Nathaniel Biebert

Drawing from the well of God's Word, David Hollaz address the topic of baptism as a conferring means of salvation. He answers a variety of questions pertaining to the administering and receiving of baptism, infant baptism, and the spiritual state of children prior to baptism. Hollaz is in especially fine form in some of his responses to opponents of infant baptism.

Does Lutheranism consist of certain phraseology, private practices, church customs, or liturgical rites? What exactly does it mean to say that one is a Lutheran? In an age when many equate Lutheranism with the decisions of the largest Lutheran church body in the world, the ELCA, and at a time when the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod is asking its members to consider anew why they are Lutheran, Prof. Edward Moldehnke speaks to us from the past and gives us a convincing look at what Lutheranism is not. He follows with a refreshing review of what Lutheranism is and must be in its essence.

Stöckhardt expertly guides the reader through Paul's Greek in Romans 11:33-36. After Paul's discussion of God's turning to the Gentiles and the Jews' rejection of Christ, the age-old question naturally arises: Why some and not others? Walking through Paul's answer to that question, Stöckhardt encourages us to let the mysteries of God remain as such.

Some reputable theologians today regard the Trinity as an article of faith found only in the New Testament, or even as a teaching that first appeared after the Bible was written. David Hollaz demonstrates that even the Old Testament clearly testifies to the Trinity of divine persons. He proves this from the creation of the world, the leading of the Israelites out of Egypt, the promised sending and anointing of the Messiah, the solemn priestly blessing, and the trisagion of the angels.

These two children's Bible stories presented by Carl Manthey-Zorn provide an excellent model for teaching the Old Testament to little children. Zorn retells the stories in a simple and suspenseful manner and concludes with a brief prayer and a hymn verse.

This article from the German predecessor of Forward in Christ appeared on September 1, 1868. In it the editor replies to requests he has received either to include more world affairs in the magazine or to quit “quarreling too much.” He stresses the importance of standing firm in the Bible's teaching out of love for both God and his people.

In his final article submitted to the Theologische Quartalschrift in July, 1943, Professor August Pieper considers Luther's words of warning in his Letter to the Town-Councilmen: “God’s Word and grace is a passing downpour, which does not return to where it has already been.” Starting with Adam and Eve, Pieper tests Luther's expression against Scripture itself.

Georg Stöckhardt delivered this powerful sermon on the Christmas Gospel in 1879. He thoroughly treats the blessings that God has given us through the birth of his Son. He concludes by considering the Christian's response to those blessings.