LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 155

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District and Congregational Services
In the Christian church all teachings must be judged. For this a knowledge of the language is needful above all else. The preacher or teacher
can expound the Bible from beginning to end as he pleases, accurately
or inaccurately, if there is no one there to judge whether he is doing it
right or wrong. But in order to judge, one must have a knowledge of the
languages; it cannot be done in any other way. Therefore, although faith
and the gospel may indeed be proclaimed by simple preachers without a
knowledge of languages, such preaching is flat and tame; people finally
become weary and bored with it, and it falls to the ground. But where
the preacher is versed in the languages, there is a freshness and vigor
in his preaching, Scripture is treated in its entirety, and faith finds itself
constantly renewed by a continual variety of words and illustrations.
(AE 45:365)

Likewise, he warns of the threat of losing the Gospel if the biblical
languages are lost when he says,

And let us be sure of this: we will not long preserve the gospel without
the languages. The languages are the sheath in which this sword of the
Spirit [Eph. 6:17] is contained; they are the casket in which this jewel
is enshrined; they are the vessel in which this wine is held; they are the
larder in which this food is stored; and, as the gospel itself points out
[Matt. 14:20], they are the baskets in which are kept these loaves and
fishes and fragments. If through our neglect we let the languages go
(which God forbid!), we shall not only lose the gospel, but the time will
come when we shall be unable either to speak or write a correct Latin or
German. (AE 45:359);

and
Whereas, The written Word of God is the very voice of God given
to us to be heard and learned; and
Whereas, The Holy Spirit chose to use the language of the Hebrew
people to write the Old Testament Scriptures and chose to use the
language of the Greek-speaking world to write the New Testament
Scriptures; and
Whereas, This word is to be preached, taught, and confessed in
its truth and purity so that the kingdom of God may come to us and
to many others; and
Whereas, The knowledge and the use of the original biblical languages is essential in the judging of doctrine and the preserving of
the Gospel, as Dr. Luther taught us; and
Whereas, The intention of the introductory courses taught through
the Concordia University System and the seminaries is to begin the
study of the languages; and
Whereas, The Synod has begun to put forth an effort in the continued growth in the biblical languages of her pastors in such ways
as the publication of beginning grammar textbooks and commentaries by Concordia Publishing House (CPH) and by the Lectionary at
Lunch Internet podcasts by the faculty of Concordia Seminary in St.
Louis; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod encourage and promote the continued
education of her pastors in the biblical languages, so that they do not
become mere “simple preachers” but preach with vigor and freshness, preserving the purity of the Gospel and bringing the Kingdom
to us and to many others; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod acknowledge and thank both CPH for
the biblical language resources that are currently made available and
the faculty of Concordia Seminary for their efforts in the Lectionary
at Lunch podcasts; and be it further
Resolved, That CPH be encouraged to further expand the publication of biblical language resources, including advanced grammar
text books and the like; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod encourage her pastors to increase in
their understanding of the biblical languages with the use of such
resources published by CPH and produced by the faculty of Concordia
Seminary; and be it finally
Resolved, That the actual reading from and the translating of the
biblical languages be promoted at Synod, district, and circuit level
meetings.
North and South Sandia Circuit Forum
Rocky Mountain District

155

2-07

To Promote Usage of The Lutheran Study Bible
Whereas, God has blessed us with His unchanging Word; and
Whereas, Concordia Publishing House, working with Lutheran
theologians throughout the world, has produced The Lutheran Study
Bible as a resource for deeper study and edification for all of God’s
people; therefore be it
Resolved, That the South Region Pastors’ Conference (SRPC)
of the Northern Illinois District promote and commend use of The
Lutheran Study Bible both in the congregations of the South Region
and in the homes of its members; and be it further
Resolved, That the SRPC memorialize the 2010 LCMS convention to promote and commend the use of The Lutheran Study Bible
in both congregation and home throughout the LCMS.
South Region Pastors’ Conference
Northern Illinois District
2-08

To Urge Family Worship Using Portals of Prayer
Whereas, The Lutheran Witness reported several years ago:
Do statistics tell anything? Consider the following from the U.S. Census
Bureau as noted in the March 24, 1980, Marriage and Divorce: “Although nationally one out of three marriages currently ends in divorce,
those who have church weddings and attend church regularly beat the
odds by one in 50. But of couples who have married in church, attend
regularly, and have family worship, one in 1,105 ends in divorce.”

and
Whereas, Concordia Publishing House publishes Portals of
Prayer, one of the best daily devotional guides for individuals and
families printed today by any denomination; and
Whereas, Regular use of the same Scripture readings, devotionals,
and prayers by hundreds of thousands of families in the LCMS will
not only strengthen our families spiritually but also help to improve a
sense of unity and fellowship within the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That we commend CPH for publishing Portals of
Prayer, urge all families within the LCMS to conduct daily family
worship in the home, and consider using Portals of Prayer.
Trinity
New Haven, MO
2-09

To Direct Concordia Publishing House
to Release the Six Chief Parts of 1986 Translation
of Small Catechism
Whereas, The text of Luther’s Small Catechism (the “Six Chief
Parts”) is the primary teaching tool of the Lutheran Church; and
Whereas, The text is intended to be used in the home and church
and spread abroad as freely as possible; and
Whereas, The Scriptures themselves encourage writing the text of
the catechism on doors and walls (Deut. 6:6ff.; see Luther’s “Preface
to the Large Catechism,” p. 141); and
Whereas, Wherever the catechism is read, studied, printed, sung,
written, posted, repeated, and learned, the Holy Spirit produces the
fruits of faith and love; and
Whereas, The congregations of the Synod in love for one another
and the unity of the Spirit have a common translation of the Small
Catechism (1986); and
2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 155

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