JPK1: Koehler not true exegete, not a Stoeckhardt; protest to WELS; Pless counters Prange

Prof. J. P. Koehler
Better than Stoeckhardt?
Why deposed?

 

Pastor Peter Prange: 
Out with Old Syn. Conf.
In with New "Exegesis"

    This blog post was provoked during my research of George Stoeckhardt and his Exegetical Theology. It is a protest to today's Wisconsin Synod (WELS).  I am lodging a protest against your Pastor Peter M. Prange who is a member of the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR) and was also a member of the committee that produced the Christian Worship: Supplement  (according to current info here.) 

      What is my protest?  It is the same as the formal protest reportedly issued by the St. Louis faculty and submitted by Prof. George Stoeckhardt against the new theology promoted by your Prof. John Philipp Koehler. 

This formal St. Louis protest was reported by Koehler himself in his History of the Wisconsin Synod (HWS; WHI; Internet Archive 2024) , p. 212. I have blogged about Koehler in 2017, and this post expands on that by bringing it into today's Wisconsin Synod.
      Most WELS church historians, and many outside the WELS today, make extensive use of Koehler's HWS book. (It should be noted that there is an extensive "Introduction" by Koehler follower Prof. Leigh Jordahl of Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary).  It has been called "the standard reference for the early history of the Wisconsin Synod" by the WELS Historical Institute.  It should be mentioned that it was not made available from WELS publisher NPH, but only through those who followed Koehler and separated from the WELS, the "Protes'tant Conference", which may no longer have congregations. Its periodical "Faith-Life" appears be be discontinued.  While the historical works of WELS Profs. Mark Braun, Armin Schuetze and E. C. Friedrich make substantial use of HWS, they offer practically no correction to Koehler's weaknesses and errors (he was deposed from his professorship in 1929).  This leads their readers to sympathize with Koehler, and wonder: "Why was Koehler deposed from his post as professor?"

      Again, Koehler was the leader of this "new exegesis" movement. What he came to promote was actually an attack on much of what the Missouri Synod and the Synodical Conference stood for, an objective faith.  The field of "Exegesis", according to Koehler, was supposed to breathe a new vigor into the life of a supposed "spiritless" orthodoxy, a "dead formalism" as one follower called it.  The notion was raised that the process of "exegesis" was sorely lacking, that new efforts were needed to understand the Bible, as if the Church was adrift in uncertainty.  Much has been written about Koehler and why he was deposed as professor by the Wisconsin Synod – search "Koehler" at essays.wls.edu:8080/ (Edward Fredrich's essay is perhaps the best.).  But the notion of the primacy of "exegesis" still lives on among many Lutherans.  Although Koehler claimed some support from George Stoeckhardt (HWS, p. 212), yet he admits that it was Stoeckhardt who wrote the letters of formal protest (p. 212) against his "exegetical clarification", against his misuse of the term "analogy of faith".  Dear God!  as I read the works of the later Koehler and the followers of his weaknesses and errors, I needed an antidote and I found it in Franz Pieper's Christian Dogmatics books.  The Christian religion is not about always questioning what we believe (faith) but about being absolutely certain of it, about sustaining and defending it.  And especially those who followed after Koehler, the so-called Protes'tant Conference, show how dangerous a little leaven can leaventh the whole lump. (Gal. 5:9) It is a shame the that Wisconsin Synod's history and its so-called "Wauwatosa Theology" is so tied up with the book written by deposed Prof. J. Ph. Koehler!

A Tale of Two Synods, and A Fiction

Past. Peter M. Prange:
Stöckhardt speaks
“at the mind”,
not the heart?

      In case anyone doubts that some (most WELS theologians and teachers?) hold that J.P. Koehler taught a superior exegetical theology than Stoeckhardt, Pastor Peter M. Prange (now of Kenosha Lutheran Academy-Kenosha) said the following in his essay J.P. Koehler, The Exegetical Task at the 2006 Bethany Reformation Lectures (BLTS/LSQ 47-1, p. 45):

“The reader will instantly notice a marked difference [between Koehler and Stoeckhardt]. Stöckhardt has copious quotations from other exegetes; Koehler has practically none. Stöckhardt spends much more time on the fine points of grammar and syntax; Koehler deals much more with the interrelatedness of Paul’s thought and the application of its saving truths to our lives as Christians. Stöckhardt reads as if he’s delivering a lecture aimed principally at the mind; Koehler sounds like he’s delivering a sermon aimed principally at the heart.”

