WIC4c: Women and the "Lay Movement"; Klemet Preus counsels his LC-MS

      This continues from Part WIC4b (Table of Contents in Part WIC1) in a series presenting a new translation of all of Franz Pieper's convention essays previously translated in the 1933 CPH book What Is Christianity? And Other Essays. — On pages 36-37 of the fourth essay of Pieper is a short explanation on women teachers, certainly a "hot topic" for today. We have visited this topic over 12 years ago on this blog post. But the importance of the topic for today calls for a complete reprint of this section from Pieper's essay. In Pieper's Thesis I, he calls out a special case of the "Lay Movement", the matter of women in the preaching of the Word. He then gives a short, yet Scriptural instruction on this matter. Again, from pp. 36-37:

The preaching of the Word by women,

its legitimacy and its limitation.

It is a clear teaching of Scripture that the woman should also teach. According to Titus 2:3, the older women are to be teachers of the younger women. Example: Timothy is reported to have known the Scriptures from childhood because he had good teachers in his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, as we see from 2 Timothy 1:5. Luther therefore wanted not only teachers, but also "female teachers" [Lehrerinnen, lereryn] in the schools. (St. L. X, 479 [WA 15, 47; AE 45, p. 371 is not translated properly.]) But Scripture excludes women from teaching in public assembly before men. Two passages support this. 1 Tim. 2:11 ff.: "Let the woman learn in silence. … But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve." 1 Cor. 14:34-35: "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak.… And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." It has been objected that these are Oriental views that have no validity in the New Testament, especially in America, where we live far away from the Orient. To this it must be said: there is nothing in the text about restrictions to the Orient and to certain times. These passages show that the prohibition of teaching is valid for all regions and for all times until the Last Day. The very reason for the apostle's prohibition ("for Adam was made first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived") shows that the prohibition is binding for the Christian Church of all places and all times. The woman is to be a good teacher in her own circle, but not publicly before men. — It has also been asked in our midst whether women and girls could also be teachers in our parish schools. This teaching is perfectly acceptable as long as it is teaching children. Women should not be excluded from teaching children. But as soon as it is a matter of adult men, even adolescent boys, the woman is no longer in the right place with her teaching. Objection: However, in individual cases even in the Old Testament, women have taught by appearing, driven by the Holy Spirit, and instructing those present with God's Word, such as Miriam, Exodus 15:20-21. With regard to the example of Miriam, it must first be said that Miriam appears here as the leader of the women of Israel. But from the example of the judge and prophetess Deborah it can be seen that in special cases, at God's instigation, women appeared as teachers before men, Judges 4 and 5. To this we must say: If God makes exceptions to his rule, we cannot do the same. For us humans, the rule applies; we must leave the exceptions 37 to God. Luther says: "God hangs down the law, but He does not take it up again", that is, He acts as He wishes; we humans, however, remain bound by the rule. The objection that some women are smarter and more eloquent than men does not apply either. We have to admit that. God also knew that. Nevertheless, he gave order: "Let your women keep silence in the churches", 1 Cor. 14:34, and: "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve", 1 Tim. 2:12-13.

The following applies to women's right to vote in the state: because the right to vote in the state implies participation in the rule over men, it is contrary to the natural order that God has made with regard to the relationship between man and woman. Again, the objection that women are often smarter than men, can make better election speeches and vote more intelligently does not apply. We are bound to the order God has made, Gen. 2:18; 1 Tim. 2:12-13, and the reversal of the Creator's order is severely avenged.

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    Contrast Pieper's biblical instruction with a report by Pastor Klemet Preus († 2014) on women in today's Lutheran Church in his 2004 CPH book The Fire and the Staff (CPH 2004), pp. 299-301. On women in the LC–MS, page 300:

"In The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod today, our practice is similarly changing. Women are invited to assume the responsibilities traditionally assumed by pastors—reading the Scriptures in the Divine Service, distributing the Sacrament, leading the service, addressing the congregation during the service, preaching.")

