Nov / Dec - 2004 --- 2005 - Jan / Feb

News and Notes - CONVENTION REMINDER

True Christians suffer ...but hypocrites flee - Luther

Our Augsburg Confession - Chief Articles 7-13

...Out of the Original Tongues... - m.e.l.

Prayer for True Ministers from our Lutheran Hymnal

News and Notes

2005 Delegate Convention

We pray that we will see you at this Summer's annual ILC Delegate Convention.

Please make this fellowship opportunity part of your family's Summer plans and take time now to make arrangements.

Ask your pastor for more information.

This year, the meetings will be hosted by Reformation Lutheran Church, Tinley Park, Illinois --- Pastor: Richard Finke.

(773) 734--4669

Meeting dates: June 23+24, 2005

Reformation Lutheran Church meets at the Fairfield Inn (Marriott family hotel)

18511 North Creek Drive

Tinley Park, IL 60477

Phone: (708) 633--1050

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True Christians are prepared to suffer death and every misfortune for the sake of the Gospel,

but hypocrites flee the Cross.

(from Luther: on God's Word by The Lutheran Reformation Hour)

Dr. Luther said that he once had a table companion at Wittenberg by the name of Matthias De Vai, an Hungarian, who also lived at Luther's house in Wittenberg. This man, once he had returned to Hungary and had become a preacher, became involved in a controversy with a papistic preacher. Now it came to pass that the papist accused him before Friar George who was governor and ruler of Ofen at that time, and in the pre-trial examination each accused the other so vehemently that the Friar could not reconcile them for each insisted he was right. Then Friar George said: Hold on, now, I'll soon find out who is right or wrong, and proceeded to place two tons of gunpowder in the market square of Ofen, he said: Whoever wants to defend his position that he is right and his is the true Word of God let him sit on top of one of the piles of powder and I'll put fire to it. Whoever remains alive and unburned when the fire touches the powder - his doctrine is right. At once Matthias De Vai scrambled up one of the piles and sat on top if it, but the papist and his attendant would not go up on the other ton of powder. Whereupon Friar George said: Now I see that the faith and doctrine of De Vai is correct and your religion, you papists, is wrong. Fine this papistic priest and his attendant four thousand Hungarian gold pieces... but Matthias De Vai was permitted to preach the Gospel freely.

Dr. Luther then added: NO one among the papists is ever willing to risk the fire but our people go confidently into the fire, yes, into death itself as one observes in regard to the martyrs of ancient times such as Sts. Agnes, Agatha, Vincent and Laurentius. If the papists together with their teaching and religion were now condemned to the fire, O how many would fall away!

Illi sunt martyres active, non passive.

(They are martyrs who love to live, not suffer).

Emperors, kings, princes and lords persecute and murder the Christians today while the Turks receive, defend, protect and harbor them.

Papistae nolunt regnum Christi, habeant ergo regnum diaboli. (Papists do not want Christ to reign over them, therefore they are under the devil's power).

In such manner did Dr. Luther speak at Eisleben in 1546 shortly before he died. Furthermore he said: We are despised in the world ut oves occisionis (as sheep ready for the slaughter).

A short time later, in Paris, two noblemen and two judges were burned at the stake for the sake of the Gospel. At that time the theologians were able to induce the king of France himself to put the torch to the wood. We are like a flock of sheep that do not go out to pasture but stay in the stall until we get speared or tossed into the pot.

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Our Augsburg Confession (continued)

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The Confession of Faith
which was submitted to
His Imperial Majesty Charles V
at the Diet of Augsburg
in the year 1530
by certain princes and cities

I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings,
and will not be ashamed.
Psalm 119:46

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The Chief Articles of Faith

(7-13)

Article VII: Of the Church.

1] Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.

2] And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and 3] the administration of the Sacraments. Nor is it necessary that human traditions, that is, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. 4] As Paul says: One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4, 5. 6.