So, according to Pastor Prange, to get at the meaning of the Holy Spirit by His words, by "merely setting forth what is expressed in Scripture", is not aimed at man's heart? This assertion that Stoeckhardt's writing is directed "principally at the mind" and not at the heart is fiction. Stoeckhardt lets the Holy Spirit, through His words, "aim at the heart". But I will grant to Pastor Prange that Koehler "deals much more with … the application of its saving truths to our lives as Christians".  The actual case is that Koehler does not lay the foundation for the assurance, the absolute certainty of salvation for the Christian, as does… George Stoeckhardt. Prange (in his 2006 essay) and Koehler promote "A Call to Reinvigorate the Science of Biblical Hermeneutics", a new "exegesis". I am unable to distinguish their distinctively new "exegesis", from eisegesis ("interpreting text in such a way as to introduce one's own presuppositions, agendas or biases"), or from the apostasy of Germany's renowned theologians.  It was exactly against this false notion of Prange and Koehler that I had to fight for my soul's salvation against Larry Darby and his attack on UOJ. — (Note: The Steadfast Press book Grace upon Grace of Stoeckhardt sermons recently published is at an unbelievably low price of $12.50 –paperback.)

 

Prof. Joel L. Pless:
“Stöckhardt was
confessional,
orthodox,
thoroughly Lutheran”

A Stark Contrast...

      To counter Prange's attack on Stoeckhardt, in the same 2006 lectures, WELS Prof. Joel L. Pless said of Stoeckhardt's exegesis:

• p. 13: Stoeckhardt’s view and understanding of the Holy Scriptures can be readily understood to be orthodox Lutheran ... Stoeckhardt’s view of Scripture is readily recognizable as confessional and orthodox Lutheran.
• p. 15: Stoeckhardt was truly a master exegete of both Testaments. ... his hermeneutical principles can be legitimately described as thoroughly Lutheran.
• p. 20: The main focus of his exegetical method is commenting on the doctrinal content of the verses, with often brief references to what other commentators have remarked on the meaning of the verse being studied, followed by Stoeckhardt’s often polemical rejoinders. Stoeckhardt then often supplied a brief application of the verse at hand.
• p. 22: Stoeckhardt’s method was continually guided by a burning desire to make the text of Scripture plain.

Prof. Pless wonderfully counters Prange.  These statements by Prof. Pless on Stoeckhardt's exegesis is in stark contrast to that of Pastor Prange.  The contrast is no small matter.  If Pless is correct that Stoeckhardt's exegesis was "thoroughly", "confessional and orthodox" Lutheran, then Stoeckhardt taught the absolute certainty of salvation, no doubts whatsoever.  But if Koehler's exegesis truly shows "a marked difference", then just what did Koehler teach? (Hint: "the application to our lives as Christians, i.e. "Faith-Life")  —

      And What Would Luther Say? about the emphasis on the application of the Bible to "our lives as Christians" à la Koehler, Prange, "Protes'tant Conference", etc.?  Martin Luther said:

“Doctrine is heaven, life is earth”
            Objective        <—>     Subjective
             Stoeckhardt      <—>     J. P. Koehler

So much for the fiction of Koehler's "exegesis" over Stoeckhardt!   Nonsense!  I reject all the teachings of this "new exegesis" for it would mix its aberrations with the truth, thereby confusing the truth!  But, Dear God!, "Doctrine is Heaven, Life is Earth".  I am absolutely certain of my salvation, in part because Luther, Walther, Pieper, and Stoeckhardt and others in the Old Synodical Conference (including the Wisconsin Synod!) held my nose to the very words of Holy Scripture (objective!) and said: Believe this!  My life is nothing apart from believing 2 Cor. 5:19 — or the Lutheran Doctrine of Justification! – I will take from the Old Synodical Conference what Koehler claims for it: the "dogmatism", "rusty thinking", "closed minds to new insights", "no understanding of exegesis", no "clear conception of how to handle language"! (HWS pp. 212-213).

