“Our one Father, God, lives and our mother, the church; and neither are we dead who live to God, nor do we bury our dead, inasmuch as they too are living in Christ.”
— Tertullian
On Monogamy, 7.
“The loss of the authority of the Scriptures deprives modern Protestantism of its power to discuss doctrine with Rome. Roman Christians ask their “separated brethren” in the Protestant churches, if you reject the doctrine of Mary’s immaculate conception as unscriptural, then why do so many of you reject also Christ’s virgin birth, a doctrine which your fathers confessed with the Church of all ages and which undoubtedly is based on Holy Scripture?” — Hermann Sasse
From The Inspiration of Holy Scripture , an article published in the American Evangelical magazine Christianity Today, March 16, 1962.
I know trying to keep the alphabet soup of options for e-books these days is confusing, but I’ve got good news for owners of the Barnes and Noble Nook and Sony Reader . . . you can now purchase ePub files from Concordia Publishing House and read them on your readers. We have a listing of the ePub files available on our web site, and you can see them all by clicking here.
CPH ePub Editions must be used with Adobe Digital Editions software. If desired, you may then transfer the ePub Edition to any of the compatible devices using a USB connection. You can get the Adobe Digital Edition software, for free, here.
ePub files are for those folks NOT using an Amazon Kindle, or a Kindle app on any of their smartphone device, etc. Amazon Kindle files may now be read on all desktop, laptop, netbook computers. On all Apple iPhone/iTouch/iPads. On all Blackberries. On all Android devices.
If you do not have any of those devices, or choose not to use the Amazon Kindle app or device, and you do own a Sony Reader or a Nook, you can now get our various e-books as ePub files directly from us and away you go. There are scads of other devices on which you can read ePub files. You can see all the various devices here.
Will we also be offering books for direct purchase on/in the Apple iBookstore? Yes, we are still working through some contractual issues with Apple, but that’s coming too.
Here is a brief overview of how you can use ePub files:
What are ePub Editions?
The ePub Editions is a type of eBook offered by Concordia Publishing House that requires the use of Adobe Digital Edition Software to view. The software is available free of charge through Adobe and can be downloaded here.
If you have any questions or need assistance installing this software please refer to the help documentation on the right.
What are eBooks?
eBooks (electronic books) are digital versions of printed books which can be read on a personal computer or other electronic devices. eBooks are a great alternative reading choice for people of all walks of life.
Features of eBooks:
• Find what you’re looking for with easy word and phrase search options
• Customize text size to fit your needs
• Keep your spot with digital bookmarks
• Enjoy your book NOW with instantaneous delivery
For more details and explanations, please be sure to visit this web page and read the support files there.
I received a copy of the new ESV Bible Atlas, and my reaction is, in one word, “Wow!” You owe it to yourself to check it out. I am particularly impressed by the huge beautiful pictures of the Temple grounds in Jerusalem at the time of Christ and the cut-away images of the Temple itself. Full disclosure: I was given a copy of the ESV Atlas as a gift by Dr. Lane Dennis of Crossway, and what a wonderful gift it is. You can order it now for only $35. An amazingly good value for such a rich book, which comes with a CD and a poster, as well.
Here is Justin Taylor’s description of the Atlas.
The new Crossway ESV Bible Atlas (352 pages) will be shipping soon from Amazon.
The text of the Atlas was written by Professor John Currid (RTS-Charlotte, NC). The maps were done by David Barrett, who also served as the cartographer for the ESV Study Bible. Here’s what it contains:
175 full-color maps
70 full-color photographs
3-D re-creations of biblical objects and sites
indexes
timelines
65,000 words of narrative description.
“The atlas uniquely features regional maps detailing biblically significant areas such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, Italy, and Greece. It also includes a CD with searchable indexes and digital maps, and a removable, 16.5 x 22-inch map of Palestine.”
One of the neat things for me is being able to see the ESVSB illustrations—of the tabernacle, the temples, Jerusalem at various times, etc—in great detail over a two-page spread on glossy paper.
If you want to flip through 40+ pages of the Atlas virtually, click here. Just put your mouse on the right-hand side of the atlas to flip to the next page.
“Christ is the Rock by which and on which the church is founded. And thus it is overcome by no traces of maddened people. Therefore the heretics are not to be heard who assure themselves that there is to be an earthly reign of one thousand years; who think, that is to say, on the same wavelength with Cerinthus. For the kingdom of Christ is now eternal in the saints, although the glory of the saints shall be made known after the resurrection.”
— Victorinus of Petovium
Commentary on the Apocalypse, 16.
The holy prophet Jeremiah is counted as one of the four “major prophets” of the Old Testament, along with Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. His name means “Established (or Raised up) by Yahweh (the Lord).”
He was active as God’s prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah ca. 627 to 582 B.C. As he fulfilled his calling, he predicted, witnessed, and lived through the Babylonian siege and eventual destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.
