Today’s selection (2d) is a nice passage for two reasons. First, it’s a good passage for language learning. The syntax is not terribly complicated: there are several parallel clauses, and the repetition reinforces the learning. In addition, the vocabulary is fairly basic and includes several important theological terms. Just add die Hoffnung, (hope) to your list and you have faith, hope, and love, as well as wrath and vengeance. So, it is an excellent foundation for beginners in theological German. It is probably worth memorizing for this reason alone.
Second, the theological reflections are interesting and important.
When Martin Luther spoke of Law and Gospel, he did not intend to dismiss the Old Testament Scriptures. In fact, he believed the preaching of the law was necessary to drive us to the grace of God. Still, it was easy for the belief that “the law condemns and the Gospel saves” to lead to a neglect of the Old Testament.
Wellhausen’s reconstruction of the history of Israelite religion reached the conclusion that the once-vital faith of the prophets had deteriorated into a sterile legalism by the end of the Old Testament period. Friedrich Delitzsch, son of the great Old Testament expositor Franz Delitzsch, called for a rejection of the Old Testament for use in the Church. (His famous “Babel und Bibel” is available online–click on the title.)
Bonhoeffer’s teacher Harnack had a lifelong fascination with Marcion, the second-century anti-Jewish heretic who rejected the Old Testament. Harnack wrote his dissertation at the age of 19 on Marcion; and his last book in 1921 was on Marcion. In this he followed Marcion and the younger Delitzsch in calling for the church to dispose of the Old Testament. (For more on Harnack and Marcion, click here.) The negative view of Judaism and the Old Testament, though it may not have caused the rise of the Nazis, certainly did nothing to resist it.
Bonhoeffer’s turning toward the Old Testament as a source of Christian theology, then, is important in his historical setting.
It’s interesting how Friedrich Delitzsch rejected the Old Testament. Granted, he was a young thinker and I myself have thought about the OT as outdated. But it is the foundation for theology and religion and should be looked upon for guidance. Bonhoeffer played an important role in the resistance of Germans against the Nazi party and he looked to the OT for guidance. The OT has played a part in many of history’s events. It is tough to understand but in depth studies can reveal some new and interesting information.
In my Sunday school class we are discussing how the Torah/Pentateuch is the bedrock of our current Christian faith. Upon first glance the Old Testament seems, as Josh said, outdated. But further inspection reveals how all Jesus said and did fulfilled prophecy and fit within Jewish law. The Old Testament is restated so many times in the New and we see the larger picture of God interacting with his creation. There is a great faith tradition within these pages and we need to look at it more closely.
Needless to say, I can relate rather well with Friedrich Delitzsch on a small note. Just the fact that I have taken strong interest in the New Testament teachings rather than the Old Testament. I do not completely reject it though because I strongly believe it is the source for me to know the religion I have become a part of. I do think it’s interesting how Friedrich would reject the Old Testament. I agree with how Bonhoeffer uses the Old Testament to still show the importance of understanding it. It is a guide for him and should be for me as well. The history of the Old Testament can say a lot about where and why I am where I am.
I found it very interesting that Martin Luther thought that the neglect of the OT was attributed to the “law condemns and the Gospel saves.” Its more often than not when we think about the Gospel we do not think about how that could make us neglect the OT. To me the OT and the NT are both important. I do not think that we should neglect it due to the fact that the law condemns and the Gospel saves. We should embrace both Testaments and see the whole message of the Gospel.