      Others are being brought to testify against Pastor Peter M. Prange and his dream of Koehler's exegetical supremacy. The first will be Martin Luther, to refute an exegesis of John Philipp Koehler on Koehler's primary Bible verse, Romans 12:6, regarding the "Analogy of Faith". That will come in the next Part JPK2. 

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

Koehler 1: Doctrine & Life — Faith & Life (Luther); “coma” of Missourians (2017)

Part JPK1: Koehler not true exegete, not a Stoeckhardt; protest to WELS; 

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

Part JPK3: Pieper's "Use and Abuse of Analogy of Faith" (LuW essay, p. 321)

Part JPK4: John Gerhard On Interpreting (GDrv) §§ 75-78 , § 62, p. 76-77, 30. (Note: § 78 is directly against Prof. Joel Biermann. This series will be followed by one on a lecture by Prof. Biermann starting with JB01.)

Part JPK5: Koehler–dangerous path; Stöckhardt–”old paths”

Steeden, Germany–then & now: Brunn & Blechschmidt

Orthodox pastors and teachers from Steeden, Germany:
         Friedrich Brunn (1860s)    —    Martin Blechschmidt (2020)

      This "Excursus" follows Chapter 13a (Hist17) of Hochstetter's History, a portion which included a report on Pastor Friedrich Brunn's (Find-A-Grave) activities in Germany. Brunn's institution in Steeden provided over 200 men to the still young Missouri Synod.  The story from Steeden in Germany is not over, for a congregation still exists in Steeden that is following in the footsteps of Friedrich Brunn. — It was Brunn in Steeden who gave the troubled missionaries Carl Manthey Zorn and others a platform to voice their concerns against the erring Leipzig Mission Society (Hochstetter p. 423). Today, Pastor Martin Blechschmidt teaches and defends true Lutheran doctrine in Germany and Europe, including that of the Doctrine of the Church and Ministry, in the land of Luther, in Germany and in other European countries. 

fell away on
Church & Ministry

      It was Friedrich Brunn who, although he had received comfort from Wilhelm Loehe in his early struggles, in contrast to Loehe, did not fall away from the truth and so defended the Lutheran doctrine of the Church, publishing a book upholding it (German text, English translation).  It teaches the Lutheran, Scriptural doctrine, just as C.F.W. Walther in Church and Ministry.  — According to a book by Brunn's grandson (p. 38), "when Prof. Walther of the Semin­ary again came to Germany in 1860, he visited Pastor Brunn in Steeden and personally asked his help in preparing young people for the American Ministry." Why was this? Because "the Association with Loehe had ter­minated".  And Hochstetter's History gives the details of why there had to be a separation.

      Martin Blechschmidt from Steeden presented a scholarly essay to an international gathering in 2016 regarding the errors of the Wisconsin Synod on Church and Ministry "The Wauwatosa-Theology in the light of hermeneutical principles" (German text, English text).  President Friedrich Pfotenhauer would be pleased with this essay!  On pages 3 and 8, Blechschmidt states:

The reason for the discrepancy in the teaching position seems to be primarily in the misled approach of Wauwatosa theologians to God's Word. They neglect hermeneutical principles. According to them the scripture is not clear enough. The way they interpret certain verses prevents dogmatic conclusions because they seem to believe that the degree of certainty in the respective verses is very low. With two premises they force themselves into an unbiblical, non-Lutheran direction.… the WELS has no biblical foundation against the abolishment of the ministry. 

Steeden - 1860s
Church & proseminary

Steeden - today

In both men of Steeden we find strength regarding the Scriptural doctrines of Church and Ministry. Both teachers agree with Walther's teaching, both defended against the errors that Walther defended against. — From the website of the Steeden Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Congregation (translated, websites here and here; pic here)

“In the various regional churches and also in the existing Lutheran Free Churches, Bible criticism, stubbornly advocated false doctrines, unbiblical practice and false ecumenism have gained the upper hand. For this reason, the Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel congregation in Steeden is independent.”