In his preaching he often used symbols such as an almond rod (Jeremiah 1:11-14), wine jars (13:12-14), or a potter at work (18:1-17). His entire prophetic ministry was a sermon, communicating through word and deed God’s anger toward his rebellious people. He suffered repeated rejection and persecution by his countrymen. As far as can be known, he died in Egypt, having been taken there forcibly. He is remembered and honored for fearlessly calling God’s people to repentance.
Jeremiah also is credited by many as the author of the Book of Lamentations. The book consists of five separate poems, of which the first four are acrostics consisting of verses whose first words begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In English translations, of course, this style completely disappears.
Chapter Three is an especially well-developed acrostic. There are twenty-two letters in Hebrew and the other chapters have 22 verses. However, this chapter has sixty-six, grouping sets of three verses under each letter of the alphabet. Thus, verses one through three begin with א (aleph), verses four through six with ב (beth), seven through nine with ג (gimel), and so-on down the line. Chapter Five, while not an acrostic, still has 22 verses.
The themes of the book unfold as follows: Chapter 1 treats the fallen and desolate city of Jerusalem as a widow weeping over her loss. Chapter 2 connects her misery with the sins of the nation and her people which brought God’s judgment. Chapter 3 expresses hope that the Lord’s punishment will result in blessing for His people and affirms His goodness: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’ (vv. 22-24)” Chapter 4 is a lament on the destruction of city and temple but lays the blame upon the people’s sins. The final chapter outlines the city’s continuing troubles and prays that the Lord will finally restore Zion and not abandon His chosen people, although their sins are great and they certainly deserve it.
The book of Jeremiah similarly proclaims harsh judgment upon persistent sin while also reminding the Lord’s people of His faithfulness. It looks to a time when the need for the Law’s commands and punishments will cease and all will be made right. The clearest expression of this thought is in 31:31-34, where a “New Covenant” of grace is promised, a covenant established by the blood of the coming Messiah: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.
“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Scripture says nothing of how prophet’s life ended. Chapter 43 reveals that Johanan took Jeremiah, the prophet’s faithful scribe Baruch ben Neriah, and a remnant of Judean people, to live in Egypt. This directly contradicted the Word of the Lord Jeremiah had just spoken in Chapter 42, forbidding such a move and warning of dire consequences. Since Jeremiah 52:31 mentions the reign of Evil-merodach, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, many think that he may have been at least 90 years old when he died. Some ancient traditions claim that he was stoned to death in Babylon. Others say that he finally went to Babylon with Nebuchadnezzar’s army.
I received this interesting message on Facebook, and am passing it along.
Greetings in Christ.I am a fellow LCMS pastor in the middle of Kansas (http://www.facebook.com/l/5651af2wgkm50czIjn1G7xOw-mg;stpaulsellsworth.info) Recently I posted on the LCMS Facebook group a video I made about the Augsburg Confession (http://www.facebook.com/l/5651a6ZW4ZiG-_qeP1Q59W6nW-Q;vimeo.com/12768698). One person in their comments said that they might listen to the confession if it was in an audio format they could take with them. Anyways, beginning with June 25th, I am going to post the Confession (triglotta text) in audio on my blog (http://www.facebook.com/l/5651aXzBRGMdYJpyL8ieR636Rxw;ihoppe.com/blog/), one article a day. With the preface and conclusion, it will last 30 days. The files will then be archived on the blog and at http://www.facebook.com/l/5651asBhpMXa09wUL4uDkSmuLqw;luthershare.com. I am writing to you because I know that you have a good following on the internet and am hoping you might direct your readers my way if you would value this effort. Again it will “go live” Friday morning.
Pastor Philip Hoppe
Bach composed Cantatas for the bicentennial anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession, which was celebrated in Leipzig in 1730, since it was one of the last bastions of Lutheran Orthodoxy, before the evils of Pietism overran nearly all of orthodox Lutheranism in Germany. Here are the texts from his Cantatas. Sadly, the music has been lost, which was what Bach composed, but here are the texts he chose to go along with the music he had written. Apparently, it was a three day festival, so Bach wrote at least three Cantatas, one for each day.
BWV 190a Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied!
Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander), Ernst-Schertzhaffte und Satyrische Gedichte, Teil III (Leipzig, 1732); Facs: Neumann T, p. 333; Reprint: Sicul, Annales Lipsienses, Sectio XXXVII (1731) and Das Jubilierende Leipzig (1731).
1. Ps. 149:1, 150:4 and 6; Martin Luther, beginning of the German Te Deum, 1529 (Wackernagel, III, #31); 2. Martin Luther, the same text with interpolated recitative; 7. Martin Luther, verse 3 of “Es woll uns Gott genädig sein,” 1524 (Wackernagel, I, #189).
