From: "Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: HP: Nativity of John the Baptist BOC Reading Date: Thursday, November 01, 2001 1:03 PM [Passed on from The Reverend Glenn R.A. Niemann with thanks...] THE BOOK OF CONCORD -THE LUTHERAN CONFESSIONS >From Pipping's Christliches Concordienbuch (Leipzig, 1734) THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HAS SPOKEN: As a witness against the continuing heresy of the enthusiasts *1*, John the Baptist stood as a "prophet of the Most High" [LK 1:76; cf. THE BENEDICTUS - TLH. Pg. 38-39]. All things concerning John - including his nativity - were in fulfillment of the spoken Word of God alone [ISA. 40:3-5; cf. LK. 3:4-6]. From the Smalcald Articles - Part III, Art. VIII: Of Confession: In a word, enthusiasm *2* inheres in Adam and his children from the beginning [from the first fall] to the end of the world, [its poison] having been implanted and infused *3* into them by the old dragon, and is the origin, power [life], and strength of all heresy, especially of that of the Papacy and Mohammed.*4* Therefore we ought and must constantly maintain this point, that God does not wish to deal with us otherwise than through the spoken Word and the Sacraments. It is the devil himself whatsoever is extolled as Spirit without the Word and Sacraments. For God wished to appear even to Moses through the burning bush and spoken Word;*5* and no prophet, neither Elijah nor Elisha, received the Spirit without the Ten Commandments [or spoken Word]. Neither was John the Baptist conceived without the preceding word of Gabriel,*6* nor did he leap in his mother's womb without the voice of Mary.*7* And Peter says [2 PET 1:21], The prophecy came not by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Without the outward Word, however, they were not holy, much less would the Holy Ghost have moved them to speak when they still were unholy [or profane]; for they were holy, says he, since the Holy Ghost spake through them. All Book of Concord quotations are taken from the Triglotta, copyright 1921 by CPH. It is in public domain. *Footnotes* 1 As was his custom, Luther would use the German form of a technical Greek and Latin term for a person in whom the god dwells (en-theou), that is, a "spiritist" or spiritualist. It also became a general epithet for a heretic. In other writings he uses the German word Schwaermer, that is, a fanatic, one who raves (cf. the English cognate, "swarm"). 2 German: Enthusiasmus, a Greek loan word (cf. Footnote 1) meaning possessed by the "god" within oneself. 3 German: gestiftet und gegiftet. 4 Luther, like most Christians of his day, viewed Mohammed as guilty of a Christological heresy. 5 Exodus 3:2ff. 6 Luke 1:13-20. 7 Luke 1:41-44. + Historic Preaching + The Historic Preaching list is devoted to preaching on the Propers of the Historic Lectionary as found in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) and Service Book and Hymnal (SBH). Subscribe? Send ANY message to: Unsubscribe? Send ANY message to: Respond? Click 'Reply' or write to For further information about this list, contact the list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski or visit our website: + + + + + +