The basis of these Steeden congregations, old and new, is essentially the same.  May European Christianity (German, French, Russian languages!), and Lutheranism be benefitted by their bold testimony to the truth.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

For Loehe, Neuendettelsau, Romanizing,
not Brunn, true Lutheranism

      Today Concordia Theological Seminary-Ft. Wayne honors Wilhelm Loehe in many ways more than C.F.W. Walther.  They may attempt to explain their basis for this, that he supplied many men for the ministry to the Missouri Synod.  If that reason was actually true, they would be honoring Friedrich Brunn just as much or more, for Brunn of Steeden supplied over 200 men!  But they rather honor Pastor Loehe for the errors he held to, his errors on Church and Ministry, especially his Romanizing tendencies.  Today they do not honor Brunn.  But it was not always that way – about 50 years ago, in the December 1971 issue of Concordia Theological Quarterly, Prof. E.F. Klug wrote a glowing essay and book review that spoke of the service of the dear Pastor Friedrich Brunn.  Although it can be read directly from the CTS-FW Media Resources online copy, yet I want to re-publish a quality text version here with some images added from the book he reviewed..  —  The next blog continues Hochstetter's History, Part 18, Chapter 13b.

The Springfielder — December 1971 — Volume 35, Number 3

“Triumph of Truth” —

A footnote to the History of Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois

E. F. Klug

Associate Professor of Systematic Theology (1960-  )

… Friedrich Brunn was not a mountain climber, but a man who moved mountains. The story of his remarkable life and service in the church is briefly and interestingly told by his grandson, Rev. August F. Brunn [† 1994 Find-A-Grave], who now lives in retirement at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Triumph of Truth, published during Epiphany, 1971, is a translation and adaptation from a German version, Zum Gedenken an Pfarrer Friedrich Brunn, compiled by a great granddaughter, Mrs. Gertrud Eikmeier Rücker. Printed in mimeograph form this memorial booklet marked the 150th birthday observance of Friedrich Brunn, in 1969, at Steeden (Saxony), Germany. [Balance of essay after Read More section below...]

Hönecke 1: WELS finest; Intro; “Analogy of Faith”

[2025-01-03: updated and added links to Koehler's History.]

Adolf Hoenecke

      In the previous post, I lamented how today's Wisconsin Synod (WELS) is turning away from its father in the faith, Adolf Hoenecke.  Although I have pointed out a weakness of Hoenecke in another post, yet he remains one of the great Lutheran theologians of America, and, as we shall see, was revered highly in the Synodical Conference.

      As I was reading Franz Pieper's Christian Dogmatics, volume 1, I ran across a long narrative (pp. 173-174; German text pp. 206-211) extolling the father of the old (German) Missouri Synod, C.F.W. Walther.  The narrative was so long and complementary that I lost track of who actually wrote so well of Walther, thinking it was just Pieper himself.  But as I traced back to the beginning of the quote, I was amazed – the quote was from… Adolf Hoenecke!  Why was this amazing?  Because today's theologians in both the WELS and LC-MS do not want this quote to be publicized:  

• WELS teachers now prefer to honor the deposed Prof. J.P. Koehler over Hoenecke, and 
• LC-MS teachers essentially want both Walther and Pieper downgraded to the point of oblivion.

J.P. Koehler claimed that Hoenecke told him privately in 1878 the following remark about the “Missourians” (History of the Wisconsin Synod, p. 153; IA):

“There is something sectarian about them.” (the Missourians)

This alleged quote that Koehler claims Hoenecke said to him privately has been repeated by other WELS historians without question, implying a reliance on Koehler's personal assertions rather than what was actually published in writing by Hoenecke.

“Analogy of Faith” rejected?

      Another indication that the WELS teachers are following Koehler by downgrading Hoenecke is demonstrated in the English translation of Hoenecke's Evangelical-Lutheran Dogmatics, volume 1, pp. 496-497.  In footnote 112, translator Rev. James Langebartels overturned Hoenecke's strong statement that

“All interpretation must be according to the analogy of faith (Rom. 12:6).” – Hoenecke

This was done by referring to a later journal essay by J. P. Koehler “shortly before Hoenecke's death” and so makes the equally strong statement rejecting Hoenecke's teaching (my emphasis, p. 497, footnote 112):

“By this principle, this interpretation of Romans 12:6 must be rejected…” — (Langebartels/Koehler)

In all my reading of Hoenecke, Koehler, Schaller, and others, I have not read that Hoenecke specifically rejected his own teaching on this point.  Koehler implies that he had Hoenecke's approval for his own attacks, but again someone would have to show me specifically where Hoenecke rejected his own teaching for me to believe this.  And if someone were to demonstrate this, then I would then be able to add another weakness of Hoenecke.  But I have not discovered a shred of evidence in all my reading.  The judgments of Koehler, so honored today in the Wisconsin Synod (example), concerning Hoenecke's teaching are not correct.

