"Brief Paragraphs on the Question: When does the New Testament Economy Begin?" by William F. Beck

William F. Beck is best known for An American Translation, or, as it is often called, the "Beck Bible" and other projects involving presenting the Bible to young and old. If you want to know a little more about Beck, his son Reu wrote an article on him in 2003. Beck also wrote several articles and shorter studies for the synodical seminaries' journals. Brief Paragraphs on the Question: When does the New Testament Economy Begin? in the March 1938 Concordia Theological Monthly was his earliest academic article as far as I can determine. It was written when Beck was a parish pastor in Clayton, IL. The article takes up a question that is natural, and frequently comes up in the mind of anyone who has read the Bible--how and when did the church shift from being under, or following, the particularities of the Old Testament's rites and rituals (economy) to the New Testament rites and rituals (economy)?

He begins by stating what Christians believe and is readily understood concerning the matter: 

Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 3:5,6; 8:6-13; 12:24), set aside the Old Covenant by means of His work of redemption during the thirty-three years of His humiliation (Gal. 4:4,5). In this period He fulfilled the Moral Law by keeping it (Rom. 5:19; 10:4), and by His suffering He freed us from its curse (Gal. 3:13). In this time He also substituted the reality of His atonement for the shadow of the Ceremonial Law and thus made the observance of its ordinances unnecessary (Col. 2:16, 17).

While the basic point is simple to understand, how this transition, or working out, unfolded is a little more complicated, as Beck points out:

The displacement of the old economy by the new nevertheless was not an instantaneous happening. The divine revelations of the abrogation of the whole Covenant and of the individual elements which make up the complex aggregate of the Covenant came at various times. Furthermore, the Covenant was to be eternal. It was difficult, therefore, for a people in whom this Covenant had been inbred to understand that part of it could be set aside, that an act which once was a sin of disobedience punishable by death might by divine direction become a good work. It was also difficult to find the clear line of demarcation between the ceremonial and the moral laws and then to maintain liberty, in the face of great opposition, in regard to the Ceremonial Law. Doubt in regard to the will of God and fear of sinning (e. g., Acts 10:14) lingered in the hearts of God's people and rendered the adoption of the change in practise a gradual one.

He first structures his discussion around the major events in the earthly ministry of Christ: His birth, relation to John the Baptist, baptism, public ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. He then subjects particular practices of the Old Testament to two questions: "When did God expressly set it aside? At what time did His people become emancipated from it?" He covers the following topics:

Happy Feast of St. Stephen: "Some Difficulties in the Speech of Stephen, Acts 7" by William F. Arndt

Longtime professor at Concordia Seminary--St. Louis, William F. Arndt, wrote numerous books and articles on "Bible difficulties." These works focused on disabusing people of the notion that the Bible contained errors, showing that with calm logic and careful investigation one could resolve most alleged discrepancies, or, even when the resolution surpassed our knowledge or insight, that this did not necessitate or prove a contradiction. Sometimes a fair evaluation was one that might not be able to settle upon a single resolution, but had to leave several possibilities open. Arndt's purpose was to both dismiss alleged proofs of inaccuracies or mistakes that skeptics clung to and to lead believers to trust in the reliability of the Scriptures and have humility when approaching God's Word.

Zwingel Illustrated Bible History Timeline (Pictures of Artwork Included)

Recently, I was graciously given a box of Bible history maps by a parishioner's friend whose husband had been an Sunday School Superintendent for many years.

One of the maps was not actually a map at all. It was an illustrated Bible History Timeline. Or perhaps you would call it an Illustrated Biblical Chronology. Either way, it is an incredibly interesting and well done piece of educational art. The piece was made by Rev. Rudolph P. Zwingel, a Missouri Synod pastor whom I do not yet know much about.

Theodore Engelder, 1865-1949 in Concordia Theological Monthly August, 1949

Theodore Engelder, 1865-1949; in CTM August, 1949

***Update: A little bit more of his bio, here, in German.


Here at L-TOMs, we sometimes will venture further back into the German speaking resources of the Missouri Synod from time to time, but are mostly focused on the English works of the first half of the century.

A major figure in the Synod during this time was Theodore Engelder, perhaps most famous for being the main translator for Pieper's Dogmatics and the book Scripture Cannot Be Broken, review and information on where it is available here. It is an excellent defense of the doctrine of Scripture's inspiration and inerrancy, a topic on which Engelder particularly concentrated.

New! Bible Study Resources Page...For Home, Church, and School Libraries

There is a new Page here at L-TOM's that I believe will be of interest, and hopefully helpful, to many students of the Scriptures. Under the Bible Study Resources tab, you will find: 

 

A Brief and Basic Bibliography for Bible Study Resources

For Home, Church, or School Libraries

It is a list of 6 resources (plus one that is free online) that would make an excellent basic library for Bible Study...whether it be for the home, church, or school setting. Almost all of these resources are L-TOM's and have been beloved for generations. What is also excellent about this list is that these resources are not overwhelming in terms of scope or size, and, not to be too blunt, they are very affordable. The whole list can be bought (including shipping) for under than $100.00, less if you are willing to buy used. 