Article VIII: What the Church Is.

1] Although the Church properly is the congregation of saints and true believers, nevertheless, since in this life many hypocrites and evil persons are mingled therewith, it is lawful to use Sacraments administered by evil men, according to the saying of Christ: The Scribes and 2] the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, etc. Matt. 23, 2. Both the Sacraments and Word are effectual by reason of the institution and commandment of Christ, notwithstanding they be administered by evil men.

3] They condemn the Donatists, and such like, who denied it to be lawful to use the ministry of evil men in the Church, and who thought the ministry of evil men to be unprofitable and of none effect.

Article IX: Of Baptism.

1] Of Baptism they teach that it is necessary 2] to salvation, and that through Baptism is offered the grace of God, and that children are to be baptized, who, being offered to God through Baptism, are received into God's grace.

3] They condemn the Anabaptists, who reject the baptism of children, and say that children are saved without Baptism.

Article X: Of the Lord's Supper.

1] Of the Supper of the Lord they teach that the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present, and are distributed 2] to those who eat in the Supper of the Lord; and they reject those that teach otherwise.

Article XI: Of Confession.

1] Of Confession they teach that Private Absolution ought to be retained in the churches, although in confession 2] an enumeration of all sins is not necessary. For it is impossible, according to the Psalm: Who can understand his errors? Ps. 19, 12.

Article XII: Of Repentance.

1] Of Repentance they teach that for those who have fallen after Baptism there is remission of sins whenever they are converted; 2] and that the Church ought to impart absolution to those thus returning to repentance. Now, repentance consists properly of these 3] two parts: One is contrition, that is, 4] terrors smiting the conscience through the knowledge of sin; the other is faith, which is born of 5] the Gospel, or of absolution, and believes that, for Christ's sake, sins are forgiven, comforts 6] the conscience, and delivers it from terrors. Then good works are bound to follow, which are the fruits of repentance.

7] They condemn the Anabaptists, who deny that those once justified can lose the Holy Ghost. Also those who contend that some may attain to such 8] perfection in this life that they cannot sin.

9] The Novatians also are condemned, who would not absolve such as had fallen after Baptism, though they returned to repentance.

10] They also are rejected who do not teach that remission of sins comes through faith, but command us to merit grace through satisfactions of our own.

Article XIII: Of the Use of the Sacraments.

1] Of the Use of the Sacraments they teach that the Sacraments were ordained, not only to be marks of profession among men, but rather to be signs and testimonies of the will of God 2] toward us, instituted to awaken and confirm faith in those who use them. Wherefore we must so use the Sacraments that faith be added to believe the promises which are offered and set forth through the Sacraments.

3] They therefore condemn those who teach that the Sacraments justify by the outward act, and who do not teach that, in the use of the Sacraments, faith which believes that sins are forgiven, is required.

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Philippians 2 : 2 - 11
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 2 : 42, 46, 47
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

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"TRANSLATED OUT OF

THE ORIGINAL TONGUES:

AND WITH THE FORMER TRANSLATIONS DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED,

BY HIS MAJESTY'S SPECIAL COMMAND"

The above statement is found within the first few pages of many printings of the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible. Lately, it seems that many printing houses are leaving the translation statement out of their copies. In any case, there is a lie being circulated among various professed Christians and groups – some of whom wear the label "Lutheran" – that the King James Version is: "a translation of a translation of a translation." The lie is being spread in an attempt to discredit or demean the KJV Holy Bible. In order to put this lie to rest, I will quote what the KJV translators themselves wrote concerning their work.

The following quotes are taken from the original preface titled, "The Translators To The Reader" (eleven pages of very small print) as found in my copy of the original 1611 edition of the Holy Bible, King James Version (a word-for-word reprint of the First Edition of the Authorized Version, presented in roman letters, by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee). Note: this reprint is now available from Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody Massachusetts; and a reprint of the 1611 preface only is also available from the Trinitarian Bible Society, Grand Rapids Michigan, U.S.A.

