Bente's Law & Gospel, Repentance & Good Works: another BTL book

     Prof. Friedrich Bente is either forgotten or criticized or ignored in today's LC–MS, but in his teaching, he was close to Walther and Pieper.  Next to his hated "Introduction to the Book of Concord" (in the venerable Triglotta) is his 1917 series of essays in Lehre und Wehre entitled Law and Gospel: Repentance and Good Works. These were shortly thereafter compiled into a 1917 book of the same title, with updates.

      Some time ago I had discovered that these were translated by a "J. A. S." in the Concordia Lutheran periodical of the Concordia Lutheran Conference. It began in their March/April issue of 1974, but as far as I can tell was never finished. As I compared these with the original German text, I found some differences, e.g. section numbering is somewhat different from the book version. Because of this, I decided to produce my own polished machine translation.

     But before presenting some quotes from the book, I present Prof. Ludwig Fuerbringer's brief comments in Der Lutheraner when it first appeared (Nov. 6, 1917, p. 370):

• Law and Gospel: Repentance and Good Works. Primarily according to the 4th, 5th and 6th articles of the Formula of Concord. By F. Bente. Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. 104 pages 6x9, bound in cloth with cover title. Price: 60 cts. postage paid.

     "A Gift for the Four-Hundredth Anniversary of the Reformation” is the title of this book, and it treats the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, which the Reformation laid out again according to Scripture and set forth in its confessions. It consists of a series of articles that appeared in Lehre und Wehre during the summer months of this year, but here they are supplemented with additions. The articles are divided into 34 sections, and the entire treatise displays the mastery that readers of Lehre und Wehre have long recognized in the author: thorough, comprehensive treatment; clear, incisive exposition; and a lively, engaging presentation. Writings such as these, which so thoroughly introduce the fundamental ideas of the Reformation, are the most valuable jubilee books, which will not become outdated but possess lasting value. But they are not to be merely skimmed over, but read and studied.

- - - - - - -  Continued in Part 2  - - - - - - -

In the next Part 2, we present Bente's first paragraph as a thumbnail sketch of the book. Then samples of quotes from the book for a better overview.

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

Part 1: This introduction; Fuerbringer's book review

Part 2: Law & Gospel (Part 2)

Part 3: Repentance & Good Works (Part 3)