Home Life in Bible Times by Arthur W. Klinck (Now: Everyday Life in Bible Times)

 

 

This is another volume of the Concordia Leaders Training Series written by Arthur W. Klinck in 1947. He also wrote the Old Testament History volume, a review of which may be found here, along with a bit more information about the series.

 

Home Life in Bible Times is an excellent resource for the parent, pastor, or teacher. It gives helpful information about the biblical world: its customs, agriculture, occupations, husbandry, food and drink, construction and architecture, weaponry, the trades, travel, art, science, commerce, and much more.

Old Testament History by Arthur W. Klinck (Concordia Leadership Training Series)

(Gotta love that coffee cup stain!)

The Concordia Leadership Training Series (earlier called Concordia Teachers Training Series) produced excellent, concise, yet comprehensive training booklets originally designed for Sunday School teachers to use for their own education and preparation. The first series of these booklets are superb in their summarization and presentation of what a teacher of religion ought to know concerning a particular subject. The second series of these booklets are almost exclusively focused on how to teach (certainly an important subject in itself), yet they are rather enthralled with modern psychology and teaching methods. Suffice to say, they are of a lesser quality than the first series (late 30's and early 40's). [For two excellent resources on pedagogy and the nuts and bolts of how to teach, see: A Christian Pedagogy and How to Teach in Sunday School.]

Arthur W. Klinck wrote two of the original series' booklets: Old Testament History and Home Life in Bible Times, which was revised twice and is still sold today by CPH as Everyday Life in Bible Times.

Bible History: Explained and Applied by K.K. Miller

Perhaps you've heard of Kernlieder, the core hymnody that ought to be taught to children. There is also a de facto canon of core Bible Stories that can be recognized not only in Missouri Synod history, but across (American and otherwise) Lutheran history. The Missouri Synod's resources for teaching Bible History are representative of this broad consensus.

While not a true L-TOM, published in 1996, Bible History: Explained and Applied is linked to this same tradition as a supplemental resource to: the Elementary Bible History, which later became 100 Bible Stories; the upper grade Advanced Bible History, which is the 1936 revision of the Comprehensive Bible History; and other coordinated materials such as Bible History References. This book of Rev. K.K. Miller, who was a pastor in the LCR, is a collection of short sermons on the same Bible stories that are covered in the above primary resources. From the Preface:

Christian Fundamentals by J. T. Mueller

Published in 1926, Christian Fundamentals by J.T. Mueller is a daily, 25 week, topical Bible Study on the basics of the Christian faith. Mueller was a professor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis from 1920 to 1964. Besides the many works of his own, he is also remembered for condensing Pieper's Christlische Dogmatik into a one volume English version, Christian Dogmatics, and translating Walther's Kirche und Amt (Church and Ministry) into English.

 

The book succeeds in clearly and systematically presenting the basics of the faith. The beautiful prayers are an especially excellent aspect of this volume. The last three weeks are an in-depth study of the Gospel of St. John, one chapter per day. This last section is not just a fitting capstone for the work, but can really stand alone as a brief devotional work.

 

[See pictures below for examples of lessons and prayers, including several from the Gospel of John section.]

Bible History References by F. Rupprecht

First published in 1926, CPH's Bible History References by F. Rupprecht were linked with the Comprehensive Bible History of 1918. However, the most popular and widespread version is the "revised and enlarged" updated version of 1947 (pictured and reviewed here), which enjoyed numerous reprintings. These volumes can be purchased through Anchor Publications here or use this page to obtain an old copy.

The updating of 1947 coordinated the Bible History References with the new/updated resources used by the Synod at the time. These were the Advanced Bible History of 1936 (the updating of the Comprehensive Bible History), the 1943 Small Catechism and Questions, and the--then new!--TLH of 1941. There were also other minor additions and expansions.

Covering the same 140 Bible stories of the Advanced Bible History, the reference notes in the volume are tied to particular words or phrases from each story. There are also brief excursuses on important topics/questions. There are additional suggested tie-ins to the Catechism, hymn verses, and additional Bible readings at the end of each lesson.

I am sure that I have said it before, but I'll say it again: I am constantly impressed by the Synod's resources for children's Bible history. Most notable is the the focus on the Promise of the Seed (Messiah) throughout the Old Testament and the Christocentricity of the New Testament notes.

