Dr. Korcok on “Biblicism”, Melanchthon, Papacy (Part 3 of 3)

     This concludes from Part 2 (Part 1 here) in a short series reviewing Dr. Thomas Korcok's 2011 CPH book on Lutheran Education. — In this segment, we review 3 other weaknesses of this book.  As I reviewed this book, I was mindful of the cover art prominently displaying clear images of Martin Luther and C. F. W. Walther.  Do Dr. Korcok's methods fully measure up to their standards? 

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“Biblicism”?

      This term is used twice in a pejorative sense against Karlstadt (p. 47) and the Pietists (p. 100), both opponents of Luther and orthodox Lutheranism. Unfortunately, no definition of this term is given, leaving the impression that believing the Bible as it reads (i.e. "biblicism") is not good theology.  But Walther was called a Biblicist by a German "Evangelical" (and Carl S. Meyer) and proudly accepted this label for himself.

Melanchthon, “Teacher of Germany.”

      Dr. Korcok helpfully delineates the difference between Luther and Melanchthon on the "nature of liberal arts", stating that (p. 79-80)

[Luther] said that grammar was not to be the judge of truth, but the servant of truth. In his sermons on St. John, he warned against the “grammarians” who with their “idle grammar and rhetoric” would destroy the meaning of Scripture on the basis of their grammatical knowledge. “Let them teach their rules about how to speak Latin correctly,” said Luther, but, at the same time, it was important to recognize the limitations of their art. This view reflects a slightly different understanding of the nature of the liberal arts than that of Melanchthon.

He references a sermon of Luther, who stated (AE 24, 109, StL 8, 286-387):

“But let others be clever in the name of their god, the devil, and come to grief with their idle grammar and rhetoric, with which they want to correct Scripture, tear it up, or at least nullify it.”

Now that is pure Luther — the Reformer defending Scripture, even against those who use science or scholarship over Christ's Word. (See also this blog post.). 

      On p. 198, Korcok reports 

“Walther made particularly extensive use of Luther in his discussions on schools.… What is absent in Walther’s pedagogical writings are references to Melanchthon." 

On p. 199, fn # 512, it is noted that "Walther called Melanchthon 'the father of synergism.'” So we see differences between Luther and Melanchthon, and between Walther and Melanchthon.

      But does Dr. Korcok stand with Melanchthon, the Teacher of Germany? He wants to appear to stand with Luther, but does he promote what Luther strongly defends above, the authority of Scripture?  No. He leaves that in abeyance and focuses rather on the matter of pedagogy. Coupled with his indiscriminate use of the term "Biblicism" in a pejorative sense then leaves him at odds with Luther who stood on Holy Scripture first. 

The Papacy

      Does Korcok speak of the devastation of the Papacy as Luther does, as Walther does? He does quote from Walther against the Papacy, pp. 202-3, yet he reports this as what "Walther said…" or "for Walther…", or "Walther believed…".  He does not seem to take this as his own position against the Papacy.  No further polemic is offered against the devastation of the Papacy for Christianity and Christian education. Dr. Korcok may protest my assertion — to that I would say: "Show me".

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      I will be comparing the proposed pedagogy of the upcoming Luther Classical College in Wyoming with the points that Dr. Korcok makes.  Will they follow his weaknesses… or will they remain true to Luther, Walther and J. C. W. Lindemann in their pedagogy? While this book is informative and refreshing in its judgments and has positive comments on the Missourians, yet Dr. Korcok needs to re-listen to the Missourians, not Hermann Sasse, on the authority of Holy Scripture. Without a true adherence to this principle, all education is what Walther would call (p. 234)

“just for this world and not for the next life.” 

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     For a much better approach to science education in a Christian school, an essay by Prof. Franz Pieper at the opening of the a new building for [2023-12-23] Concordia College in Milwaukee in 1901 will be presented in the next series of blog posts.