Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - 5 Church and Ministry Translations - church

Church and Ministry
Dr. C. F. W. Walther
Five Translations

1897 Graebner Translation2

The church in the proper sense of the word is the communion of saints, i.e., the community of all those who, having been through the Gospel called from out of the lost and condemned human race by the Holy Ghost, truly believe in Christ and are by such faith sanctified and embodied in Christ.

No one who is godless, a hypocrite, irregenerate, or a heretic, is a member of the church in the proper sense of the word.

1938 Dau Translation3

The church, in the proper sense of the term, is the communion of saints, that is, the sum total of all those who have been called by the Holy Gospel from out of the lost and condemned human race, who truiy believe in Christ, and who have been sanctified by this Faith and incorporated into Christ.

To this Church in the proper sense of the term belongs no godless person, no hypocnte, no one who has not been regenerated, no heretic.

1962 Mueller Translation4

The church in the proper sense of the term is the congregation [Gemeinde] of saints, that is, the aggregate of all those who, called out of the lost and condemned human race by the Holy Spirit through the Word, truly believe in Christ and by faith are sanctified and incorporated in Christ.

To the church in the proper sense of the term belongs no wicked person, no hypocrite, no unregenerate, no heretic.

1972Tappert Translations 5

The church, in the proper sense of the word, is the communion of saints, that is, the sum total of all those who through the gospel have been called by the Holy Spirit out of the lost and condemned human race, who tnuly believe in Christ, and who have been sanctified by this faith and incorpo rated into Christ.

To the church, in the proper sense of the word, belongs no godless person, no hypocrite, no unregenerate person, no heretic.

1981 Drickamer Translation6

The church in the proper sense of the term is the congregation (Gemeinde) of saints, that is, the totality of all those who have been called by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel out of the lost and condemned human race, truly believe in Christ and are sanctified and incorporated into Christ through thisfaith.

No godless person, no hypocrite, no unregenerate person, and no heretic belongs to the church in the proper sense of the term.

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The church in the proper sense of the word is invisible.

This true church of believers and saints it is to which Christ has given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and which is, therefore, the real and only possessor and bearer of the spiritual, divine and heavenly blessings, rights, powers, offices, etc., which Christ has procured and which are to be found in His church.

The Church, in the proper sense of the term, is invisible.

This true Church of believers and saints it is to which Christ has given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Therefore this church is the real and sole holder and bearer of the spiritual, divine, and heavenly blessings, rights, powers, offices, etc., which Christ has gained and which are available in His Church.

The church in the proper sense of the word is invisible.

It is to this true church of believers and saints that Christ gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and it is the proper and only possessor and bearer of the spiritual, divine, and heavenly gifts, rights, powers, offices, and the like that Christ has procured and are found in His church.

The church, in the proper sense of the word, is invisible.

It is to this true church of believers and saints that Christ has given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. This church is consequently the real and only possessor and bearer of the spiritual, divine, and heavenly blessings, rights, powers, functions, etc.,that Christ has secured and that are available in his church.

The church in the proper sense of the word is invisible.

It is this true church of believers and saints to which Christ gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And it is therefore the proper and only possessor and bearer of the spiritual, divine, and heavenly goods, rights, powers, offices, etc., which Christ has procured and which are found in His church.

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Although the true church in the proper sense of the word is, as to its essence, invisible, yet its presence is perceivable, its marks being the pure preaching of the word of God and the administration of the holy sacraments according to Christ's institution.

In an improper sense, the visible community of all that have been called, i.e., of all who attend the preaching of the word, professing adherence thereto, and partake of the sacraments, a community consisting of good and evil men, is also, in accordance with holy Scripture, called the (universal catholic) church and the several divisions thereof, i.e., the congregation here and there existing, in which the word of God is preached anc the sacraments are administered, are called (particular) churches, and that, because in these visible gatherings the invisible, true, properly so called, church of believers, saints, and children of God is concealed, and since without the aggregate of the called no elect must be sought.

Although the true Church, in the proper sense of the term, is invisible as to its essence, yet its presence is perceivable, its marks being the pure teaching of the Word of God and the administration of the holy Sacraments in accordance with their institution by Christ.

