“Examine Thyself: Solid Declaration VII and 1 Corinthians”

Christopher R. Gillespie

Confessions 3

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Review: Foolishness to the Greeks : The Gospel and Western Culture

Lesslie Newbigin

William B. Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1986. 156 pgs.

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“The theology and music of Bach’s Brich dem Hungrugen dein Brot, BWV39”

Johann Sebastian Bach’s position at St. Thomas in Leipzig included overseeing music at the four town churches. The liturgical year including festivals amounted to fifty-eight canata performances. Bach wrote approximately five yearlong cycles, of which approximately two-hundred canatas are extant. The canata “Brich dem Hungerigen den Brot,” BWV 39, was written and composed for the first Sunday after Trinity, 23 June 1726, as part of the third cycle of Bach’s Leipzig cantatas.

Bach’s compositional rhythm and frequency decreased, beginning in 1725. This third cycle extended over three years, unlike the first two cycles (of 1723-24 and 1724-25). While BWV75 (1723) and BWV20 (1724) for the first Sunday after Trinity were intended to compliment each other, there is no evidence to suggest the same for the 1725 cycle. According to Dürr, early commentaries thought this cantata was composed for the Protestants driven out of catholic Salzburg in 1731.^[i] This theory was triggered by Dresden researcher Rudolf Wustmann on October 1909. In a lecture on “Bach’s music in worship,” Wustmann suggested cautiously this might be the beauiful, large canata performed for the major Protestant charity celebration held on 15 June 1732.^[ii] Few would remember the original performance as Leipzig was in turmoil in 1732 with the many immigrants, plus the teachers were absent while the St. Thomas school was under renovation. Yet, the text is clearly dated from 1704 and not composed especially for this occassion. Current document evidence gives a date of performance that excludes this possibility, yet its content would certainly have made it appropriate for performance six years later.

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“Luther and the Arts: Bumbling Idiot or Practical Theologian?”

Christopher R. Gillespie

Luther Text Spring 2009

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Book Review: “Religion on Trial”

Craig A. Parton

Wipf & Stock, Eugene, Oregon, 2008

Thesis: Christianity is the only world religion that can withstand rigorous examination using the evidentiary methods employed in law, history, or science and so be a trusted truth claim.

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A Summary and Review of C.F.W. Walther’s Address to a Christian Young Men’s Society on July 4th, 1853 

Christopher R. Gillespie

(Unpublished translation, unknown author)

Written for Cornerstone student paper but I don’t know if it will be published before the election. Its too relevant to pass by.

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For Dr. David Scaer’s “Word of God” course, I wrote a paper evaluating the position on the Word of God and its effect on the practice of the emerging church. It was an interesting study and worthy of the attention. There is some interest in revising this paper as an article so I may have to yank it off the blog. In the meantime, read, mark, and consider.

The Word of God and the Emerging Church (PDF format)

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Here is my final paper post from ethics class. I think this is the most interesting summary of the four. Enjoy!

PDF format

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In a continuing series of posts sharing my writings for Theological Ethics this summer, I share a response to the question: “How is the distinction between justification and sanctification pivotal for Lutheran ethics?” A bulk of the paper identifies and defines the terms using Adolf Köberle’s “Quest for Holiness” as a guide, followed by their implications. Enjoy!

PDF Version

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Luther’s two kingdom exposition of Scripture remains critical to a Christian’s response to social issues. Rereading the source documents for theological ethics class illuminated the necessity of his understanding. Check it out!

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