On p. 303-4, Pastor Preus relates an encounter with a progressive LC–MS congregation:

     "I asked  my  third  question:  “I  noticed  that  women  seem  to  do everything  that  men  do  in  this  church.  They  read  the  lessons  and gave  the  children’s  sermon  and,  I assume,  lead  some  of the  Bible studies.  Do  you  limit  the  involvement  of women?  Could  a  woman preach?” 

     Their  answer  was  clear.  “We  have  found  that  women  are  just as capable  as  men  and  just as  much  called  by God  to  do  these  things.…"

Of course, Pastor Preus points out one of the Bible verses that Pieper references, 1 Cor. 14:34, as the norm. — In the next Part WIC4d, we conclude the "Proclamation of the Word", then review his Thesis 2, "Financial terms".

WIC4b: Pieper's 8 questions to examine lay Christians

      This continues from Part WIC4a (Table of Contents in Part WIC1) in a series presenting a new translation of all of Franz Pieper's essays previously translated in the 1933 CPH book What Is Christianity? And Other Essays. — In this segment Pieper addresses the duty of all Christians to proclaim the Word to the world. I personally struggle with this "duty" and find Pieper's counsel to "speak God's Word in a very simple way" to be most helpful. — From pp. 26-35:

Notable Quotes:

26: "It is God's will that the masses be reached. That is why God has arranged it in such a way that Christians do not sit in a corner…"

27: "We are to be completely separated from the world in one respect, namely in our walk. … In another respect, we are to… penetrate the world, namely through the proclamation of the Gospel."

27: "The main means of reaching the masses is a completely different one. It is the preaching of the Word, which should be done by all Christians"

28: "these Christians, wherever they go and stand, should be the spiritual light for their surroundings and speak God's Word in a very simple way…Christians have a call for this way of preaching the Word."

28: "What was the privilege of individuals in the Old Testament has now become the duty of all Christians in the New Testament."

29: "But all Christians can and should testify to everyone that all people are sinners and are completely reconciled with God through Christ. If we look at the history of the Church, we must say that Christianity has been spread precisely through lay preaching."

29-30: Pieper's grand "brief examination of Christians" — 8 questions, with a response by a "Christian". A humbling experience for me when I ask myself whether I would answer Pieper's exam questions adequately.

1. "Do you perhaps know where this world, heaven and earth, and what is in it, comes from?"
2. "Then perhaps you also know who the one true God is?"
3. "Do you know who Jesus Christ is?"
4. "Do you know what Jesus Christ has done for you?"
5. "Do you also know how you can come to faith in Christ and remain in faith?"
6. "But if you now have to confess that you still sin much every day and certainly deserve punishment — how will you get out of this embarrassment?"
7. "If you lack anything in spiritual and physical things, do you know where you can turn and fill your lack?"
8. "Do you also know what will happen at the end of the world?"

31: "All Christians should preach the Word in their own homes. There should be no house in which a daily service is not held in one form or another." [In my youth our family read "Portals of Prayer" each day.]

32: "In former times…no one was married until he had passed an examination in catechism with the pastor.

33: Luther: "But if one were to come among the multitude where there were no Christians, one would want to do as the apostles did and not wait for a call." 

34: Luther: "we (we Christians) must know what we believe, namely, what God's Word is, not what the Pope or Council say or proclaim. For you must not trust in men at all, but in the pure Word of God (not in human interpretation of the Word)." [Against Prof. Biermann]

35: Luther: "If you hear such people who are so blinded and hardened that they deny that this is God's Word, what Christ and the apostles have spoken and written, or doubt it, just keep quiet, don't say a word to them and let them go" [A Luther quote that I will never forget!]

In then next Part WIC4c, …

WIC4a: Layman's Movement: Proclamation of the Word (Thesis 1)

      This continues from Part WIC3b (Table of Contents in Part WIC1) in a series presenting a new translation of all of Franz Pieper's essays previously translated in the 1933 CPH book What Is Christianity? And Other Essays. — In this fourth of six essays, Pieper addresses a movement that originated over a century ago, which eventually culminated in establishing the "Lutheran Layman's League", better known as the group associated with a float in the Rose Parade every year on New Year's Day, and the "Lutheran Hour" broadcast. — The essay spans pp. 8-67 in the Report of the 1913 Southern Illinois District convention.

