A Popular Presentation of the Teachings of the Bible

New King James Edition

Edward W. A. Koehler, D.D.(1875–1951)

Third Revised EditionPrepared for publication by

Brent W. Kuhlman

3558 S. Jefferson AvenueSt. Louis, MO 63118-39681-800-325-3040 • www.cph.org

Third Revised Edition © 2006 Estate of Edward W. A. KoehlerSecond 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 Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, © 1986, 1991 Concordia Publishing House.

Hymn texts in the foreword are from Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concor-dia 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 Church—Doctrines. 2. Theology, Doctrinal—Popular works. I. Kuhlman, Brent W. II. Title. BX8065.3.K64 2007 238’.41—dc22 2006019598

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06

ContentsForewords 13

Abbreviations 17

Part I: The Holy Scriptures

1. The Bible: The Source and Norm of Christian Doctrine 21Bible proof 21 • God’s 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 doc-trine rejected 23 • Why man-made doctrines are not to be accepted 24 • Position of the Lutheran Church 24

2. Origin and Inspiration of the Bible 26Different human writers but one divine author 26 • Divine inspira-tion 27 • Divine inspiration is not dictation 29 • Divine inspira-tion is an article of faith 30 • All Scripture is inspired 31 • Apocryphal books are not inspired 32 • Copies and translations of Scripture are not inspired 32

3. Attributes of the Bible 33The authority of the Bible 33 • The inerrancy and truth of the Bible 33 • The efficacy of the Bible 34 • The sufficiency of the Bible 35 • The perspicuity, or clarity, of the Bible 36

4. Divisions of the Bible 38The Old and New Testaments 38 • The general character of the books of the Bible 38 • Law and Gospel 39

5. The Purpose of the Bible 40The Bible’s threefold purpose 40 • No other book can accomplish this divine purpose 41 • The entire Bible serves this purpose 42

6. The Use of the Bible 43All people can use the Bible 43 • How to use the Bible 44 Various uses of the Bible 46 • Wrong use of the Bible 48

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding God’s Word 49

Part II: Of God

7. Natural and Revealed Knowledge of God 53Nature exhibits God’s existence 53 • The conscience proves God’s existence 54 • Belief in God’s existence is universal 54 • The extent and limit of natural knowledge of God 55 • The purpose of natural knowledge of God 55 • The revealed knowledge of God 55

8. The Essence and the Attributes of God 57The divine essence 57 • The divine attributes 58

9. The Triune God 64The unity of God 64 • The trinity of God 65 • Trinity in unity 67 • God is incomprehensible 68 • A fundamental Christian doctrine 68

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding God 69

Part III: Creation and Providence

10. The Creation of the World 73Source of information 73 • The Creator 73 • The creation 74 • The duration of creation 74 • The orderly progression of cre-ation 75 • The purpose of creation 75 • The biblical record versus human myths 76

11. Divine Providence and Government 77God “rested” 77 • The immediate preservation of creation 77 • The mediate preservation of creation 78 • The concurrence of God 78 • The government of God 81

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Creation 83

Part IV: Of the Angels and of Humanity

12. Of the Angels 87Existence of angels 87 • The time of their creation 87 • The nature of angels 87 • The good angels 88 • The evil angels 89

13. Of Humanity 91The creation of humanity 91 • Human nature 92 • Procreation 93 • The original state of humanity 93 • The fall of humanity 95

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Angels and Humanity 97

Part V: Of the Law and of Sin

14. Of the Law 101Natural knowledge of the Law 101 • Human conscience and its

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 110Definition 110 • The cause of sin 111 • The consequences of sin 113

16. Original Sin 115Hereditary guilt 115 • Hereditary depravity 116 • Bible proof 116 • Original sin is not essential to human nature 117 • Original sin is a universal human trait 118

17. Actual Sin 119Definition 119 • Classification of sins 120 • Sin against the Holy Spirit 120 • Hardening of the heart 122 • Sins against the con-science 122 • Origin and cause of actual sin 123 • Temptation 123 • Offenses 124 • Adiaphora 125

