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Edward W. A. Koehler, D.D. (18751951) Third Revised Edition Prepared for publication by Brent W. Kuhlman
3558 S. Jefferson Avenue St. Louis, MO 63118-3968 1-800-325-3040 www.cph.org Third Revised Edition 2006 Estate of Edward W. A. Koehler Second Revised Edition 1952 Alfred W. Koehler First Edition 1939 Edward W. A. Koehler All rights reserved. Used with permission. Other than downloading and reproduction for congregational use, no part of this material may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. For ordering information, please contact Concordia at 800-325-3040 or visit Concordia at www.cph.org. Order A Summary of Christian Doctrine (12-4127WEB). Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted, quotations from the Lutheran Confessions are from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, 2006 by Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, call 800-325-3040. Quotations from the Lutheran Confessions marked Triglot. are taken from Concordia Triglotta, 1921 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Some quotations taken from Luthers Small Catechism with Explanation, 1986, 1991 Concordia Publishing House. Hymn texts in the foreword are from Lutheran Service Book, 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Koehler, Edward W. A. (Edward Wilhelm August), 1875-1951. Summary of Christian doctrine : a popular presentation of the teachings of the Bible / Edward W. A. Koehler ; revised by Brent W. Kuhlman. 3rd rev. ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-7586-0017-2 ISBN-10: 0-7586-0017-8 1. Lutheran ChurchDoctrines. 2. Theology, DoctrinalPopular works. I. Kuhlman, Brent W. II. Title. BX8065.3.K64 2007 238.41dc22 2006019598 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06
Contents
Forewords Abbreviations Part I: The Holy Scriptures 1. The Bible: The Source and Norm of Christian Doctrine
Bible proof 21 Gods Word revealed in human language 22 Right and wrong use of human reason in determining truth 22 Correct interpretation of the Bible 23 Human sources of doctrine rejected 23 Why man-made doctrines are not to be accepted 24 Position of the Lutheran Church 24
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A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding God Part III: Creation and Providence 10. The Creation of the World
Source of information 73 The Creator 73 The creation 74 The duration of creation 74 The orderly progression of creation 75 The purpose of creation 75 The biblical record versus human myths 76
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A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Creation Part IV: Of the Angels and of Humanity 12. Of the Angels
Existence of angels 87 The time of their creation 87 The nature of angels 87 The good angels 88 The evil angels 89
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13. Of Humanity
The creation of humanity 91 Human nature 92 Procreation 93 The original state of humanity 93 The fall of humanity 95
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A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Angels and Humanity Part V: Of the Law and of Sin 14. Of the Law
Natural knowledge of the Law 101 Human conscience and its
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functions 102 The revealed Law 103 Definition and authority of the Law 104 Fulfillment of the Law 105 The curse of the Law 106 The purpose of the Law 107 The Christian and the Law 109
15. Of Sin
Definition 110 The cause of sin 111 The consequences of sin 113
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A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding the Law and Sin Part VI: Salvation by the Grace of God through the Redemption in Christ Jesus 18. The Saving Grace of God
The necessity of grace 129 The certainty of divine grace 129 Definition of grace 130 Attributes of saving grace 131
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20. The Life of the Redeemer in the States of Humiliation and Exaltation
The humiliation 146 Stages of humiliation 148 The exaltation 150 Stages of exaltation 151
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A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Salvation by the Grace of God through the Redemption in Christ Jesus
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Part VII: Salvation by the Grace of God through the Sanctification of the Holy Spirit 22. Conversion Is Not the Work of People But of God
The relation between redemption and sanctification 177 Conversion is not our work 177 Conversion is the Holy Spirits work 181
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23. Conversion
By the Law, God works knowledge of sin and contrition of the heart 185 The Holy Spirit calls people by the Gospel 186 The Holy Spirit enlightens people with His gifts by working faith in their hearts 187
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24. Faith
Faith is the work of God 192 The essence of faith 192 The object of faith 195 The fluctuations and loss of faith 197 Faith can be lost 198 The functions of faith 199
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28. Prayer
Christians pray 222 The form of prayer 222 The content of prayer 222 The basis of prayer 223 Prayers addressed to the triune God 223 We are moved to pray 224 For what may we pray? 224 For whom should we pray? 225 How should we pray? 226 When and where should we pray? 227 The efficacy of prayer 228 Prayer is not a means of grace 229
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A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Salvation by the Grace of God through the Sanctification of the Holy Spirit Part VIII: Salvation through the Means of Grace 32. The Gospel
The necessity of the means of grace 253 What are the means of grace? 253 The functions of the Gospel 254 The validity and efficacy of the means of grace 256 The Gospel is always efficacious 257 The Gospel is not always effective 257
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Which church has the Lords Supper? 285 The sacramental union and consecration 286 The validity of the Sacrament 289 The sacramental action 289 Sacramental eating and drinking 290 This do in remembrance of Me 291 The Lords Supper is a means of grace 294 The source of the Sacraments power 295 The beneficial use of the Sacrament 296 Self-examination 298 Open and closed Communion 299 The necessity of the Sacrament 300 Reasons for frequent attendance at the Sacrament 300