      This essay is divided into 3 major sections:

Thesis 1: "The "lay movement" in the proclamation of the Word." (pp. 11-37)

Thesis 2: "The "lay movement" in financial terms." (pp. 37-62)

Thesis 3: "The "lay movement" in the Christian walk in general." (pp. 62-67)

Notable Quotes:

9: For some speakers for this "Movement": "The task of the Christian church is seen not so much to save sinners… but to educate the non-Christian world to become civilized people. However, this is quite wrong."

10: "When Darwin later visited them [people of Tierra del Fuego] again and saw the change that had taken place with this people as a result of the mission…he is said to have made regular contributions to the mission."

10: "all Christians without exception and without ceasing should be active in preaching the Gospel near and far"

10: "spiritual priesthood is just another word for the Christian lay movement"

12: "…what is the relationship between this public teaching ministry and the teaching of all Christians?"

12: "Some have…restricted the proclamation of the Word, which belongs to all Christians…This is done by the Roman sect and also by Romanizing Protestants. … Others…deny the divine order of the public preaching ministry."

14: "The apostle Paul commands the establishment of this [public] office"

18: "Persons who serve the church within the church…remain under the oversight of the office of bishop or public preaching office"

19: "A church…may not call a man to the preaching office or leave him in this office if he has committed civil offenses and thereby lost his good name before the world.…The church must take the office from him."

20: "a congregation that has …the office of bishop…that is temporarily "vacant" will appoint one or more people to read out a sermon, visit the sick, perform baptism and serve communion."

21: "Pastors…cannot refer to their "office" or their higher education, "science" and the like without and against God's Word."

21: "The public preaching ministry requires a special, that is, greater teaching ability, a greater gift …"

22: "public ministers of the Word are not to involve themselves in the affairs of this life,…but according to Christ's command they are to feed on the gospel, 1 Cor. 9:14" [This would seem to be a hard saying for small congregations unable to support a pastor adequately.]

24: "This gives him [the pastor] courage and strength to remain faithfully at his post, for example in the case of contagious diseases, when everyone flees." [This would be pertinent to recent Covid-19 outbreak.]

26: "Luther…says that those who stand in God's office and faithfully preach God's Word should …be called…"holy father", not because of their person, but because of the office in which they preach God's Word" [Gottesdienst members will overlook the condition that "they preach God's Word".]

In the next Part WIC4b, …

WIC3b: "Reconciliation…" essay concluded; new translation

      This continues from Part WIC3a (Table of Contents in Part WIC1) in a series presenting a new translation of all of Franz Pieper's essays previously translated in the 1933 CPH book What Is Christianity? And Other Essays. — This post presents the balance of various quotes from one of Franz Pieper's most notable convention essays: "The Reconciliation of Man With God". 

Notable Quotes: (comments in red)

- - - - - - -> The following are 6 objections followed by Pieper's responses:

Objection #1: 

329: "Christ's actions and suffering is completely unnecessary"

329: "All who wish to set aside Christ's atoning sacrifice are outside the Christian Church."

Objection #2:

330: "unworthy conception of God to portray him as so angry with sinners"

330: "But God's revelation in His Word is first of all that God is angry with sinners."

Objection #3:

330: "…God revealed his love for mankind. Therefore, there can be no question of reconciling God's wrath through the death of Christ"

330: "According to Scripture, both the love and the wrath of God are revealed in the mission and death of Christ."

Objection #4:

331: "It would be unjust of God to allow the innocent Christ to be cursed and punished instead of guilty people."

331: "on the one hand, God has imputed our, man's, guilt to Christ… and on the other hand, God made the innocent Christ suffer for us guilty people"

332: "We only keep solid ground under our feet if we refer to God's Word alone for the justice of divine action in the substitution of Christ."