25 June 1730, Leipzig; Parody: 1, 2, 3, 5 <— BWV 190.
2. Chorale and Recit.
Lord God, we give thee praise,
God, that thou both our shield
And our redeemer art.
Lord God, we give thee thanks.
Triumphant shall we go forth
And seek now, Lord, thy countenance,
For thy dear grace extends
As far as heaven’s breadth,
And thine own truth sheds light
As far as clouds are ranging.
Lord God, we give thee praise
That still thy brilliant light
Within our land doth shine.
O God, how great is this thy kindness,
Which doth such faith to all thy children show!
Forget that loving disposition,
My Zion, yea, forget it not!
Lord God, we give thee praise.
Today is the 480th anniversary of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession, in 1530. It is also the 430th anniversary of the publication of the Book of Concord, in 1580. Both events are special days in the history of the Lutheran Church. These documents define what it means to be, and to remain, a Lutheran. Are the historical relics of the past, or the living confession of Christians today who call themselves Lutheran? Does being Lutheran still matter?
There seem to be three types of responses to the question, “Does being Lutheran still matter?” One is, “Are you kidding me? You better believe that it matters. Let me tell you why.” Another response is a sort of “mental shrug” to the question, “Well, of course we want to be and remain Lutheran, that goes without saying, there’s no real need to talk much about it though.” And then, sadly, there is this response, “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is being a Christian. We need to focus on what unites us rather than what divides us.” As I watch and analyze events and trends in Christianity and Lutheranism, both in this country and around the world, I am increasingly convinced of two things: first, being and remaining genuinely Lutheran matters more then ever, and second, the reasons why this is true are unclear at best to many people, including many Lutherans.
In James 2:1, the apostle says: “My brothers, SHOW NO PARTIALITY as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” If you prefer the rich over the poor because of their wealth, this means you are focusing on the person and thus have no faith. That is an attitude that faith will not TOLERATE as James says quite correctly.
This means that where there is faith, this kind of attitude must disappear, because faith does not focus on the person but on the relationship that person has with God. Faith thinks: “This poor beggar has been redeemed by the blood of the Son of God. As far as I am concerned, this makes this man worth as much as a king or an emperor.” These are the kind of huge miracles that faith works in our hearts.
C.F.W. Walther, Law and Gospel, p. 233
Twentieth Evening Lecture, Feb. 27, 1885
“Even the Pope has reminded his bishops that the Masses that are secretly celebrated in prison camps, without any pomp, in utter simplicity, come very near to the Mass of the ancient church and are not inferior to a pontifical Mass. In Lutheran Germany, however, one can today hear theologians — even some who come from unliturgical Wuerttemberg — say that there is a form of the divine service that belongs to the essence of the church, even that Gregorian chant belongs essentially to the Christian liturgy. It is high time that the liturgical movement in the Lutheran church wakes up from its romantic dreams and subordinates itself to the norms to which the whole life of the church must be subject: the norma normans of Holy Scripture and the norma normata of the church’s confession. And this applies to all the Lutheran churches in the world, for the Scandinavian, in which the Anglican influence is so great, and for the American, in which the ideas of the European liturgical movement have now gained a footing. If this serious reflection does not take place, then the liturgical movement will become what it has become already for many of its adherents: the end of Lutheranism and the road to Rome.”
From “The Lutheran Understanding of the Consecration”, Letters to Lutheran Pastors No. 26, July 1952, in We Confess the Church (pp117-118), Concordia, 1985.
“Isaac also, delivered from death, laughed, sporting and rejoicing with his spouse, who was the type of the helper of our salvation, the church, to whom the stable name of endurance is given for this reason: because she alone remains to all generations, rejoicing ever, subsisting as she does by the endurance of believers, who are the members of Christ. . . . The King, then, who is Christ, beholds from above our laughter, and looking through the window, as the Scripture says, views the thanksgiving and the blessing and the rejoicing and the gladness and furthermore the endurance that works together with them and their embrace. Thus he views his church, showing only his face, which before was hidden to the church, which is made perfect by her royal head.”
— Clement of Alexandria
Christ and Educator, 1.5.27.
An interesting news story has appeared documenting the discovery of the oldest known portraits of Andrew and John found, in Rome. They were discovered, or perhaps better, uncovered using new laser technology that allowed crustations to be removed without harming the underlying paint. And, what caught my eye in this story is that St. Peter is portrayed as being simple one of the four apostles portrayed, no indication of Peter being supreme or chief of the Apostles. I find this very interesting, considering the portraits date from the late fourth century. So, for what it is worth, here is the story, and you can find see pictures of the various images as well. Here are copies below:
St. John
St. Andrew
St. Paul
St. Peter
A person posted this photo to the Concordia Publishing House Facebook Page and said, “I think I can start calling this ‘The Tower of Concordia’ now.” My response? A thing of beauty is a joy forever!
Bad Behavior has blocked 3386 access attempts in the last 7 days.
Recent Comments