In the following quotes, only 1611 spellings have been updated for reading ease (as is the case in the 1769 and subsequent printings of the KJV which are commonly available these days, and which we use in our ILC churches). Be aware that the wording in currently available King James Bibles (excluding the NKJV) is virtually identical with that of the original 1611 edition, only spelling and minor punctuation changes were made. For example, in 1611 "truth" was spelled "trueth"; "piety" was "pietie"; "unto" was "vnto"; so, as you can see, the spellings and some fonts have changed, but the words remain the same. (Explanatory notes in brackets "[ ]" within the quotes that follow are mine, m.e.l.)

The first quotation that here follows illustrates the KJV translators basic beliefs about the Holy Scriptures in general.

"But now what piety without truth? what truth (what saving truth) without the word of God? what word of God (whereof we may be sure) without the Scripture? The Scriptures we are commanded to search, John 5:39; Isaiah 8:20. They are commended that searched & studied them, Acts 17:11; 8:28-29. They are reproved that were unskillful in them, or slow to believe them, Matthew 22:29; Luke 24:25. They can make us wise unto salvation, 2 Timothy 3:15. If we be ignorant, they will instruct us; if out of the way, they will bring us home; if out of order, they will reform us, if in heaviness, comfort us; if dull, quicken us; if cold, inflame us. Tolle, lege; Tolle lege, Take up and read, take up and read the Scriptures..."

Behold how the translators valued the Word of God! They go on in their preface and state the necessity of having the Bible translated into the various languages of the world:

"Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light; that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most Holy place; that removeth the cover of the well, that we may come by the water, even as Jacob rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, by which means the flocks of Laban were watered."

The translators then make mention of the Old Testament Scriptures being translated into Greek by the seventy (the translation known as the Septuagint), then the entire Bible into Latin, and then into various other languages. Finally, the KJV translators arrive at their purpose and procedure. They show respect to those English translations which preceded theirs:

"Truly (good Christian reader) we never thought from the beginning, that we should need to make a new Translation, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one, (for then the imputation of Sixtus [pope of the Roman Catholic Church, 1585-1590] had been true in some sort, that our people had been fed with gall of Dragons instead of wine, with whey instead of milk:) but to make a good one better, or out of many good ones, one principal good one, not justly to be excepted against; that hath been our endeavor, that our mark."

Now if we were to stop our quotations here with this statement, it would appear that the KJV was merely a compilation of earlier work and nothing more, and I suspect that this is how the lie that I mentioned earlier in this article originated. But what else did the translators indicate by the statement that I just quoted? They indicated that the English speaking people had the Word of God in their language, but that they needed a better translation, a "principal good one, not justly to be excepted against." Obviously, the KJV translators saw some problems in the existing versions and set out to remedy the situation, but, they also saw many good things that they would wisely retain.

Therefore, is the KJV simply a translation of a translation of a translation after all? NO! Not at all, for pay close attention as I continue where I left off with the quote from the translators' preface, which makes the basis of the KJV translation crystal clear:

"To that purpose there were many chosen, that were greater in other mens eyes than in their own, and that sought the truth rather than their own praise. Again, they came or were thought to come to the work, not exercendi causa (as one saith) but exercitati, that is learned, not to learn: for the chief overseer and evrgodiw,kthj [taskmaster] under his majesty, to whom not only we, but also our whole church was much bound, knew by his wisdom, which thing also Nazianzen [bishop of Constantinople in 381, leader in orthodox cause] taught so long ago, that it is a preposterous order to teach first and to learn after, yea that to en piqw keramian manqanein to learn and practice together, is neither commendable for the workman, nor safe for the work. Therefore such were thought upon, as could modestly say with Saint Jerome, Et Hebraeum Sermonem ex parte didicimus, & Latino pene ab ipsis incunabulis & c. detriti sumus. Both we have learned the Hebrew tongue in part, and in the Latin we have been exercised almost from our very cradle. St. Jerome maketh no mention of the Greek tongue, wherein he did excel, because he translated not the Old Testament out of Greek, but out of Hebrew. And in what sort did these assemble? In the trust of their own knowledge, or of their sharpness of wit, or deepness of judgment, as it were in an arm of flesh? At no hand. They trusted in him that hath the key of David, opening and no man shutting; they prayed to the Lord the Father of our Lord, to the effect that St. Augustine [an early church father, died 430] did; O let thy Scriptures be my pure delight, let me not be deceived in them, neither let me deceive by them. [The translators were humble believers, eminently qualified and learned men] In this confidence, and with this devotion did they assemble together; not too many, lest one should trouble another; and yet many, lest many things haply might escape them. If you ask what they had before them, truly it was the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, the Greek of the New. These are the two golden pipes, or rather conduits, where through the olive branches empty themselves into the gold. Saint Augustine calleth them precedent, or original tongues; Saint Jerome, fountains. The same Saint Jerome affirmeth, and Gratian [12^th century church father of canon law] hath not spared to put it into his Decree, that as the credit of the old Books (he meaneth of the Old Testament) is to be tried by the Hebrew volumes, so of the New by the Greek tongue, he meaneth by the original Greek. If truth be to be tried by these tongues, then whence should a Translation be made, but out of them? These tongues therefore, the Scriptures we say in those tongues, we set before us to translate, being the tongues wherein God was pleased to speak to his Church by his Prophets and Apostles." [emphasis in bold mine, m.e.l.]

Well, there you have it. The truth is that the KJV translators translated from faithful copies of the original Hebrew and Greek Holy Scriptures! They also consulted earlier English and other foreign language translations, and freely used any correctly translated expressions from them. For example, the translation of Tyndale was consulted and consequently some of his proper wording is found in the KJV; and by the way, Tyndale studied for a time under Luther in Germany, hence Luther's influence is present in our English KJV Holy Bible.

Realize that we are very blessed in having the King James Version Holy Bible, for it is the only currently available English translation that is completely faithful to the original God-given and preserved Hebrew and Greek Scriptures– the Old Testament Hebrew Masoretic text and the New Testament Greek Textus Receptus. Don't let the lies of misled individuals sway you from using the KJV. Stick with the KJV which, for almost 400 years, has proven itself time and again to be a true and faithful translation which accurately presents God's Word to us in English: yes, it IS God's Word in English. The KJV shines as a beacon amongst translations, for it clearly and without contradiction puts forth and glorifies our Lord Jesus Christ as true God and true Man, the one true Savior of the world. Let us continue to appreciate the great treasure we have in the Holy Bible, King James Version, "TRANSLATED OUT OF THE ORIGINAL TONGUES: AND WITH THE FORMER TRANSLATIONS DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED, BY HIS MAJESTY'S SPECIAL COMMAND."

m.e.l.

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God's Word is our great heritage

And shall be ours forever;

To spread its light from age to age

Shall be our chief endeavor.

Through life it guides our way,

In death it is our stay.

Lord, grant, while worlds endure,

We keep its teachings pure

Throughout all generations. Amen.

(TLH #283)

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A Special Prayer

for Ministers of the Word

(from our 1941 Lutheran Hymnal -Collect #16, p.102)

Almighty and gracious God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hast commanded us to pray that Thou wouldest send forth laborers into Thy harvest, of Thine infinite mercy give us true teachers and ministers of Thy Word, and put Thy saving Gospel in their hearts and on their lips that they may truly fulfill Thy command and preach nothing contrary to Thy Holy Word, that we, being warned, instructed, nurtured, comforted, and strengthened by Thy heavenly Word, may do those things which are well-pleasing to Thee and profitable to us; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

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Jeremiah 23:29-32

Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.