Objection #5:

332: "Christ actually did not suffer what men should have suffered, and therefore one cannot speak of a vicarious satisfaction."

332: "According to Gal. 4:4-5, Christ fulfilled the law given to man"

Objection #6:

332: "Christ's vicarious satisfaction is too "juridical" and not "ethical" (moral) enough"

333: "According to Holy Scripture, the reconciliation of the world took place in a thoroughly juridical way"

333: "Juridical is the transfer of our guilt and punishment to Christ"

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334: "all critics are put to shame by their human substitutes for divine reconciliation"

353: "a perfect reconciliation. …an objective reconciliation."

353: "Only those who believe the gospel will share in the salvation acquired by Christ."

354: "At the time of the Reformation, it was the so-called humanists, the admirers of pagan education, who granted salvation to pagans"

355: "we in turn are fully partakers of reconciliation as soon as faith lights up in our hearts."

355: "faith is the only means by which we can be reconciled with God…only the Missourians and the Saxon Free Church still hold to "the strict orthodoxy of the Old Lutherans".

356: "All Christians, even those in the heterodox fellowships, believe this doctrine of reconciliation"

357: "The gospel has a very strange characteristic. It creates its own recognition…"

358: "The world that still exists is only the scaffolding for the building of the Christian church."

359: "The world sees us Christians as a minor matter, but basically we, … are the center of the universe."

      Now I present the updated version of one of Pieper's greatest essays. Hyperlinks added for reference and navigation. Pieper's emphasis of wording is retained, unlike the previous translation. Quotes from Luther have been cross-referenced to the American Edition where possible:

Downloadable, unhighlighted print file version here; German text file here.

      May Dr. Franz Pieper's essay provide instruction, comfort and strength for the reader's faith (and mine), and provide the tools to fend off all false teaching concerning the "Reconciliation of Man with God"! Amen! — In the next Part WIC4a we begin the lengthy essay on the "Layman's Movement".

WIC3a: reprint "The Reconciliation of Man With God" (1916, S. Illinois updated in 1921 L. u. W.)

      This continues from Part WIC2 (Table of Contents in Part WIC1) in a series presenting a new translation of all of Franz Pieper's essays previously translated in the 1933 CPH book What Is Christianity? And Other Essays. — In this third essay of six, we encounter an unusual case. The 1916 Southern Illinois District convention essay (text file) was reprinted in Lehre und Wehre 5 years later in 1921. Editor Prof. Friedrich Bente explained that this was done "In response to several requests", and because "the basic Christian truth…is almost universally…openly and deliberately denied". And we are told by Bente that "several deletions and additions [were] made by the speaker [Pieper] himself". Pieper wanted to polish this remarkable essay for this reprint after 5 years. So this translation will not use exactly the same German text as Prof. J. T. Mueller used for his translation in 1933. 

Notable Quotes: (comments in red):

289: "Reconciled with God! These words express the greatest happiness that a person can enjoy here on earth." [Pieper grabs our attention with the very first words!]

290: "God must come upon the world with terrible plagues… in order to remind people…for the purpose that people repent and embrace in faith the reconciliation with God brought about by Christ"

291: "all these things [calamities] should bring home to us the fact that we need reconciliation with God."

292: "We live in "the age of newspapers". [Now the Internet.]"

292: "the Lord adds the instruction that misfortunes bring to light what all people deserve because of their sins"

292: "However, in Germany, the land of the Reformation, the contempt for the Word of God is great."

292: "In our country the pope is spreading"

293: "sectarian preachers of our time often speak of a 'fatherhood' of God and a 'brotherhood of all men'… without the reconciliation brought about by the blood of Christ." 

294: "When Adam sinned, the fact registered in his conscience."

295: "the world is still under the sign of divine sparing"

296: "the most powerful revelation of God's wrath against sin is that God gives His only begotten Son, to whom He imputed the sin of the whole world, to death."

296: "The world does not despise the religion of works."

321: "It was not people who were reconciled to God, but God reconciled people to Himself…"

322: "reconciliation…does not consist in the fact that people have changed their attitude towards God… God in Christ or for the sake of Christ has changed His attitude towards mankind." [See this blog post.]

