# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S806
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

806 Intersynodical and Doctrinal Matters

Synodical Conference adopted the following resolution: “Whereas *
it is a physical impossibility at this time properly to consider all
the matters pertaining to the Chinese Term Question laid before
this convention, we recommend that the President and Vice-Presi-
dent of the Synodical Conference appoint a committee which shall
seek to bring about harmony with respect to this question.” (Pro-
ceedings, Ev. Luth. Syn. Conf., 1936, p. 117.)

‘According to this resolution the President and the Vice-Presi-
dent of the Synodical Conference appointed a committee, and this
committee reported to the convention of the Synodical Conference
in Watertown in 1938. The report (consisting of seven points) of
that committee, which was not unanimous in all points, was con-
sidered by a committee of the convention, and this committee
recommended the adoption of Points 3 and 4 of the report of the
Chinese Term-question Committee, and with regard to Points 5
and 6 recommended that these points, together with the minority
report, be received by the Synodical Conference and filed for
further study and that all interested parties be referred to the
minutes and documents of the Chinese Term-question Committee;
and it furthermore recommended the adoption of Point 7. Point 7
reads: “Your Committee unanimously recommends to the Synod-
ical Conference to render no judgment concerning the proper desig-
nation for God in the Chinese language but to refer the matter back
to the Missouri Synod with the expectation that its mission-work in
China will be conducted in accordance with the principles laid
down in Points III and IV above.” (Proceedings, Ev. Luth. Syn.
Conf., 1938, p.135.) Points III and IV read: “III. In translating
from the Hebrew and the Greek into another language, the choice
of terms to render Elohim and Theos is per se an adiaphoron. As in
the case of all adiaphora (cf. Formula Concordiae, Art. X), Scrip-
ture here, too, sets certain bounds within which our freedom may
be exercised. Our choice of terms must not smirch the glory and
honor of God nor becloud the truth of God nor give offense (in
the sense of giving occasion for stumbling) to the weak (1 Cor.
10:31f. and Rom. 14:13-23). IV. Our one and only mission to the
Chinese, to the Christians as well as to the heathen among them,
is to teach them whatsoever Christ commanded us (Matt. 28: 20;
2 Cor, 5:19f.). We must speak the truth in Christ (1 Tim. 2:7 and
2 Cor. 4:2), and our trumpet must not give forth an uncertain sound
that may be misunderstood (1 Cor. 14:8f.).” (Proceedings 1938,
pp. 134, 135.) -

Respectfully submitted to the convention of the Missouri
Synod assembled at Fort Wayne, Ind.
L. FUERBRINGER
President of the Ev. Luth. Synodical
Conference of North America