In an improper sense the term "Church," according to Holy Scripture, is applied also to the visible sum total of all who have been called, that is, to all who profess allegiance to the Word of God that is preached and make use of the holy Sacraments. This Church (the universal [catholic] Church) is made up of good and evil persons. Particular divisions of it, namely, the congregations found here and there, in which the Word of God is preached and the holy Sacraments are administered, are called churches (particular churches), for the reason, namely, that in these visible groups the invisible, true Church of the believers, saints, and children of God is concealed, and because no elect persons are to be look for outside of the group of those who have been called.

Though the true church in the proper sense of the term is essentially [according to its true nature] invisible, its existence can nevertheless be definitely recognized, namely, by the marks of the pure preaching of God's Word and the administration of the sacraments according to Christ's institution.

In an improper sense Scripture also calls the visible aggregate of all the called, that is, of all who confess and adhere to the proclaimed Word and use the holy Sacraments, which consists of good and evil [persons], "church" (the universal [cathoiic] church); so also it calls its several divisions, that is, the congregations that are found here and there, in which the Word of God is preached and the holy sacraments are administered, churches" (Particularkirchen [particular or individual churches]). This it does especially because in this visible assembly and invisible, true, and properly so-called church of believers, saints, and children of God is hidden; outside this assembly of the called no elect are to be looked for [anywhere].

Although the true church, in the proper sense of the word, is invisible as to its essence, yet its presence is (deflnitively) discernible, its marks being the pure preaching of the Word of God and the administration of the holy sacraments in accordance with their institution by Christ.

In an improper sense, the word "church" is also applied by the Holy Scriptures to the visible sum total of all who have been called, that is, all who profess and adhere to the word of God as it is preached and who make use of the holy sacraments. This church (the universal, Catholic church) consists of both good and evil persons. The several divisions of it--that is, the communities scattered here and there in which the Word of God is preached and the holy-sacraments are administered are called churches (particular churches) because in these visible groups the invisible, true, properly so-called church of believers, saints, and children of God is hidden and because no elect persons are to be looked for outside the number of those who have been cailed.

Although the true church in the proper sense of the term is essentially invisible, its presence can nevertheless be definitely recognized, and its marks are indeed the pure preaching of God's Word and administration of the sacraments according to Christ's' institution.

In an improper sense Holy scnpture calls "church" (the universal [catholic] church) also the visible totality of all the called, that is, of all who confess and adhere to the proclaimed Word and use the holy sacraments, which consists of good and evil persons; so aiso it calls "churches" (particular churches) its several divisions, That is, the congregations that are found here and there, in which the word of God is preached and the holy sacraments are administered, It does so because in these visible assemblies the invisible, true, and properly so calied church of believers, saints, and children of God lies hidden, and outside this assembly of the called no elect are to looked for.

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Even as the visible communities in which the essentials of the Word and Sacraments remain do, because of the invisible church of true believers in them contained, according to the Word of God bear the name of churches: so likewise they, because of the true invisible church contained in them, though there be but two or three, have and hold the power which Christ has given to the entire church.

Even as the visible communions in which the Word and the Sacraments still exist in their essence bear, according to God's Word, the name of CHURCHES because of the tnue invisible Church of the true believers contained in them, so likewise they, though there be but two or three, possess the POWER which Christ has given to His entire Church.

As visible congregations that still have the word and the sacraments essentially according to God's Word bear the name "church" because of the true invisible church of sincere believers that is found in them, so also they possess the power [authority] that Christ has given to His whole church, on account of the true invisible church hidden in them, even if there were only two or three [believers].

On account of the true, invisible church of tnue believers found in the, the name "church" is applied by the word of God to the visible communities in which the Word and the sacraments still exist in their essence. Even on account of the true, invisible church hidden in them, though it may be composed of only two or three, these communities have the power which Christ has given to his whole church.

As visible congregations which still essentially have the word and the sacraments bear the name "church" according to God's Word because of the true invisible church of true believers which is found in them, so also they possess the authority which Christ has given to His whole church, on account of the true invisible church which is hidden in them, even if there were only two or three [believers].