A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Salvation through the Means of Grace Part IX: Of the Church and the Ministry Publishers Note 37. The Hidden/Invisible Church
What is the church? 313 The attributes of the church 316 God solely responsible for building and preserving the church 318 Where is the church? 319
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44. Antichrist
General and specific use of antichrist 363 The marks of antichrist 363 Who is this antichrist? 365
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A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding the Church and the Ministry Part X: Civil Estates 45. Civil Government
Necessary distinction 375 Origin of civil power 375 Form of government 375 Purpose of government 376 Right of government 376 Limit of governmental power 377 The basic principle 377 Our duty to the government 378
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47. Matrimony
Matrimony is a divine institution 382 Matrimony is not a sacrament 382 Celibacy or matrimony 383 Polygamy 384 Prohibited marriages 384 Definition of marriage 385 Betrothal 385 The relationship between husband and wife 387 Matrimony is a lifelong union 387 Divorce 388 Remarriage 388
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A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Civil Estates 390 Part XI: Of the Last Things 48. Temporal Death
Definition 395 Cause 395 A universal fact 395 Temporal death is not the end of a person 396
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A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding the Last Things Index
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Foreword
Publishers Preface to the Third Edition
For nearly three-quarters of a century, A Summary of Christian Doctrine has been a valuable tool for the student of the Lutheran faith. Its concise presentation of doctrine offers a unique introduction to the Lutheran Confessions for students and laypeople. Whenever possible, this third edition makes use of modern versions of the key source texts used by Edward Koehler, including the New King James Version of Holy Scripture and Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions. In addition, Brent Kuhlman, editor of this edition, has made every effort to update the textual notes and to add bibliographic information to reflect the nearly seven decades of theological research and publishing that has transpired since the first edition. We pray that this third edition of A Summary of Christian Doctrine will take its place with the previous editions as a treasured resource for information and instruction in the Lutheran faith.
Gods most holy Word is His precious gift to us. Gods Word does and gives what it says. He kills the sinner through His Word of the Law. He raises up a new man through the Word of the Gospel. This Gospel is nothing else than the good news that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God
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who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), that without any merit or worthiness in us, God was in Christ graciously reconciling the world to Himself, not counting our sins against us (2 Corinthians 5:19). And this Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God to salvation for all who believe (Romans 1:16). Jesus won this salvation for us in His bloody death, and it is delivered to us in the preached Gospel, Baptism, and the Lords Supper. Through these, as through means, [God] gives the Holy Spirit who produces faith (AC V). Such faith clings only to Jesus Christ confessed in the Word of the Gospel (Luke 24:2527, 4447). In [the Gospel] the righ-teousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). Dr. Koehlers popular book makes this good confession: We are nothing; Jesus is everything. And so his book is like the voice of John the Baptist, who proclaimed: [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).
In these last days of great distress Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness That we keep pure till life is spent Your holy Word and Sacrament. (Lutheran Service Book 585:2) Brent W. Kuhlman Trinity Lutheran Church, Murdock, Nebraska The Day of Pentecost (March 15, 2005)
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A Summary of Christian Doctrine is a plain and simple statement of the doctrines of the Bible. Avoiding technical terms and discussions, it should appeal also to the average layperson. Ignorance begets indifference, and indifference leads to the loss of the truth. In our day and age religious knowledge is in many quarters vague and superficial. In the press and over the radio, religious ideas and opinions are ventilated that cloud, obscure, and distort fundamental truths of the Bible. It is important, therefore, that also the laypeople of the church are well indoctrinated so they grow in knowledge of Gods Word beyond the elementary instruction they received in their youth. It is not enough that we have the truth in our books and Bibles; we must know the truth. The knowledge of the truth fortifies us against error. The works of many recognized writers in the field of Christian doctrine were consulted in the writing of this summary, and they were directly quoted when, in the opinion of the author, they adequately expressed the point under discussion. Numerous Bible references will be found, and these should be carefully studied so readers may see for themselves whether the doctrines set forth agree with the Word of God (Acts 17:11). Our faith must not be built on what men say but on what God says in His Book; only in this way can our hearts be established (Hebrews 13:9). The frequent references to and quotations from the Lutheran Confessions serve the definite purpose of showing that the teachings of the Lutheran Church are in full agreement with the Bible. It is, therefore, hoped that a study of this summary will encourage many to study also the Confessions of the Lutheran Church to the end that a true unity of faith may ultimately be achieved by all who profess adherence thereto. The author would express his indebtedness to all those who encouraged and helped him to publish this book, especially to Dr. C. F. Brommer of Seward, Nebraska, and to Dr. Theodore Engelder of St. Louis, Missouri, who read the manuscript and offered many helpful suggestions. May the Lord bless the study of this summary so we may better understand and more firmly believe the truth that makes us free. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus.
Edward W. A. Koehler River Forest, Illinois, January 29, 1939. Centennial of the Saxon Immigration.