# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_M rz 1855_S84
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

84 Testing and Prophecy, etc.

one must judge what the treasure of his heart is like, that is, whether he is a true or false prophet. But then another question arises, no less pointed and difficult: what doctrine, and what kind of doctrine, identifies the true or false prophet. Christ answers: “those who do the will of my Father in heaven.” But because this is somewhat obscure, Luke states it more clearly in v. 46: “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I tell you?” Accordingly, insofar as it concerns the office of the apostles here, the meaning is this: I have handed down and set forth for you the pure, saving doctrine. Whoever now presents and teaches what I say is a true prophet. But whoever presents and speaks not what I say, but something else, something different and contrary, is a false prophet, no matter what adornment he may display or how great the gifts with which he may be endowed. That is the simple explanation of this passage. For a fuller exposition belongs in the complete treatment. Some of these sayings, however, also concern all Christians in general. We shall deal with that in its proper place. Here we have spoken only of what concerns the office of the apostles. —

It remains to be considered what the expression “in your name” means. For if it is understood as referring to the power and working of the Spirit of Christ, as Mark 16:17 says: “In my name they will cast out devils,” etc., then the meaning cannot be that they teach falsely at the very time when Christ, through his power and working, is prophesying through them, performing miracles, and accomplishing great deeds. For that would be blasphemy against the Son of God himself. And Paul proves the truth of his teaching precisely by saying: Christ speaks through me, Romans 15:18; 2 Corinthians 5:5; 13:3. Thus, if “name” is taken to mean the power and working of Christ, the meaning would be, as Chrysostomus also acknowledges, that even those who were once saving instruments of the Holy Spirit can later fall. Therefore, the following conclusion is not valid: everything must be accepted without examination from someone who formerly taught correctly and rendered good service to the church, as though he could neither fall nor err. On the contrary, Christ says, on that day many will indeed not be lying, but will rightly say: “In your name we prophesied”; but because they did not remain in that truth, but changed from doers of the truth into doers of unrighteousness in doctrine, they will have to hear: “I never knew you; depart!” —

Yet the expression is also used when someone falsely invokes the name of Christ, as in Matthew 24:5: “Many will come in my name,” etc. And if it is understood this way here, the meaning will clearly be that the devil customarily uses the name of Christ as a pretext in the false prophets for his false doctrine and his false miracles, Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; one must therefore be watchful not to be deceived by such delusions. This too is a good meaning. Yet on the day