Customer Reviews

Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel

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Even though the lectures given in this book were spoken over a hundred years ago, in the 1880s, it impressed me how well they address the current state of affairs in the Christian church. In many instances, the situations Walther describes fit exactly with today's. Although the 39 evening lectures were originally given and directed to men in training to become pastors, I believe all Christian laypeople can greatly benefit from reading this volume.

The primary goal of the 25 theses laid out in the book were to clarify the two distinctive teachings of the Bible: the Law and the Gospel. The Law, as summarized in the 10 Commandments shows our sinfulness and the punishment we deserve for violating the law. The Gospel, however, is the joyous proclamation of Christ resurrected, and His conquering of sin and death. In this we find our comfort as Christians, knowing that although the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). The significance of what Walther discusses in these theses, is that when we confuse Law and Gospel, try to separate one from the other, or only teach one of these doctrines, we invariably distort the true teaching of Scripture and lead people astray despite our intentions. When applied to our daily study of the Scriptures, church teaching, and other aspects of the Christian life, the distinction of Law and Gospel provides profound insight into the Bible. Many confusing parts of the Bible, especially parts that may seem contradictory are clarified when we see the distinction of Law and Gospel.

Overall, I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in a clearer understanding the teachings of the Bible. Although the book may seem intimidating (its ~415 pages long), it is broken up into 39 lectures as I mentioned before, and each is about an hour's worth of reading. The lectures were also given in an informal style, so it's not overly difficult reading (occasionally the English is a slightly different from today's usage since the translation isn't very recent, but it isn't archaiac by any means). And finally, what really makes this an excellent book is that it is Christ-centered.

Walther's book is an excellent book and must read for every Christian, especially Lutherans. In this book, Walther discusses the distinction between Law and Gospel, and how these affect people and how God uses them. While the Law is truly from God, it terrifies the individual and points out their sin, it is God's alien work (Isaiah 28:17). The Gospel shows our Savior, and shows how we are forgiven, and how we live in thankfulness. The core of Christian and Lutheran theology.

Walther's story about what happened to him in college, in meeting the Pietistic Candidate of Theology to teach him the "real" way of being a Christian is something that resonated with me. Walther approaches this subject with first hand experience of the danger in not properly distinguishing Law and Gospel. One can find echoes of Walther's story among the throngs of thoughtful Christians in modern Evangelical, non-denominational churches where the Gospel is preached infrequently.

No one should preach, teach, or try to care for souls in the Church unless they have read this book and come to grips with the difficult things Walther brings up. The Christian may never master them in their life on this earth (Luther admitted he never did, but sure did try), but understanding the distinction aids one greatly. Read it.

Note: The book is long, and *very* insightful. I tried to sit down and read it through, but after reading one lecture I felt mentally "full." So much is said in each lecture I needed time to digest it. Read a lecture a day, and you'll finish the book in a little over a month... and have no end of wonderful things to chew on. :)

In the never-ending human struggle to determine right and wrong, to live the golden rule, to live in peace with our fellow man, we often forget what the basic message of the Bible really is. C.F.W. Walther, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and also president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, presented a series of "lectures" on the proper distinction between Law and Gospel. This book is the compilation of those lectures. Walther never intended that these be published; however, his students felt that the contents of Walther's lectures was too good to be ignored. Gathering together their notes, they put together this volume which is still a primary resource for pastors today. It is worth your while to read this book and to look at the basics of the Christian faith.

The book is not about separating the Old Testament from the New Testament, but about distinguishing justification from sanctification by observing the difference between God's demands for holiness and his promises offered in the good news. It answered most of the objections and misconceptions I had had about the topic.

Walther gave a series of lectures a century ago that were meant to be an explanation of some essential Lutheran teachings. These lectures were so insightful and true to the spirit of Luther that Walther became the most important American Lutheran theologian and his book became a test for orthodoxy. Walther seems to have drunk deeply from the well of Luther's writings; his mind appears to be so at one with Luther's that this book is of the highest quality and one of the handful of books that would be essential to a scholar after the Bible, the Book of Concord, and Luther's writings. A gem.

This book is a compilation of speeches given to seminarians as they prepared for ministry, but it is a wealth of good theology for the laymen as well.

This book is a must read for every Christian whether they are Lutheran or not. This is a very clear and concise presentation of the most important doctrines in the Bible.

CFW Walther has come to be known as the American Luther and rightfully so. In this work, probably his finest, Walther discusses with great care how a preacher-pastor should distinguish between the use of Law and Gospel in his sermons. (For non-Lutherans one should understand that "Law" comprises the commands and the wrath of God whereas "Gospel" comprises the promises of God. Luther himself, perhaps unwittingly, borrowed indirectly from St. Augustine's treatise "On the Letter and the Spirit" as he formulated this dichotomy.)

These lectures were given over a period of time and Walther is something of a "Zitatentheologe" such that he provides a great deal of citations from Luther and other early Lutheran theologians such as Martin Chemnitz and Johann Gerhard in order to prove and or demonstrate his point.

I cannot say that all of his particular arguments are air-tight or that he himself actually went on to apply all of his own rules in his own sermons, but this is a very helpful look into how a great confessional Lutheran seeks to handle this important distinction with great care. Non-Lutherans may not realize that Calvin did indeed embrace the Law-Gospel distinction as well, though it has never occupied as prominent a place in Reformed theology.

An American Lutheran Classic. Highly Recommended.

I learned so much from this book. My copy looks as though it has been through a war with the highlighter army,and then a hurricane.

It is a series of lectures given to students who were studying at Concordia Seminary, so, you have to keep in mind as you read that the original audience was people who were becoming pastors, and this lecture series intended to tell them how to handle and teach while being mindful of the distinction between law and gospel, and how both can help people to grow in faith, when applied to the right situation. It covers how to tell which situations require preaching of the law and which require preaching of the gospel, and it covers the effects of each.

The language is academic, and to the average reader it is quite 'chewy', but it is VERY rewarding to muscle past that and really give this book a thorough going over. It is not very long, and the way it is separated into discrete lectures divides it into readable, understandable bits better than something that had been perhaps written for the purpose of being in book form. The lecture divisions work better than chapter divisions is what I mean, and they form complete thoughts on their own, which makes for easier understanding of the intended meaning.

This book has been very helpful to me also in my personal bible study, and looking at what I read in the bible while keeping what I learned from this book in mind has definitely brought me to a stronger understanding of the personal temptations I experience, and also the sweetness of the grace of god.

I have long used Dau's (originally published, 1929)"Proper Distinction Between Law & Gospel." While it is an excellent reference, the translator took a few liberties in translation (IMHO). Also, it is more attuned to the academic and has therefore tended to restrict readership. But, it is not a "bad" book. However, a new translation from CPH (Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, 2010) titled "Law and Gospel: How to Read and Apply the Bible by C. F. W. Walther, A Readers Edition" is now available. I have only heard the most positive reviews from both pastors, theologians, and the laity that have obtained the work. I will not throw my copy of Dau out, but I will tend to look more closely at this new translation that includes many helpful features.