The Question of Inspiration

C. F. W. Walther’s Evening Lectures, 1885-1886

Translated by Dr. Thomas Manteufel, Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, Missouri

Presented to the Walther Round Table, 2005-2007

Lecture IX (February 12, 1886) [continued]

Here we come first, of course, to the apostolic fathers, for they were the first church writers. We understand the apostolic fathers to be those who themselves received the oral instruction of the apostles: Barnabas, Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp. Hermas and Papias are not reckoned among them by all. “Hermas” indeed appears in the book of Acts, but that was another Hermas. This one is said to have lived from 139 to 154, so that it does not appear to be humanly possible that he was a disciple of the apostle John. He claimed that his book, entitled Shepherd of the Gospel, was a revelation. I regard this book to be quite worthless, in spite of the fact that the Christians in the second century were fond of reading it, probably as Christians today are fond of reading Christian novels. He says nothing against, but also nothing in defense of inspiration. The same is true of Papias. He was a dear, pious man, and even died as a martyr, but he himself did nothing for our purpose here. Since he only recorded what he heard, he finally came to the position of Chiliasm. To be sure, he claimed to have gotten it from John, but he either did not understand him, or did not get it from him at all. He was already said by Eusebius to have a limited understanding.

Two points may be noted before continuing. Even the modernist theologians do not deny that the whole church up to Luther’s time believed that the Bible is inspired by God. They cannot indeed deny it, otherwise they would be lying. But they say: “They (the apostolic fathers) did not put forward a theory.” But that is not surprising. Doesn’t the theory become apparent from the practice? It is only a stopgap when they say: “There was no theory.” But if it is stated: “Scripture is inspired,” isn’t that sufficient theory? But what they are thinking is this: “It has not been indicated what is divine in Holy Scripture and what is human in it.” No one dares to make this distinction (in the statements of the apostolic fathers). They do not want to reach into the glowing coals, for they would be contradicted everywhere. Satan, the spirit of darkness, inspires them to this approach. We have for all questions in the Bible such splendid and extensive answers, that we do not need “theories.” They need not be amazed that the apostolic fathers do not put forth a “theory,” for they were writing to Christian congregations, who believed wholeheartedly that Scripture was inspired. In the first centuries many Christian congregations never had opportunity to see a letter from the apostles. Accordingly we find that the apostolic fathers testified (1) that God spoke in Scripture and (2) that the writings of the apostles were equated with the writings of the prophets.

Barnabas says in his “Catholic Epistle,” Chap.5: “Therefore He suffered, for God says: ‘The afflictions of His flesh were for your sakes.’” Here he is citing Is.53:8. Barnabas must therefore have presupposed that all his readers took for granted that God said this and not Isaiah. In Chapter 8 he says: “The Lord says by the prophets: At the hearing of the ear they have obeyed Me.” He is quoting Is.18:4. Barnabas was, as is well known, a companion of the apostle Paul and died in the first century; the exact year is not known. Probably it was 70 A.D., shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem. He suffered the death of a martyr, incited by the Jews on Cyprus. He was a Levite.

Clement of Rome was bishop of Rome. The year of his death is unknown, probably in the first quarter of the second century. He was a disciple of Peter. His first epistle to the Corinthians 45:2 says: “You have diligently examined the Scriptures, which are true, inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is not hidden from you, you know it well, that nothing wrong or misleading is written in them.” This is a ringing witness against the modern theologians. His 1 Corinthians 53 says: “You know the Holy Scriptures, dear friends, and you know them well, and have studied the divine oracles” (logia tou theou).