Foreword

“HIS lifework was the Christliche Dogmatik, a monumental work in three volumes, setting forth the doctrines of Christianity as taught in the Lutheran Church… . In the clarity of his style and cogency of argumentation there has not been the equal of Dr. Pieper in the Lutheran Church in America. His literary ability, his eloquence, his deep personal piety, and his endearing traits of humility among his associates and charity towards the erring combined to make him a character rare in the history of a Church which has produced so many noble characters.” So read the obituary which announced the death on June 3, 1931, of the eminent churchman who had been the theological leader of the Missouri Synod for upward of four decades.

Called to a professorship at Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, in 1878, Francis Pieper succeeded Dr. C. F. W. Walther as president of the institution in 1887. The outstanding gifts with which he was endowed led to his prompt recognition as the chief dogmatician of the Synod as well as to the presidency of the general body from 1899 to 1911. Through the years the work of training young men for the Gospel ministry was ever the prime area of his labors. To demonstrate how the whole inspired Word comes to its ultimate focus in the revelation of God’s grace in Christ Jesus was his unfailing delight. How that perception of divine mercy dominated his thinking and teaching is plainly to be seen also in this dogmatics, with its constant, loving reiteration of the truths of universal grace, the vicarious satisfaction, and justification through faith alone.

As the four-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation approached, Dr. Pieper, now relieved of the arduous duties of the synodical presidency, found opportunity to devote himself to preparation of a Christian dogmatics. It was designed to be an expression of thanksgiving for the Lord’s merciful kindness in preserving the full truth of His Word to the Synod Pieper loved so dearly and served so notably. Since the first volume was to appear in the quadricentennial year, the author chose to offer first the loci that are the very heart of Scripture’s message and were the fundamentals of Luther’s glorious testimony: the grace of God in Christ, Christ’s person and work, saving faith, conversion, and justification by faith. This volume, issued in 1917, became the second of the whole work. Volume III, treating sanctification, preservation, the means of grace, the Church, the ministry, the election of grace, and eschatology, followed in 1920. With the publication of Volume I, embracing the loci on the nature of theology, Holy Scripture, God, creation, divine providence, angels, and man (anthropologia), the project was brought to completion in 1924.

The Dogmatik was at once hailed as a masterwork. The Theological Monthly commented: “His work will go down to future generations as the dogmatic standard, alongside of the works of Walther and his earlier colleagues, of the Missouri Synod.” Theologians of other church bodies characterized it as “monumental,” “a veritable treasure house on dogmatic theology,” and hastened to emphasize its importance: “Among the newer dogmatical works that are to be warmly commended to our pastors we give first place to this dogmatics of Francis Pieper.”

As early as 1924 pastoral conferences and individuals began to voice and to multiply formal requests that this opus magnum be made available in an English edition. In 1941 the synodical convention created a committee to formulate plans for a worthy celebration of the centennial of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States — since 1947 The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. As one of its basic recommendations the Centennial Committee proposed that a translation of the Christliche Dogmatik be prepared. The suggestion was enthusiastically adopted, with the hope that the work might be issued in the centennial year — a hope that could not be realized because of a number of delaying factors.

Dr. Theodore Engelder, the successor of Dr. Walther and Dr. Pieper as senior dogmatician of Synod, accepted the commission to serve as chief translator and supervising editor. Under his skilled hand the major part of the work of planning and translation was executed. Prof. Walter W. F. Albrecht of Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Ill., who had prepared the first English translation of the Dogmatik in the late thirties, Dr. Fred E. Mayer of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., and Prof. Lorenz F. Blankenbuehler, house editor of Concordia Publishing House, were enlisted as assistants in the project. “Professor Albrecht‘s translation, prepared in mimeographed form for the use of his students,” the chief editor’s notes record, “was constantly consulted,” and afforded him invaluable aid. Dr. J. T. Mueller’s condensation of the Pieper volumes was also used for reference. To all these brethren, as well as to Mr. O. A. Dorn, manager of Concordia Publishing House, the committee and Synod owe thanks for their helpful advice and able collaboration.

In June, 1949, our Lord found it good in His wisdom and grace to call Dr. Engelder home before he could complete the task which had chiefly occupied him during the several past years. We are grateful, however, that time was granted him to carry the translation well into the third volume and that, on the basis of this work, issuance of Volume II and III may be anticipated in the near future.

Explanatory remarks assembled posthumously from the chief editor’s notes will, we think, be of interest: “We shall endeavor to offer a passable English translation, preserving as much as possible the inimitable flavor of Pieper’s powerful, lucid, and trenchant style… . It is not an easy task to make a German theologian speak fluent English (cf. C. T. M., VIII 77)… . Much of the original beauty of style must inevitably be lost in a translation (cf. Preface to Koeberle).”

“We have condensed some parts, for instance, on the Crypto-Kenotic controversy, on German church conditions at the time of writing, etc., because we feel that they are not of equal interest for the reader today.” “But we feel, too, that the constant reiteration of the same truth, from different angles, will prove welcome. That constitutes one of the beauties of the books.”

“We had planned to discuss the more recent development in theology, but soon found that it was not feasible without causing an undesirable delay. We therefore give Pieper as he is. Perhaps we can hope that a volume of studies in modern developments will soon be issued.”

However, on the general compass of Pieper’s DOGMATICS and its utility in meeting modern trends thetically and antithetically Dr. Engelder added: “It was a monumental work for its time, and one who has imbibed the principles of this book is well prepared to meet whatever new forms the most modern error takes. In fact, any up-to-date dogmatics must stand on these principles. Pieper did much for his generation. He kept it straight through his classic. He is doing much for the present generation. It is fine that Synod through its Centennial Committee made it available in English translation. It will do much to keep us straight. They that study it will be prepared to deal with recent developments.” He jotted down with full approval Dr. L. Fuerbringer’s oft-repeated remark that the DOGMATICS “must be considered and remain a standard work of Lutheran theology,” and joined to it as his own estimate of the work words written some years earlier: “It was a power for orthodoxy in its day. And it has not outlived its usefulness. It is a mighty force today to keep Lutherans reminded of the treasure of pure doctrine which God has bestowed upon them.”

It will be noted that a few references to translations of older publications which are not readily accessible now have been added to the original text in brackets. Also in a few instances footnote references to materials no longer available or pertinent have been omitted. Long Latin quotations have been translated.

An index of the entire work is planned upon completion of the third volume.

May the issuance of this classic Scriptural theology in English form be indeed a mighty force to assist us in proclaiming our Savior’s Word of truth and grace and in repeating the Psalmist’s asseveration: “I have stuck unto Thy testimonies”!

THE SYNODICAL CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE

H. W. ROMOSER

A. H. KRAMER

G. A. FLEISCHER

E. T. LAMS

H. M. ZORN

January, 1950