Customer Reviews

Christian Dogmatics, Vol. 1

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Professor Francis Pieper, Lutheran theologian, has done Christianity as a whole and Lutheranism in particular a great service with his volumes, collectively entitled "Christian Dogmatics." These volumes have served pastors, students, and professors of confessional Lutheranism well over the decades. Its clear and concise wording help to explain the many mysteries of the Bible. They are easy to read even for the average layperson; they are especially helpful for anyone who seeks to learn more about Christian teaching and faith or to prepare to defend Christian doctrine. Though written several generations ago, the volumes seem to still speak with a relevant voice to people poised on the brink of the 21st. century. Amazon.com's price makes it a bargain and a must buy/must read. Buy each volume! You won't regret it!

This 4-volume set has been the standard in the more confessional Lutheran churches for decades.

Pieper thoroughly covers the doctrines of Scripture. He not only supports the doctrines well from the Word, but he also gives varying views (mostly from the Reformed and Roman Catholic way of thinking). This is a good help in finding out what other church bodies teach on a given topic.

Another good Dogmatics text that is in the process of being translated and will come out soon is Hoenecke's Dogmatics. Actually Vol. IV is already out.

The author (1852-1931) was a Lutheran (Missouri Synod) theologian who was professor of theology and later president at Concordia Seminary. This volume was first published in 1924. (Christian Dogmatics, Vol. II and Christian Dogmatics Volume 3 were actually published earlier: in 1917 and 1920, respectively.)

Here are some quotations from the volume:

"A man may... lack that foundation of his faith which the Sacraments supply, but still have the true faith in the forgiveness of sins if he trusts in the Word of the Gospel, as heard or read." (Pg. 86)
"Now, since Scripture furnishes no information on these open questions and theological problems, it is foolish to spend much time and energy on them." (Pg. 95)
"There can be no development of Christian doctrine, because the Christian doctrine given to the Church by the Apostles is a finished product, complete and perfect, fixed for all times." (Pg. 129)
"What we object to in the Reformed theology is this, that in all doctrines in which it differs from the Lutheran church... it denies the Scriptural principle and lets rationalistic axioms rule." (Pg. 186)
"Scripture is indeed 'no textbook of the natural sciences'... But when, even though only in passing, it does teach matters of natural science, its statements are the inviolable truth..." (Pg. 473)
"The reason why God did not provide a Savior for the fallen angels, as He did for fallen man, lies hidden in the 'unsearchable judgments' of God." (Pg. 508)

"It was a monumental work for its time", Dr. Engelder is quoted saying in the Foreword written to this edition by the Synodical Centennial Committee, "and one who has imbibed the principles of this book is well prepared to meet whatever new forms the most modern error takes. In fact, any up-to-date dogmatics must stand on these principles." (p. vii) Considering that the original German text was published some 90 years ago and the English edition 60 years ago, it's a sign of a profound work of dogmatics that in the year 2011 we can still read this work and say with Engelder: "One who has imbibed the principles of this book is well prepared to meet whatever new forms the most modern error takes."

Pieper's strength is not only his remarkably vast theological knowledge but his pedagogically skillful writing style. His work is inviting, since his style is not drearily academic nor impersonal but instead warm, almost fatherly. He has a distinctive voice, and in the midst of dogmatical expositions there are great devotional pieces. In this regard he's much like Georg Stoeckhardt (the latter's style being otherwise more difficult to read). Take, for example, the following passage:

"In the foregoing paragraphs we have passed harsh judgments on the deniers of the inspiration of Holy Scripture. But while doing this, we do not forget -- to use a drastic term of Luther -- to "take hold of our own nose" and charge ourselves that we are not always as "serious as we should be" in taking the Bible to be the very Word of God. We confess that when we open our Bible, we do not always consider that the Bible is the book in which not men, but the great God Himself, the Creator and Lord of the universe, is speaking to us in matters of our salvation. We further confess that we do not read the Holy Scriptures as diligently as is proper for those who by God's grace are convinced that the Holy Scriptures are "God's letter" addressed to us. Luther says repeatedly, in various forms of expression: "Letters of lords and princes should be read twice and thrice, for they are carefully worded. But, verily, the letters of our Lord God -- for thus St. Gregory calls the Holy Scriptures -- one should read three times, seven times, yea, seventy times seven, or, to make it still stronger, without end. But we do not do it. I myself do not do it; therefore I hate myself, ego odi me. But when I get at it and read it, I derive strength from it; I feel that it is a power and not a mere story." (St. L. I:1055; XXII: 544, 1069.) (p. 303)

Pieper is thus not only a great dogmatician, he is obviously a brilliant pastor who actually cares that the knowledge he has is not only transmitted to his readers but that this knowledge would not remain passive in the reader, instead becoming an integral part of Christian living. In this way he is a great pragmatic, and what has been said of Walther as a great observer of the human nature most certainly applies to Pieper as well.

This edition that I'm reviewing, then, is the first edition in what is actually a four-volume set. While the second volume is primarily concerned with Christology and justification by faith and the third volume with the means of grace and the Church (the fourth volume being the Index), this volume has a more varied list of topics. In his "Prolegomena" Pieper defines the nature and character of theology, from which he moves on to the discussion on Holy Scripture. This is followed by the doctrine of God, the creation of the world, divine providence, angelology, concluding with the doctrine of man.

I couldn't recommend this set enough. Obviously the greatest benefit for any reader is that this is what it aims to be: Christian theology where the Word of God has the final say; in fact, the only say. The arguments are brilliantly expounded, there's a huge number of quotations of not only Luther, Chemnitz, Gerhard, Quenstedt and others, as well as the Book of Concord, but also extensive and illuminating quotations from Reformed theologians Zwingli, Calvin and others in the appropriate context. This way their teachings are readily obvious for each reader to see, and seeing them refuted is thus even more powerful.

The hardback is beautifully put together. It's sturdy enough to warrant heavy use, but it fits snugly in the hands and is a pleasure to read. There's slight bleed through the page, but the paper is still thick enough so that whether you're underlining a lot as I am it doesn't bleed through. As a plus, these editions actually print the Greek and Hebrew without transliteration (not so with the "Loci" by Chemnitz by the same publisher).

To summarize, this is wonderful theology wonderfully printed. An essential part of my library, and in my view of any library of Christian teaching and theology.