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding the Law and Sin 126

Part VI: Salvation by the Grace of God through the Redemption in Christ Jesus

18. The Saving Grace of God 129The necessity of grace 129 • The certainty of divine grace 129 • Definition of grace 130 • Attributes of saving grace 131

19. The Person of Christ 133The names of the Redeemer 133 • The natures of Christ 134 • The personal union of the natures in Christ 139 • The communi-cation of attributes 141 • Why did our Savior have to be God and man? 144

20. The Life of the Redeemer in the States of Humiliation and Exaltation 146The humiliation 146 • Stages of humiliation 148 • The exaltation 150 • Stages of exaltation 151

21. The Work and Office of Christ 158The prophetic office 158 • The priestly office 161 • The work of our high priest 162 • The kingly office 168 • The purpose of Christ’s work 171

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Salvation by the Grace of God through the Redemption in Christ Jesus 173

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 177The relation between redemption and sanctification 177 • Conver-sion is not our work 177 • Conversion is the Holy Spirit’s work 181

23. Conversion 185By 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

24. Faith 192Faith 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

25. Justification by Faith 201Faith needs an object 201 • Justification in detail 201 • Why does faith save us? 206 • The results of justification 208

26. Sanctification through Faith 211The meaning of the word sanctification 211 • Sanctification in detail 211 • True faith always sanctifies 213 • Sanctification varies 213 • Santification is never perfect 214 • Santification of life is not optional 214 • Santification of life has no saving power 215 • The causes of sanctification 215

27. Of Good Works 217Two kinds of good works 217 • Characteristics of good works before God 217 • The unconverted cannot do good works 218 • Everything a Christian does is not a good work 219 • Adiaphora 219 • Good works are necessary but not for justification 220 • Good works are rewarded 220

28. Prayer 222Christians 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

29. The Life of a Christian 230Life under the cross 230 • A life of hope 232

30. Preservation through Faith to Salvation 234God keeps us in the faith 234 • God preserves faith through the means of grace 235 • Believers are to use the means of grace 235 • The goal of such preservation of faith 236 • Warnings against apostasy 236 • Salvation is exclusively a work of divine grace 237 • God wants all to be saved 237 • Not all people are saved 238 • A difficulty 238

31. The Election of Grace 240General statement 240 • Bible proof 241 • Election in detail 242 • Résumé 243 • Knowledge of election 244 • The comfort of this doctrine 245 • The relation of the election of grace to the work of grace 245 • False teachings on election 246

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Salvation by the Grace of God through the Sanctification of the Holy Spirit 247

Part VIII: Salvation through the Means of Grace

32. The Gospel 253The 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 effica-cious 257 • The Gospel is not always effective 257

33. The Law and the Gospel 259The Law and the Gospel 259 • Differences between the Law and the Gospel 259 • The use of the Law and the Gospel 260

34. The Sacraments 263Origin of the word sacrament 263 • Definition 263 • The validity of the Sacraments 264 • The power of the Sacraments is the power of the Gospel 266 • The benefit of the Sacraments 266 • The number of Sacraments 266

35. The Sacrament of Holy Baptism 269A divine and permanent institution 269 • The external element is water 269 • The mode of Baptism 270 • The formula of Baptism 271 • Who is to be baptized? 272 • Baptism is a means of grace 274 • The source of Baptism’s power 275 • Baptism is not to be repeated 276 • Necessity of Baptism 277 • How should we use our Baptism? 278

36. The Sacrament of the Altar 279Names 279 • A divine and permanent institution 279 • The vis-ible elements 280 • The heavenly elements 280 • Transubstantia-tion 281 • Representation (Symbolism) 282 • Bible doctrine 283

• Which church has the Lord’s 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 Lord’s Supper is a means of grace 294 • The source of the Sacrament’s power 295 • The beneficial use of the Sacrament 296 • Self-examination 298 • Open and closed Communion 299 • The necessity of the Sacra-ment 300 • Reasons for frequent attendance at the Sacrament 300

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Salvation through the Means of Grace 305

Part IX: Of the Church and the Ministry

Publisher’s Note 311

37. The Hidden/Invisible Church 313What 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

38. The Revealed/Visible Church 322Definition 322 • Church denominations or confessions 323 • True and false churches or confessions 323 • Unity of faith, unity of doctrine, and unionism 325 • The local church or congregation 328