323: "…in God's heart, forgiveness of sin has taken the place of imputation of sin, and grace has taken the place of wrath"

323: "This reconciliation is behind us, it has happened, it is an accomplished fact.… the reconciliation that is not only to happen in the future, when people change, repent and believe, but which has happened"

324: "each one of us, can and should be certain that he is already reconciled with God through Christ"

325: "The Romans [Catholic Church] in particular come here with a whole series of objections."

325: "What the Romans still teach about a necessary confession before the "priest" and about satisfactions that the priest determines, is contrary to God's Word"

326: "But man is created for eternity, and if…he does not fully abide by God's law, then he lives on, but as one eternally cast out from God's presence."

327: "the worm that does not die and of the fire that does not go out, and … the utter darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth" [For eternity!]

327: "God has made his incarnate Son our, human, substitute before his forum."

327: "other so-called founders of religions … Confucius, Buddha, Mohammed, the Pope, the Unitarians … impose burdens on people.… [Christ] does not place the slightest burden on people"

328: "His actions and suffering means that the whole world of mankind is reconciled with God"

Critics of God's method of reconciliation.

328: "And now people are not satisfied with this reconciliation!"

328: "They call it unnecessary, unworthy of God, contradictory, completely unjust, inadequate or not covering the matter, too external or too legalistic."

329: "They see the essence of Christianity not in the belief in Christ crucified for the sins of the world, but in the endeavor to keep the commandments of God."

In the next blog post, Part WIC3b, we complete our "Notable Quotes" from this Christian essay, and a new full translation free for use by all.

WIC2: Pieper's “The Right Worldview” (1923, Synod essay)

      This continues from Part 1 (Table of Contents in Part 1) in a series presenting a new translation of all of Franz Pieper's essays previously translated in the 1933 CPH book What Is Christianity? And Other Essays. — In this second essay of six, the title assigned by Prof. J. T. Mueller is listed as “The Christian World View”. However the actual German title translated is "The Right Worldview". Pieper addresses a topic that is fresh for today. The Internet delivers countless "worldviews". But Pieper's sets us straight right from the start when we look for "The Right Worldview". The opinions of any person cannot give us this, but God can. As Pieper announces, "It is from God's standpoint that I want to speak to you about the right view of the world." — From Lehre und Wehre, volume 69 (1923), pp. 225-240:

Notable Quotes: 

225: "Copernicanism… a human assumption or conjecture, not a scientifically established fact" [Cp. to statement by theoretical physicist Nieto of Los Alamos National Laboratories here.]

226: "What is decisive for us from the outset (a priori) is how Christ… views Scripture. … So we believe him completely when he testifies to the Scriptures in John 10:35: 'The Scriptures cannot be broken'".

227: "Man did not develop by himself, neither from a primordial cell nor from a lower animal.   Nor did God develop man gradually"

228: "…the end of the world is certain.…we humans forget it all too easily. The end will come quite suddenly"

229: "But where will man go? … Heaven and earth will pass away, but people will remain.… [annihilists] claim that at least the wicked will be destroyed at the end of the world"

229: "the present world exists and is maintained in existence by God for the sole purpose of preaching the Gospel of Christ"

231: "Of course, the majority of people do not agree with this.…They think that… they can develop themselves, what they can achieve in morality, education and culture."

232: "God punishes temporally so that we do not have to perish eternally."

233: "Man also has a beginning, but no end… either in eternal salvation or in eternal damnation."

234: "…let us not forget our concern for the salvation of our own souls.

235: "But each and every one of us should constantly examine ourselves to see what we mean and how our hearts relate to the kingdom of God."

236: "The right view of the world also includes the right view of the family, child rearing and the Christian school." [Cf. this blog post]

237: "…the Gospel is only genuine if no law is added to it, but free grace is taught"

238: "…pure Christian doctrine also includes the rejection of opposing error."

Now I present my new, freely available, English translation which retains Pieper's emphasis of wording:

Download an unhighlighted version here; German text here.

