Church and Ministry

by C. F. W. Walther

Publisher:

Concordia Publishing House

, 1987

Overview

This resource is a translation of Walther’s famous treatise on church and ministry, which explains the theological foundation for congregation and pastoral office. Walther offers 10 theses, supported from Scripture, the church’s confessions, and patristic and confessional writers.

In the Logos edition of Church and Ministry, you get easy access to Scripture texts and to a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Hovering over Scripture references links you instantly to the verse you’re looking for, and with Passage Guides, Word Studies, and a wealth of other tools from Logos, you can delve into God’s Word like never before!

Key Features

• Preface by the translator
• Scriptural proof for each thesis
• Bibliographical references and indexes

Contents

Top Highlights

“‘Fourth, God’s people or the holy Christian [church] is recognized by the keys, which it uses publicly, that is, as Christ commands (Matt. 18:15–16), [namely], that if a Christian sins, he should be reproved, and if he refuses to make amends, he should be bound and excommunicated; but if he repents, he should be absolved. Such are the keys ….” (Page 73)

“Luther: ‘Indeed, many blurt out and say: ‘Why do we need more pastors and ministers, since we can read [the Bible] ourselves at home?’ So they go their way in carnal security, and do not read it at home. Or even if they do read it at home, it is neither as fruitful nor as effective as the Word is efficacious when it is publicly proclaimed by the mouth of the pastor whom God has called and appointed to preach and teach it to you’ (House Postil, ‘On the Eighth Sunday After Trinity,’ St. Louis edition, 13:2253).” (Page 193)

“I believe … a holy Christian church, the communion of saints.’ If, according to these words, the church is something that must be believed, it cannot be visible, for ‘faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’” (Page 38)

“The ministry of the Word or the pastoral office is not a human institution but an office that God Himself has established.” (Page 177)

“‘In the first place, this Christian holy people is to be recognized from the place where there is the holy Word of God.” (Page 71)

Product Details

• Title: Church and Ministry
• Author: C. F. W. Walther
• Translator: John Theodore Mueller
• Publisher: Concordia
• Publication Date: 1987
• Pages: 363

About C. F. W. Walther

Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther (October 25, 1811 – May 7, 1887) was the first President of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and its most influential theologian. He is commemorated by that church on its Calendar of Saints on May 7.