# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1888_S23
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1888. 23

τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ) unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." According to the context of this passage, the Apostle says here what is to be achieved among Christians by the exalted Savior's having given his church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Thereby it is to be brought about that Christians all have one faith and knowledge, in that they are not, like children, moved by every wind of false doctrine, but as men stand firm on one and the same revealed doctrine.

A noteworthy passage is also 1 Thess. 3:10: "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith." Paul had stayed only a short time in Thessalonica. Persecution on the part of the Jews had compelled him to leave the city soon. So deficiencies in knowledge soon showed themselves among the Thessalonians. They had not yet rightly grasped some parts of the Christian faith. When the Apostle now writes to them, he does not say: "It does not matter much whether you have the right knowledge in all parts of the doctrine or err in this or that article." No, the Apostle prays to God that he may give him opportunity, by further personal instruction, to make good the deficiencies in the faith of the Thessalonians (καταρτίσαι τὰ ὑστερήματα τῆς πίστεως).

In John 8:31 the Lord says: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." John 10:27: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." V. 5: "And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him." In these and similar passages the Lord tells us what is to be found among Christ's disciples: they abide in Christ's word, they hear Christ's voice, and indeed so exclusively that they flee from a stranger, turn away from everything that is not Christ's voice. Thereby it is stated that in Christendom there is to be found only One doctrine and One faith.

It is true that 1 Cor. 11:19 says: "There must be factions (αἱρέσεις, that is, fractions, parties) among you." But the Apostle does not go on to say: "That is quite good," or: "Therefore bear with the false teachers," but adds: "that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." God thus permits, by just judgment, that αἱρέσεις arise; but he does this not so that different tendencies may exist in the church, but so that it may become manifest who belongs to the one right tendency that holds fast to God's Word in uprightness. — "There is room on earth for all" — that is true, and it holds also for the church, in so far as the church has not the task of exterminating anyone from the earth or of taking from him the