Christians are not to take their worldview from worldlings but from God. And Pieper's essay brings that view into complete focus. — In the next post, Part WIC3a, we begin the essay “The Reconciliation of Man With God”.

WIC1: Pieper's "What Is Christianity?", new translation (1902 Synod essay) (Part 1 of 8)

    Recently I was contacted by a reader who found edification in one of Franz Pieper's great convention essays – "What Is Christianity?".  I have blogged about the 1933 CPH book What Is Christianity? And Other Essays 13 years ago on this blog post, and 8 years ago on this blog post. It was one of the first books that I dug into as I searched for "more treasures" than I knew existed from the old German Missouri Synod. How wonderful it was for me that the great essays were not only translated into English but were assembled into a substantial book. The book may still be in copyright, but that would only apply to the translation. Although Repristination Press evidently sold a reprint of this book in 1997, they no longer list it in their offerings. So I decided to do with these six essays what I have done with all the other untranslated writings – provide my own free translation so that no one may be hindered by the price of this book after nearly 100 years. The first will be the above mentioned essay. — There are other advantages to my translation in that the original translator, Prof. J. T. Mueller, did not generally carry forward the emphasis of many words in Pieper's original German. These are crucial in getting the full impact of Pieper's meaning. In some places Mueller paraphrased and occasionally added or subtracted from the original.

      While translator Mueller changed Pieper's title, I have translated the original German title that Pieper used, "Das Wesen des Christentums" → "The Essence of Christianity".

Notable Quotes:

24: "The Berlin professor … Harnack's doctrine is briefly this: Christ is not God"

26: "those people who want to come to God through their morality or through their works… the Scripture says Gal. 5:4: 'ye are fallen from grace'"

30: "In short, to be justified by one's own works is the characteristic of blind paganism; to be saved by faith in Christ without one's own works is the characteristic of Christianity."

33-34: Harnack "instructs people that they should only imagine God as Father, bypassing Christ"

36: "a heavenly mindedness…is not instilled in a person… by moral instruction nor by culture and learning"

37: "Faith in Christ comes first, and good works come second."

I refer the reader to my 2012 blog post for other comments to interest the reader enough to take the time to read this 15-page essay. 

      The following translation contains hyperlinks for navigation and references. Now I present my full English translated version of the essay as first published in German in 1902:

For a non-highlighted version, reformatted to 8-1/2" x 11" page, click >> here <<. German text file here; 

 

At the end of this project, I will combine all essays into a single file so that one may have essentially the same material in digital format as CPH's printed book. — In the next Part WIC2…

- - - - - - - - - - - -  Table of Contents  - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Part 1: “What Is Christianity?” (or "The Essence of Christianity."; 1902, Synod) (This blog post)

Part 2: “The Christian World View” (or "The Right Worldview"; 1923, Synod)

Part 3a: “The Reconciliation of Man With God” (1916, Southern Illinois District; L. u. W. 1921, p. 289 ff.)

   Part 3b: conclusion of "Notable Quotes", then full translation

Part 4a: “Layman's Movement: Proclamation of the Word (Thesis 1)” (1913, Southern Ill. District)

   Part 4b: Pieper's 8 questions to examine lay Christians

   Part 4c: Women and the "Lay Movement" (Klemet Preus's report)

   Part 4d: Lay Movement: Proclamation, Financial matters (Theses 1 & 2)

   Part 4e: Lay movement and the Christian walk (Thesis 3); full translation with download

Part 5: “The Holy Bible” (1921, Southern Illinois District)

Part 6: “The Open Heaven” (1929, Synod)

Appendix Part 7: "Christianity as a Hereafter Religion" (1920 Synod, LuW 67 p. 1 ff.)

