Systematic and dogmatic theology

[ContraMundum]

Hi All..

I've read a few Systematic and dogmatic theological works by Lutherans, namely Pieper, Mueller, Chemnitz and Melancthon.

Can you name any more for me that you could recommend? What about some WELS/ELS stuff? Other groups or synods as well?

[filosofer]

Our Great Heritage, 3 Vol (http://online.nph.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?process&procID=10418&productID=150480) NPH

Adolf Hoenecke's 4 Vol. set (http://online.nph.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?process&procID=10418&productID=150626)

The Wauwatosa Theology, 3 Vol. (http://online.nph.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?process&procID=10418&productID=150568)

Confessional Lutheran Writings (https://www.shop.logia.org/categoryNavigationDocument.hg?categoryId=5)


In Christ's love,
filo

[filosofer]

Also, check out the extensive studies that Rev. David Jay Webber has compiled at Lutheran Theology Web Site (http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/djw/lutherantheology.html). He is Rector of the Lutheran Seminary for the Ukranian Lutheran Church.

In Christ's love,
filo

[C.F.W. Walther]

Hi All..

I've read a few Systematic and dogmatic theological works by Lutherans, namely Pieper, Mueller, Chemnitz and Melancthon.

Can you name any more for me that you could recommend? What about some WELS/ELS stuff? Other groups or synods as well?


OK---dumb laymen question. What is "Systematic and dogmatic theology"? What's the differance between that and say BOC and Augsburg confession and basic Lutheran teachings?

[ContraMundum]

Also, check out the extensive studies that Rev. David Jay Webber has compiled at Lutheran Theology Web Site (http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/djw/lutherantheology.html). He is Rector of the Lutheran Seminary for the Ukranian Lutheran Church.

In Christ's love,
filo


That's my all time favorite website, but for some reason I can never find what I really want to know when I go there.

[ContraMundum]

Our Great Heritage, 3 Vol (http://online.nph.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?process&procID=10418&productID=150480) NPH

Adolf Hoenecke's 4 Vol. set (http://online.nph.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?process&procID=10418&productID=150626)

The Wauwatosa Theology, 3 Vol. (http://online.nph.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?process&procID=10418&productID=150568)

Confessional Lutheran Writings (https://www.shop.logia.org/categoryNavigationDocument.hg?categoryId=5)


In Christ's love,
filo


Great links to pretty much what I was looking for. I'd probably have to mortgage my house to buy any of them. Funny, I've been getting Logia for ages, yet I didn't know about those books (in that particular link).

I've seen the Wauwatosa Theology around. One of the problems is that where I live in the world the WELS/ELS presence is nil. There is perhaps one congregation thousands of miles from me and that's it for the whole continent. It's pretty much a LCMS influenced place, but all the same the books are expensive here.

Thank you brother.

[ContraMundum]

OK---dumb laymen question. What is "Systematic and dogmatic theology"? What's the differance between that and say BOC and Augsburg confession and basic Lutheran teachings?

Systematic theology is the attempt to arrange and systematise the ideas of the religion. Usually a systematic theology tackles subjects in logical arrangement, for example, it starts with the nature of revelation, goes to the nature of God, then tackles man, then tackles salvation, then sanctification, then eschatology. Something like that anyway. Each author would do it differently. There are not too many ground rules and you will find variations on the theme from one school to another.

Dogmatic theology is almost the same format except that it deals with the dogmas of a particular church. eg. A Lutheran dogmatic work tends to present the essentials of the Lutheran faith with a lot of apologetics against other traditions. They don't tend to tackle issues that are not essential to the dogmas of the faith they represent.

[SPALATIN]

Also don't forget CFW Walther's Law and Gospel.

[filosofer]

Systematic theology is the attempt to arrange and systematise the ideas of the religion. Usually a systematic theology tackles subjects in logical arrangement, for example, it starts with the nature of revelation, goes to the nature of God, then tackles man, then tackles salvation, then sanctification, then eschatology. Something like that anyway. Each author would do it differently. There are not too many ground rules and you will find variations on the theme from one school to another.

Dogmatic theology is almost the same format except that it deals with the dogmas of a particular church. eg. A Lutheran dogmatic work tends to present the essentials of the Lutheran faith with a lot of apologetics against other traditions. They don't tend to tackle issues that are not essential to the dogmas of the faith they represent.

Just a note of distinction:

Apologetics normally refers to defense of the Christian faith against those outside the Christian faith.

Polemics normally refers to doctrinal discussions with those inside the Christian faith.

[ContraMundum]

Also don't forget CFW Walther's Law and Gospel.

Thanks....already have it. Had to study it in the old days of training. It's pretty good.

[Willy]

Check out Douglas John Hall, Paul Tillich, Jurgen Moltman.

[SPALATIN]

Check out Douglas John Hall, Paul Tillich, Jurgen Moltman.

I was wondering when our resident liberal theologian was going to chime in on this one. ;)

[RedneckAnglican]

Gerharde Forde...he had some good stuff...don't really know if it falls in this catagory though...

[ContraMundum]

Check out Douglas John Hall, Paul Tillich, Jurgen Moltman.

I checked out Tillich and Moltmann years ago. Not my cup of tea, but I appreciate your offer.

What do you think of Thielicke? Liberal, or not? Personally, I like him, and his famous little book "A Little excercise for Young Theologians" I think should be compulsary for students of theology.

[Willy]

I checked out Tillich and Moltmann years ago. Not my cup of tea, but I appreciate your offer.

What do you think of Thielicke? Liberal, or not? Personally, I like him, and his famous little book "A Little excercise for Young Theologians" I think should be compulsary for students of theology.
Why weren't they your cup of tea? Tillich is the theologian who has probably influence modern theology the most (up until the last decade or so).

[ContraMundum]

Why weren't they your cup of tea? Tillich is the theologian who has probably influence modern theology the most (up until the last decade or so).

I liked them for what they were, but really thought like most theologians of modernity they date rather quickly. I enjoyed Tillich's existentialism, but would prefer the more simple Kierkegaard, and not go to much further down that path. I really thought Tillich's Christology was dodgy, but I may be mistaken and it was a while ago.

As for Moltmann, well, his "Theology of Hope" was pretty materialist in its dialectic, and some say he was influenced at this point by Marxism. Again, I can't remember. I think his later works were better.


Are you familiar with Thomas C Oden? He was a former liberal who has written some very challenging books against modernity, his former home. What do you think?

[KEPLER]

I liked the Thiellicke book when I read it...and once again I give a hearty "Second!" to Redneck's recommendation of Gerhard Forde.

If you can find it anywhere (library or a very good used bookstore), I recommend Charles Porterfield Krauth's The Conservative Reformation and its Theology.

[filosofer]

If you can find it anywhere (library or a very good used bookstore), I recommend Charles Porterfield Krauth's The Conservative Reformation and its Theology.

Yep, excellent resource.

In Christ's love,
filo