39. The Government of the Church 330Form of church government 330 • Christ rules the church by His Word 330 • The church has no divine authority apart from God’s Word 331 • The dignity and authority of the local congregation 332 • The holy and royal priesthood 333 • The function of elders or pastors 334

40. The Office of the Keys 336Who possesses the Office of the Keys? 336 • The Office of the Keys is the power of the Word 337 • Extent and limit of this power 338 • The cardinal truth of the Word and the church’s commission 338

41. The Power to Remit and to Retain Sins 340Objection to and misuse of this power 340 • The releasing key 340 • The binding key 342 • Use of this power 343

42. Church Discipline 345The duty of church discipline 345 • The procedure 345 • The meaning of excommunication 347 • The purpose of excommunica-tion 348

Publisher’s Note 349

43. The Office of the Holy Ministry 351The Office of the Holy Ministry is a divine institution 351 • The local congregation’s right to call a minister 352 • God calls minis- ters through the church 354 • Who may be called into the minis-try? 355 • Call and ordination 355 • The clergy is not a holy “order” or “priesthood” 356 • No grades in the ministry 357 • The purpose of the Office of the Holy Ministry 358 • The power of the Office of the Holy Ministry 359 • The necessity of the Office of the Holy Ministry 359 • The highest office in the church 360 • The holy and royal priesthood 361 • Difference between the royal priesthood and the Office of the Holy Ministry 362

44. Antichrist 363General and specific use of antichrist 363 • The marks of antichrist 363 • Who is this antichrist? 365

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding the Church and the Ministry 368

Part X: Civil Estates

45. Civil Government 375Necessary distinction 375 • Origin of civil power 375 • Form of government 375 • Purpose of government 376 • Right of govern-ment 376 • Limit of governmental power 377 • The basic princi-ple 377 • Our duty to the government 378

46. Separation of State and Church 379Difference between state and church 379 • Separation of state and church 379 • No church state and no state church 380

47. Matrimony 382Matrimony is a divine institution 382 • Matrimony is not a sacra-ment 382 • Celibacy or matrimony 383 • Polygamy 384 • Pro-hibited marriages 384 • Definition of marriage 385 • Betrothal 385 • The relationship between husband and wife 387 • Matri-mony is a lifelong union 387 • Divorce 388 • Remarriage 388

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding Civil Estates 390

Part XI: Of the Last Things

48. Temporal Death 395Definition 395 • Cause 395 • A universal fact 395 • Temporal death is not the end of a person 396

49. The State of Death 397Continued existence 397 • Where are the souls? 397 • The souls do not return to earth 398 • The determination of a person’s eter-nal destiny 399

50. The Second Coming of Christ 400The fact of Christ’s coming 400 • The manner of Christ’s coming 400 • The time of Christ’s coming 401 • The signs of Christ’s coming 401

51. The Millennium 403The position of the Lutheran Church 403 • Premillennialism 403 • Postmillenialism 404 • No biblical support for chiliasm 404

52. The Resurrection of the Dead 407The possibility of a resurrection 407 • The fact of the resurrection 407 • The time of the resurrection 408 • The efficient cause of the resurrection 408 • Who will be raised? 408 • Identity of per- sons in body and soul 409 • Condition of the body 409

53. The Final Judgment 411The time and location of the judgment 411 • The judge 411 • Who will be judged? 412 • By what will people be judged? 412 • The judgment is not an investigation 414 • Punishment and reward 414

54. The End of the World 415The fact 415 • The time 415 • The means of destruction 415 • Annihilation or renovation 416

55. Eternal Damnation 418The fact 418 • State of damnation 418 • The cause of damnation 419 • The location of hell 419 • The purpose of this doctrine 420

56. Eternal Salvation 421The fact 421 • The state of bliss 421 • Where is heaven? 423 • The way to heaven 423 • The purpose of this doctrine 424

A Selected Bibliography for Further Study Regarding the Last Things 426

Index 429

Foreword

Publisher’s Preface to the Third EditionFor nearly three-quarters of a century, A Summary of Christian Doctrine has been a valuable tool for the student of the Lutheran faith. Its con-cise presentation of doctrine offers a unique introduction to the Lutheran Confessions for students and laypeople. Whenever possible, this third edi-tion 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 theologi-cal 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.