Although, wherever God's Word and Sacraments are not wholly denied, but essentially remain, though the Word of God be not there preached in all its purity, nor the Sacraments administered full conformity with Christ's ordinance, God still gathers unto Himself a holy church of his elect: yet every man is for his salvation's sake, bound to flee from all false teachers and to turn away from all heterodox churches or sects, and by word and deed to adhere to the orthodox church and its orthodox preachers, wherever he may find them.

While God gathers for Himself a holy Church of the elect in places where the Word of God is not preached in entire purity and the holy Sacraments are not administered altogether in accordance with their institution by Jesus Christ, provided the word of God and the Sacraments are not utterly denied but essentially remain in those places, still every one is obliged, for the sake of his salvation, to flee from all false teachers and to avoid all heterodox churches, or sects and, on the other hand, to profess al Christ's ordinanlegiance, and adhere, to orthodox congregations and their orthodox preachers wherever he finds such. A. Also in erring, heretical congregations there are children of God; also in them the true Church becomes manifest by means of the remnants of the pure Word of God and the Sacraments that still remain in them. B. Every one is obliged, for the sake of his salvation, to flee all.false prophets and to avoid fellowship with heterodox churches, or sects. C. Every Christian is obliged, for the sake of his salvation to profess allegiance, and adhere, to orthodox congregations and their orthodox preachers wherever he finds such.

Although God gathers for Himself a holy church of elect also where His Word is not taught in its perfect purity and the sacraments are not administered altogether according to the institution of Jesus Christ, if only God's Word and the sacraments are not denied entirely but both remain in their essential parts, nevertheless, every believer must, at the peril of losing his salvation, flee all false teachers, avoid all heterodox congregations or sects, and acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and their orthodox pastors wherever such may be found. A. Also in heterodox and heretical churches there are children of God, and also there the true church is made manifest by the pure Word and the sacraments that still remain. B. Every believer for the sake of his salvation must flee all false teachers and avoid heterodox congregations or sects. C. Every Christian for the sake of his salvation is duty bound to acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and orthodox pastors, wherever he can find such.

Although God gathers a holy church of the elect even where His Word is not preached in all its purity and the holy sacraments are not administered altogether according to their institution by Christ (provided God's Word and sacraments are not utterly denied but both are essentially preserved), yet everybody is obliged, as he values his salvation, to flee from all false teachers, to avoid all heterodox associations or sects, and to profess allegiance and adhere to orthodox congregations and their orthodox preachers wherever he finds such. (a) There are children of God even in erring, heterodox congregations, and the tnue church will be manifest in the remnants of the pure word and sacraments that are there. (b) Everybody is obliged, as he values his salvation, to flee ffom all false prophets and avoid fellowship with heterodox associations or sects. (c) Every Christian is obliged, as he values his salvation, to profess allegiance and adhere to orthodox congregations and their orthodox preachers wherever he finds such.

Although God gathers for Himself a holy church of elect persons also there where His Word is not taught in complete purity and the sacraments are not administered totally according to the institution of Jesus Christ, if God's Word and the sacraments are not denied entirely, but both essentially remain; nevertheless, everyone is obliged by his salvation to flee all false teachers, to avoid all heterodox congregations or sects, and to acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and their orthodox pastors, wherever he finds such. A. Also in heterodox and heretical churches there are children of God, and also there the true church is made manifest by the pure Word and sacraments which still remain there. B. Everyone is obligated by his saivation to flee all false teachers and avoid fellowship with heterodox congregations or sects. C.Every Christian is obligated by his salvation to acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and their orthodox pastors, wherever he finds such.

Fellowship with
the invisible church
only, to which alone all those precious promises pertaining to the
Church have been given, is unconditionally necessary in order to obtain salvation.

The only indispensable requisite for obtaining salvation is fellowship with the invisible Church, to which all those glorious promises that concem the Church were originally given.

To obtain salvation, only fellowship in the invisible church, to which alone all the glorious promises regarding the church were originally given, is absolutely necessary.

The only thing that is absolutely necessary for the attainment of salvation is communion with the invisible church, to which alone all the glorious promises pertaining to the church were originally given.

Absolutely necessary for the obtaining of salvation is only the feilowship in the invisible Cnurcn, to which alone originally and all the glorious premises regarding the church have been given.