Church III W1

Question 1

Age of Orthodoxy

Answer 1

• Main theological task - To capture the permanent and systematic form of the insights and teachings of the reformers.
• Lutherans believe their doctrine comes form Scriptures but is correctly confessed in the BoC.
• High regard for Luther himself.
• Need to answer critics and teach the next generation of preachers.
• Gospel needs to be articulated correctly.
• Purpose - create body of theological teachings so teaching at the parish level would be correct.
• Done to preach correctly
• Dead orthodoxy
• Orthodox insisted on the practical use of every article of faith.
• Propositional truth - statements either true or false and testable with the Bible.

Question 2

How long did the age of Orthodoxy last?

Answer 2

• 1577 Formula of Concord to 1710

Question 3

Age of Orthodoxy - 3 Periods

Answer 3

• Golden - 1577-1610 - Chemnitz
• High - 1610-50 - Gerhard
• Silver - 1650-1710

Question 4

Chemnitz

Answer 4

• Number two after Luther
• Primary author of Formula of Concord
• Started multi volume response to Council of Trent
• 8 years to complete - 4 volumes
• Two Natures of Christ - both biblical and patristic view of Christ
• Helped develop Lutheran dogmatics
• Student of Melanchthon
• Expanded Melanchthon’s Loci (work) Theologica

Question 5

Gerhard

Answer 5

• High Age
• 1582-1637
• Dogmatic work is his best known
• Popular lecturer
• Age 24 Doctor of Theology
• University of Yana
• 15 years to complete his loci (work)
• Doctrine of Inspiration in systematic fashion
• Rehabilitates Aristotle - not to inform theology but uses his vocabulary to explain Biblical theology
• Matter and form
• Form - example - each person is a human
• Form - Scriptures
• Matter - Gospel

Question 6

Abraham Calov

Answer 6

• 1612-86
• 13 children
• Very polemical
• Syncretistic Controversy against George Calixtus
• Calov - 28 books on the controversy
• Rejected Calixtus’ distinction between fundamental and secondary biblical issues