“Analogy of Faith” vs. Justification?

      There are two teachers of the WELS who admit that Dr. Hoenecke essentially rejected J.P. Koehler's use of “exegesis” to attempt to override a disagreement with opponents on a  misuse of “analogy of faith”.  Professor Em. Armin Schuetze (former President of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary) quoted Hoenecke (The Synodical Conference: Ecumenical Endeavor, p. 186-7):

“Also by means of exegesis we will not arrive at agreement because our opponents from the very start differ with us in the analogy of faith.” – Hoenecke 

Thankfully, Schuetze lets Hoenecke's statement stand without rebuttal.  Not so with another WELS teacher…

      Prof. John M. Brenner also published the above statement of Hoenecke in his 2012 PhD thesis, p. 130 (download here, PDF; a Jesuit university?), indicating that the source was published in Theologische Quartalschrift, 2 no. 4 (Oct 1905) p. 275 (German text).  Unfortunately Brenner also accepts Koehler's personal opinion that Hoenecke's teaching  (Ibid. p. 118-119; Koehler's History…, p. 243; IA) was in contradiction to Franz Pieper's teaching which is also the teaching of the Apology to the Augsburg Confession, Article XXVII: (XIII): Of Monastic Vows § 60 & 61 which states:

“Examples ought to be interpreted according to the rule, i.e., according to certain and clear passages of Scripture, not contrary to the rule, that is, contrary to the Scriptures. It is very certain, however, that our observances do not merit the remission of sins or justification.”

Brenner should know better since he defends “Universal Justification” in a 2014 essay, p. 43, yet weakens his own defense by questioning Franz Pieper's strong statement (History, p. 212, 241) that the “analogy of faith” is essentially the doctrine of justification… or what is the same, the clear passages of Scripture (see Apology § 61). — Although Koehler came "out" publicly in January 1904 with his refutation of Pieper's use (also of Luther and the Confessions) of the “analogy of faith”, yet Hoenecke also publicly, in 1909 (posthumously), came out with the Dogmatik books.  Before the Wisconsin Synod struck out on a new path with a new doctrine of Church and Ministry after Hoenecke died, it tried to go against Hoenecke's own teaching by legitimizing a subjective faith, a personal faith (Brenner/Koehler's fides qua creditur, p. 118, 125-6: “The objective meaning of ‘doctrine of faith’ is improbable.”) as the basis for the interpretation of Holy Scripture, ostensibly through a “fresh” approach to “exegesis”. [2017-12-24: slight mods made, added link]

==>> Hoenecke's, Pieper's, Walther's, and Luther's use of “analogy of faith” or “rule of faith” is the Confessional use, the same as the ancient Church.

And so Franz Pieper was the best friend that the Wisconsin Synod ever had by warning its erring teachers against going down their dangerous path (History, p. 212).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
      With this background, I want to publicize to the world, along with Franz Pieper, the honor that Adolf Hoenecke paid to C.F.W. Walther, and in the process brings great honor to himself. — But first we are treated to an introduction by Prof. John Schaller... in the next blog post, Part 2.

[2018-01-12: see this 1978 CTQ essay by Henry P. Hamann Jr. for examples of misuse of "exegesis"]
- - - - - - - - - - -   Table of Contents   - - - - - - - - - - - -
Prologue: Doctrine and Life (Focus shift away from doctrinal defense – subjectivism)
Part 1: This intro
Part 2: Schaller's introductory bio of Hoenecke
Part 3: F. Pieper reviews Hoenecke's training; Hoenecke assesses Walther
Part 4: Theology vs “theologizing”; new books, new “Lutheran tradition”
Part 5: Hoenecke itemizes doctrines defended (Wehre) by Walther; Walther / Pieper for Wisconsin's leader