Besides excellent introductions to each major section of biblical history, additional appendices in the O.T. Volume include:

Brief Review of Jewish History from the End of the Captivity to the Birth of Christ
Some Messianic Prophecies and Their Fulfillments
Types of Christ
Bird's Eye View of the Old and New Testaments
Suggestions to Pupils on How to Study a Lesson in Bible History
Biblical Weights, Measures, Money, and Time
Chronological Tables of the Old Testament
Pronouncing Glossary
Topical Index
Indexed Bible Atlas

and in the N.T. Volume:
Summary of Paul's Activity
Biblical Weights, Measures, Money, and Time
New Testament Chronology
Pronouncing Glossary
Topical Index

A portion of the foreword to Bible History References may summarize it best:

The References will be found useful by anyone who is interested in a study of popular selections from the Bible. Pastor and teachers in parochial schools, Sunday schools, and vacation Bible schools have found them especially helpful. Study of the References provides the Bible Teacher with the wider historical, social, economic, geographical, archaeological, and doctrinal background necessary from best success in his teaching. The language is simple, and the explanation of difficult words and passages is clear and concise. The maps, charts, illustrations, and historical tables help to visualize much of the content.

...and they are wonderful resources regardless of what additional materials you are using, if any...

While the References follow the sequence of the Advanced Bible History, they may be used equally well with only the Bible in hand. In short, these volumes may be used conveniently by any teacher of Bible stories, regardless of the particular lesson materials which he may use in his class.

Need to Get Level: 10/10

Seriously, it really is a 10. If you are a pastor or layman, you should have this on your shelf for a reference of what the most basic questions and important points to teach are concerning 140 of the most central stories of the Bible. This is a perfect aid for biblical survey classes or the education of children...or adults. Parents should especially consider these volumes as they provide to you a resource for opening the Scriptures for your children-and you!


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More coordinated resources:

Go here to read more about the Advanced Bible History. Or here to buy a copy. The older version, Comprehensive Bible History, can also be bought here.

Anchor Publications still has Bible History References for sale here, and also has two supplementary works that are designed to work with the Advanced (or Comprehensive) Bible History and Bible History References. I do not own nor have looked through these resources, however I am confident that they are worth checking into if you wish to use the Advanced Bible History at home, church, or school.

1. Bible History Explained and Applied by K.K. Miller ($13.50, 264 pages)
2. Exercises in Bible History, 2 volumes, Old and New Testaments, by H.A. Merta and W.A. Siems ($9.50, 150 pages each)

The above two resources can be found on this page.

Scripture Cannot Be Broken by Theodore Engelder

Scripture Cannot Be Broken (CPH 1944, 496 pages) by Theodore Engelder is a staunch defense of verbal inspiration and inerrancy. Engelder was also the main translator of Franz Pieper's Christian Dogmatics. He taught, especially Symbolics and Dogmatics, at both Springfield and then St. Louis. During his time at St. Louis, he published a series of articles in Concordia Theological Monthly, "Verbal Inspiration-A Stumbling-Block to the Jews and Foolishness to the Greeks," April '41 to December '42. These were compiled and edited into this volume due to encouragement from many within and without the Missouri Synod. It was a timely book since many Lutherans were wrestling with questions about verbal inspiration and the historical-critical method.

Strangely, the table of contents is found in the rear of the book alongside general and biblical indices. The longest section, almost half the book, is devoted to the answering of the question: "Does the Bible Contain Errors?" Engelder shows mastery of his opponents lines of argumentation and theological framework. He deals with the broad issue in the abstract or general sense, as well as confronting specific, frequently raised "errors."  The remaining major chapters are:

II. Has the Bible Moral Blemishes?
III. Does the Bible Deal in Trivialities?
IV. The Disastrous Results of Criticizing and Correcting Scripture (A Resume)
V. Is Verbal Inspiration Mechanical Inspiration?
VI. Does Verbal Inspiration Imply an Atomistic Conception and Use of Scripture?
VII. Does Verbal Inspiration Establish a "Legalistic Authority of the Letter"?
VIII. The Battle for Verbal Inspiration (Final Resume)

Throughout the work, Engelder displays a gentlemanly and charitable demeanor. However, he does not pander or apologize to those who charge the Bible with falsehood, but rather exemplifies the sense of scandal and disgust the Christian should properly feel against such charges.

This volume stands well alongside other classic defenses of orthodox teaching on the nature and interpretation of the Holy Scriptures from that era such as P.E. Kretzmann's The Foundations Must Stand and W. Arndt's Bible Difficulties or here, or the updated edition from CPH.


Need to Get Level: 8/10
It is easy to find and cheap to buy. If you are a pastor, my question would be: "Why wouldn't you have this on your shelf?" At times it becomes technical and assumes a seminary education. I would therefore suggest Arndt's book (mentioned above) for the interested layman. But I certainly would not dissuade the ambitious layman who wishes to plow into Engelder's profitable work!

To those who think that the era of fighting over inerrancy or scriptural interpretation is over and that we have moved on, the time to relieve yourself of this uninformed opinion was yesterday. The battle over verbal inspiration does not make headlines or waves anymore, not because it is unimportant or fading away, but rather because it has largely been lost. Like feminism, denial of the truthfulness of the Scriptures is the default position of Americans today--especially the younger generations. Your parishioners live in a culture that denies the Bible. They breath in those presuppositions all day long. Engelder's work in this book is helpful, clear, and comprehensive on that thing which Satan has always rained down his blows upon--the Word of God.