last day only one Ruler, Christ, and only one Law for its Kingdom by which it is taught and ruled: that is Christ's Word, the Word, that He has given to the Church through His Apostles and Prophets. There is no place in the Christian Church for a word alongside of (Christ's Word) and for a Ruler alongside of (Christ). Christ says in regard to His Church: “One is your Master, even Christ” (Matt. 23:8), and therefore inculcates (the following) as a Law in His Kingdom: “If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed” (John 8:31). And that was valid not merely for the time, when Christ walked on earth, but for the Church of all times and at all places until the last day. In His High Priestly prayer Christ describes the Church until the last day as a community (fellowship) of people, who through their — that is, the Apostles' — word will believe on Him, John 17:20. St. Paul describes the Church as a house that is “built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets”, Eph. 2:20, and says of his own teaching activity: “I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought [Greek: worked, Ed.] by me,” Romans 15:18. St. Peter lays down the principle for all [p. 9] teaching in the Christian Church: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles (Word) of God,” 1 Pet. 4:11. The unity of the Christian Church in all different kinds of circumstances, times, nations and languages consists in its adherence to the Word of Christ and its separation from those who cause divisions in departing from this Word. In order to preserve this unity and to prevent division, the Apostle Paul therefore wherever he found himself sent to the congregations and to their teachers the message and the admonition never “to teach anything different”, but to hold fast steadfastly to the form (model, pattern, example) of sound (wholesome) words (2 Tim.1:15) which they have learned from the Apostles of Christ. From Athens he writes to the Thessalonians: “Stand fast and hold the traditions [oral teachings of God's Word which were proclaimed, Ed.] which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle [letter, Ed.],” 2 Thess. 2:15. He left Timothy at Ephesus in order to command (order) some that they “teach no other doctrine,” 1 Tim. 1:3. From Corinth he writes to Rome: “Avoid them”, those who teach another doctrine! Romans 16:17. From Rome he writes to Galatia and admonishes the Galatians that they have allowed themselves to be turned away to another kind of gospel, which however is not another (gospel) of the same kind (as Paul taught), Gal. 1:6 ff. And when he travels back from Europe to Jerusalem, he calls together the elders [pastors, Ed.] of the congregation of Ephesus to Miletus and warns them against people who will arise out of their own midst and will speak perverse doctrines to draw away disciples for themselves, Acts 20:29 ff.
Hence it is now clearly evident, when doctrine comes into consideration, on whom the cause (blame) for division falls in the Christian Church, namely, not on those who hold fast immovably to the doctrine of the Apostles, but rests on those who depart from it and teach a different [doctrine, Ed.]. We Lutherans of the Synodical Conference are now certain of it and have proven it before the church, that our doctrine, particularly also in the points raised in dispute, is not own word, but God's Word. We could and can in all points place the finger on God's Word and says: “There it is [Ed. stands] written.” It is a complete overturning of the usage of Biblical language, if one claims that through our insistence on the pure, unadulterated teaching of the Word God we are causing and maintaining division in the church.
In our time one particularly demands “doctrinal freedom.” There is doctrinal freedom in the state, furthermore it is not a matter of the state to teach and to govern the Christian Church [Ed. in spiritual matters]. However there is no doctrinal freedom in the Christian Church, because in the Christian Church according to God’s command and order everyone who steps forward to teach should speak God's Word. Whoever in the Christian Church makes for himself the claim of doctrinal freedom, thereby demands the right to cause division in the Christian Church and set himself up alongside of Christ and revolts against Christ as the One Head and Ruler in the Church.
However with this we have already come to the second point concerning which we want to be instructed by the Apostle Paul, namely, how division is to be judged.
= = = = = = = = continued in the next Part 2 = = = = = = = =In the next Part 2, we learn from the Bible how division is to be judged...
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