JPK2: Luther vs J. P. Koehler on Rom. 12:6, "analogy of faith"

     This continues from Part JPK1 (Table of Contents in Part JPK1) in a series defending against the aberrant teachings of deposed Wisconsin Synod Prof. J. P. Koehler († 1951) of the Wisconsin Synod. — Koehler's provocative charges against the Missouri Synod and Franz Pieper, can be answered by the Reformer, Martin Luther.  First, let us review again Koehler's main argument regarding Romans 12:6 and his defense of it from his History of the Wisconsin Synod book, p. 212 [comments in red]: 

J. P. Koehler: subjective faith (Rom. 12:6) (p. 212): 

"The proper interpretation of the misapplied Scripture text [by the Missourians] became imperative, and Koehler [Koehler writes of himself in the third person], who had not taken part in the discussions, applied himself to the task, with the result of the article in the first number of the Quartalschrift under the head of “The Analogy of Faith.” His finding was that the Apostle is not stating a technical principle of hermeneutics in Rom.12:6 but saying that in the matter of the gift of ‘prophecy’ such prophesying should be according to the proportion of faith (as it is translated quite aptly in the English Bible); in other words, those in the early church endowed with this particular gift should confine themselves in their prophesying’, its content, scope, and exercise, to the measure or degree of faith with which they were endowed, [i.e. subjective faith] by virtue of which they could exercise such gift thru the Spirit; they should not try to go into higher flights of their own (cf. v3)."

That is subjectivism. Koehler immediately admits that Dr. Hoenecke, his superior, called his attention to the fact that "the article was in conflict with the practically unanimous opinion of the dogmaticians regarding the use of two vital concepts of the Scriptures: pistis (faith) and charis (grace)." Koehler admits that his

"article contended that ‘faith’ [in Rom. 12:6] is used subjectively only of the Christian’s inner attitude".

Koehler admits to his own "private interpretation" ("contended") which is warned against in 2 Peter 1:20. 

      More than the later dogmaticians, Koehler's contention is directly opposed to Martin Luther's repeated teaching on Rom. 12:6. 

 

Martin Luther: objective faith

• LW 1, 354: "This interpretation is in accordance with the faith (Rom. 12:6) and confirms the hope of resurrection and of eternal life."
• LW 2, 151: "…the rule of Paul, who enjoins in Rom. 12:6 that prophecy or doctrine should be conformable to the faith."
• LW 6, 131: "…not all of them are to be believed, but only if they are of the analogy of faith (Rom. 12:6). I shall cling to the Word of God and be content with that."
• LW 7, 118: "But here the analogy ends, not of faith (cf. Rom. 12:6) but of things".
• LW 9, 25: "This is done when, according to the injunction of Rom. 12:6, prophecy is according to the analogy of faith…"
• LW 22, 105: "'You hear that God did not become an angel but a man like you, and you just stand there like a stick of wood!' Whether this story is true or not, it is nevertheless in accordance with the faith (Rom. 12:6).".
• LW 34, 96: "We will cleave to this rule which St. Paul teaches us, Romans in the twelfth chapter [:6], 'All prophecy shall be similar to faith.' Those teachers who teach what conforms to the faith in Christ, them we will teach and hold to; any teacher, however, who does not teach what conforms to the faith, him we will neither hear nor see"
• LW 36, 195: "Nothing is to transpire or be done unless it is certain that God is the author and doer of it. [i.e. objective] This is what Paul intends in Rom. 12 [:6] — 'If any one has the gift of prophecy, let him prophesy in accordance with the faith…'"
• LW 37, 261-262, the powerful words of Luther defending the Real Prescence: "For all the words of Christ must … be in accord with faith, Romans 12 [:6]."
• LW 51, 378: "If an idea occurs to you, I would not throw it out altogether, but let it have some value. But go easy; St. Paul says, 'in proportion' [Rom. 12:6]; don’t be misled by it. How can I know, then, how far? Paul answers, 'in proportion to our faith', that is, as far as it is in accord with faith"

It was an instructive experience for me as I gathered the quotes from Luther — they pointed to an objective faith, not a subjective faith such as Koehler teaches with his "measure or degree of faith with which they were endowed". Our objective faith is not founded within, it is based on the objective Word, a Word that no one can change or take away. — A good follow up to this controversy would be to read Franz Pieper's extensive essay “Use and Abuse of the Analogy of Faith” in Lehre und Wehre in English, volumes 49 (1903, p. 321 ff.) and 50 (1904, p. 20 ff). I will present that evidence of Lutherans against the teaching of Prof. Koehler, in the next Part JPK3.