Part 8: Full book of essays

Walther on Ro. 9:20-23: vessels of wrath and mercy; against Calvinism, go to the Greek words

[2025-10-09: added note in red]

      While researching and translating one of Walther's convention essays, the 1877 Western District (also the 1873 Western District, p. 56, [Convention Essays, p. 40]), I ran across his explanation of Romans 9:21-23 that cleared up my confusion of what these verses actually say.  Calvinists, who hold that God predestined some to damnation, or "Double Predestination", use these verses for their own interpretation of God's election to damnation for some. And indeed the major English translations of these verses are in need of clarification so that one may not be misled. While Calvinists claim to be strictly according to the Bible, we find that not to be the case with these verses. From the essay, p. 92:

C. F. W. Walther, and Lutheran teaching, on Romans 9:20-23:

In our passage we now speak of vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy; of the former it is said in our German Bible that they were prepared for condemnation; of the latter it is said that God had prepared them for glory. In the Greek, however, it is more precisely said of the latter that God prepared them beforehand, not merely prepared them; but this word "beforehand" is not used of the vessels of wrath. This is very important! For from this we see that all who are saved are prepared for salvation by God before the foundation of the world, whereas the vessels of wrath, i.e. those who are damned, are also prepared for damnation, but firstly, not beforehand, and secondly, not by God, but by the devil and their own evil will. Here our doctrine shines forth completely. It would be blasphemy to say that the Holy Spirit has forgotten to add the words "before" and "from God" to the vessels of wrath, so that we have nothing to give to these different ways of speaking! He, who is eternal wisdom, knew perfectly well why he says "from God" one time and not the other, why he says "before" one time and not the other. It is also very important to know that verse 22 in the Greek does not contain the words "therefore there", but instead the words "but if [Εἰ δὲ]". From this we see that when the apostle says in the previous verse, "Does not a potter have power to make one lump into a vessel for honor and another for dishonor?", he does not mean to say: and this is how God really does it, but that he only wants to reject human reason with its foolish objections, which so readily masters and even blasphemes God as soon as it cannot understand why he acts as he does. The apostle rather wants to say: As natural as we find it that a potter makes a soup tureen from clay, and from the same material a nasty vessel, which is placed in a corner so that it is not seen, and how no one confronts him about it: it is just as natural that whatever God may do, no one may confront him about it. This thought, that God does not allow himself to be mastered by us, also precedes the 20th verse, where it expressly says: "Yea, dear man, who are you, then, that you want to be right with God?" No one should therefore be misled by the words "therefore there" into Calvinistic errors, since these words are not in the original text at all, and since the apostle does not say: as a potter makes vessels of honor and dishonor from a lump, so God also first made vessels of mercy and then vessels of wrath; but he continues: "But if God... bore the vessels of wrath with great patience?" So the apostle's meaning is: What will you, what can you say then? [cp. All Glory To God, p. 221] 

I had thought that Walther was the only Lutheran teacher to point out this teaching, but he then referred to the Formula of Concord which taught much the same thing: FC SD XI 79-80. But Walther goes one step further than the Formula by introducing the second point, that the "vessels of mercy" were chosen "beforehand", not "in time". The following chart delineates Walther's points:

Potter (Ro. 9:21):

	Vessels unto dishonour	Vessels unto honour
Prepared by	Potter	Potter

God (Ro. 9:22-23):

	Vessels of wrath	Vessels of mercy
Prepared by:	Devil & themselves	God
When:	In time	“afore”, “beforehand” (προητοίμασεν)
God’s action:	endured	made known the riches of His glory

These verses set God in contrast to the potter. 

    In searching for a literal translation of the Bible, I was pleased to find that the Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) had perhaps the best translation of the initial words of verse 22: "But what if God…". The word "but" clearly shows that verse 22 is in contrast to verse 21, i.e. God is not like the potter in regards to the "vessels of wrath", He endures them, He does not make them. The DLNT had a wonderful footnote to verse 23: "Note that God endured the one group, but actively prepared-beforehand the other". (I may purchase the DLNT based on this. Hopefully it does not have too much "Reformed leaven".)

      May the readers (like me) be enabled to defend against the false Calvinistic error and be strengthened in their faith in a gracious God who will stay with us if we don't push Him away. (The full text of Walther's essay is upcoming in a future blog series.)