I heard a disparaging remark relating to Lutherans. “They’re too hung up on the sixteenth century.” Additional dialog with the commenter made it clear that he thought an excessive amount of time was invested within the research of the Reformation, particularly the background for the Lutheran Confessions. I used to be a bit shocked as a result of he occurred to be an lively member of a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. So, I engaged him in dialog about the advantage of a strong understanding of the confessional writings not solely as a result of members of Synod (each clergy and congregations) pledge themselves to these confessions but in addition as a result of our confessional paperwork are eminently sensible. From educating the religion to pastoral look after these with burdened consciences, the Lutheran Confessions are a treasure for the every day lifetime of the church.
He didn’t discover my phrases convincing. But his reservations about our funding within the research of the sixteenth century prompted me to consider how a lot time I put money into finding out the eighth century BC, practically two and a half millennia previous to the Reformation. The nice prophets of that century—Isaiah, Micah, Hosea, Amos, Jonah—have lengthy grabbed my consideration and nonetheless do. And with a purpose to finest perceive their message, I give heed to the historical-cultural setting of their day. The higher I perceive their setting, the higher I perceive their message.
However am I “too hung up on the eighth century BC”? Whereas my colleagues within the Division of Historic Theology may articulate this way more winsomely and whereas there may be way more to be mentioned, I provide two fundamental observations relating to not solely the profit, however even the need, of getting “hung up on the eighth century BC.” First, that the historical-cultural setting of the eighth-century BC prophets is totally different than our personal is inescapable. How they converse (not simply that they converse Hebrew, however what issues them), the occasions swirling about them, and a lot extra can maintain the prophets at an arm’s size. I can not rightly perceive them if I don’t get “hung up on the eighth century BC” (its cultural values/norms, its historic occasions, and so forth.).
Traversing practically three millennia together with the numerous distinction between western and semitic tradition requires no small funding. Is it value it? The reply is a powerful sure due to my second commentary. Although the historical-cultural divide is formidable, human beings don’t change. As soon as the prophets are understood of their historical-cultural context, it’s obvious that they’re confronting the identical challenges which have beset humanity in all ages together with our personal. The sinful nature stays hooked on the identical sins. And in all ages the Creator’s order stands as his goodness for us. Much more, the grace of Yahweh is current in all ages. The eighth-century prophets pointed ahead to the approaching of Christ; we rejoice that he has come whilst we stay up for his coming once more on the final day.
Why get hung up on the eighth century BC (or the sixteenth century, for that matter)? As a result of there you will see that Christ at work for his beloved creation.
