# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Januar 1858_S10
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

10 The Euen Theses.

Is Justification by Faith Alone Still Now the Center
Governing the Whole of Church Doctrine?
Theses by Pastor Euen.

Thesis.

When it is asserted in modern theology that the center of gravity of the whole evangelical-churchly doctrine lies in the article of justification by faith alone, this has the sense equally of a determination of the significance of justification within the economy of salvation, as of thereby assigning that article a special position within the whole doctrinal system. — Justification by faith is called the principle of evangelical doctrine, because a) the sum of the goods of salvation is so implicit in it that eternal salvation is completed only in an unfolding of what is given in it, and because b) therefore only those doctrines can count as church-determining into which that principle resolves itself, and every article of faith must receive its worth and significance according to the measure by which it lies nearer to the living center or, toward the periphery, further from it.

Gloss on the Thesis. This is not an assertion "of modern theology," but a doctrine of the confession of our Church, expressed by Luther in the Smalcald Articles and by St. Paul in the Epistle to the Galatians, etc., whereas "modern theology," as is generally known, has for the most part fallen away from it. — On a. Luther: "For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation" — and that is, I think, "the sum of the goods of salvation." On b. Luther on Psalm 130: "When this article is grasped and held with sure and firm faith, then the others gradually come and follow after, such as that of the Trinity," etc. On John 14: "On this chief article everything hangs and depends, and it draws all the others along with it." "Where this sun shines and gives light in the heart, there is a right and sure understanding of all matters, so that one can stand firm and hold fast on all the articles — as that Christ is true man, born of the Virgin Mary, and also true almighty God, born of the Father in eternity," etc., etc.

Antithesis.

1. The righteousness of faith is not the full gift of grace that suffices for salvation and implies the sum of all the goods of salvation, and with respect to the latter, faith is not the exclusive means of appropriation.

Gloss on 1. St. Paul: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Luther: "Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation." "For Christians must know that through faith they already have everything by which they become blessed, and need nothing more for it." But that faith is the exclusive means of appropriation, compare Luther: "St. Paul, Romans 10:8, says: In order that one become righteous, it is necessary that one believe from the heart. He does not say: it is necessary that one receive the sacraments. For without the bodily receiving of the sacraments (provided they are not despised) one can become righteous through faith; but without