To the Third Edition

Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide,For round us falls the eventide.O let Your Word, that saving light,Shine forth undimmed into the night.(Lutheran Service Book 585:1)

God’s most holy Word is His precious gift to us. God’s 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

13

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 Lord’s Sup-per. “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 24:25–27, 44–47). “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. Koehler’s popular book makes this good confession: We are noth-ing; Jesus is everything. And so his book is like the voice of John the Bap-tist, who proclaimed: “[Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

In these last days of great distressGrant us, dear Lord, true steadfastnessThat we keep pure till life is spentYour holy Word and Sacrament.(Lutheran Service Book 585:2)

Brent W. KuhlmanTrinity Lutheran Church, Murdock, Nebraska

The Day of Pentecost (March 15, 2005)

To the Second EditionThe great popularity and evident usefulness of the first edition of A Sum-mary of Christian Doctrine, as well as the express desire of Dr. Koehler to issue a second revised edition, has led his children to have this book published. To the undersigned was given the joyful task to examine and to arrange the manuscript and notes that Dr. Koehler had almost completed for publication prior to his death. Although the second edition gener-ally follows the copy of the first, certain portions have been clarified and elaborated upon. We issue this book in the hope that many will be led to God’s truth through it and many more confirmed therein.

Alfred W. KoehlerOakland, California, November 19, 1951.

14__A Summary of Christian Doctrine

To the First EditionIf the truth of God’s Word is to accomplish its divinely intended purpose, it must be taught and accepted as it is revealed in Holy Scripture. Any change or corruption of these teachings will necessarily affect the influ-ence they have on the hearts and the lives of people. Guided by wrong information, man will go wrong. Only the right doctrine can create the right faith in our hearts and lead us in the right way through life.

Conscious of this, the author in writing this Summary of Christian Doc-trine was guided by no other consideration than this: What does God say in His Word? Therefore he has documented his statements with perti-nent Bible references. With the exception of a few instances, he has not attempted to disprove erroneous teachings; rather, he has in a positive way set forth what the Scriptures teach.

The reason for writing this summary was to provide students with a suitable manual to be used in connection with the Bible as the basis for class discussion of Christian doctrines. Between the catechism (used in elementary instruction) and the larger works on dogmatics (used in theo-logical seminaries), we have at present no book that in a concise form, yet in a fairly comprehensive manner, systematically treats the doctrines of the Scriptures. Although not supplanting the more scholarly works used in theological seminaries, this summary may supply a real need in Christian colleges.

However, the summary may also serve pastors in office as a conve-nient review in Christian doctrine, recalling to their minds what they have learned, crystallizing their doctrinal concepts, and inciting them to dig deeper into the divine truths. The material has been arranged so it can easily be expanded into doctrinal papers and lectures at conferences and in congregations. But especially to teachers in parish and Sunday schools, the summary might prove helpful in clarifying and widening knowledge of those truths that they would teach their pupils. Teachers should not think that though they must continue studies in other fields of learning, they know enough to teach children the simple truths of the catechism and have, therefore, no need of further study. Confused teaching is often caused by confused knowledge. One must know well to teach well, and one must know more than just the lesson he wishes to impart. Therefore Paul says, “[G]ive attention to reading” (1 Timothy 4:13). A study of this summary will help us better understand the catechism, giving us deeper insight into its teachings. For this reason this summary may profitably be used for private study and also as a basic text in Sunday school teachers’ classes and institutes.

Foreword__15

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 God’s 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 doc-trine 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 encour-aged and helped him to publish this book, especially to Dr. C. F. Brommer of Seward, Nebraska, and to Dr. Theodore Engelder of St. Louis, Mis-souri, who read the manuscript and offered many helpful suggestions.

May the Lord bless the study of this summary so we may better under-stand and more firmly believe the truth that makes us free. “Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus.”

Edward W. A. KoehlerRiver Forest, Illinois, January 29, 1939.

Centennial of the Saxon Immigration.

16__A Summary of Christian Doctrine