Trembling at God’s Word

By Dr. Franz Pieper

We read in the last chapter of the prophet Isaiah: “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My Word.” These words, which the prophet speaks in God’s name and by His command, describe true Godliness in contrast to the outward temple service of the apostate Jewish people. True Godliness in consists in humble recognition of sin and in Holy fear before God’s majestic Word. This is how it should be with each Christian, but especially with each theologian. Luther was right when he said that all true theology can be described as trembling before God’s Word. At the time of the reformation of the Church, God, by Luther’s work once again established the trembling before God’s Word instead of before the authority of the pope, as was prophesied in Revelation 14:7. The counter reformation of the papal church consisted in fortifying the pseudo-authority of the pope. The Council of Trent is proof of this. The Reformed counter-reformation consisted and consists in this – that in its deviation from the Lutheran church it presents a building built according to the laws of human reason. The modern Lutheran counter-reformation consisted and consists in this – by the denial of the inspiration of Holy Scripture, on principle, drives out trembling at God’s Word and makes God’s Word and object of criticism.

Students at Concordia, at our St. Louis Concordia you will be instructed in the theology which consists in a humble spirit and in trembling at God’s Word. At the beginning of this new year of studies, I will briefly answer the question:

What is included in trembling at God’s Word?

I

First, is the knowledge that the Holy Scripture is God’s own and infallible Word. And this is not a “theological deduction” but a direct doctrine of Holy Scripture. When the Savior says “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35), He accepts the guarantee that the Scripture is God’s Word in each of its words because the context of Jesus’ statement concerns the use of one word of Scripture, the word, “gods” in Psalm 82. Furthermore, the Savior says in His high priestly prayer, John, 17, about His apostles, “I have given them Your word,” and right away after that He adds that all believers until the last day will believe in Him “Through their word.” Furthermore: As is known, Holy Scripture is not made up of thoughts floating in the air but of words, of written words. And of these written words, Christ’s apostle, St. Paul, Testifies: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16). In short, it is not just a human or theological conclusion but a direct declaration of Scripture: The Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testament is God’s own Word and therefore infallible. All who regard it otherwise, all who with modern Lutheran theology do not want to “identify” the Holy Scripture with God’s Word, do not tremble at God’s Word, but want to become critics of God’s Word. May God keep us and our brothers and sisters in the faith and confession from the blasphemous error which overthrows the foundation of faith.

II

Trembling at God’s Word includes, secondly, the knowledge of what God’s Word teaches. Without this knowledge the zeal for God’s Word would be zeal with folly. Therefore, St. Paul exhorts His faithful son Timothy not just to take heed to himself but also to the doctrine: “For in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” And, in fact, the necessary knowledge refers to the entire doctrine of Scripture, the doctrine in all its articles. Christ’s commission to teach until the end of the world is quite unmistakable: “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Therefore, the apostle Paul also says when he gives himself as an example to the pastors of Ephesus: “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

Students of Concordia! To acquire the entire Christian doctrine in all articles, demands diligence, great diligence, on the part of the students of theology. Lack of diligence in this area would not be trembling at God’s Word but would reveal the opposite, disdain. Trembling at God’s Word also includes what the apostle Paul reminds his dear Timothy: “Take heed to yourself,” that is, to your Christian walk and life in sincere fear of God. Otherwise the Holy Spirit, who dwells in you, is grieved and God’s Word is blasphemed among the unbelievers.

III

Third, trembling at God’s Word includes that we in God’s Church recognize that nothing is authoritative for doctrine except God’s Word. In our time the fever of church union rages, the spirit which fosters the idea that the various directions in the church are equally valid, the spirit which wants union without unity in the doctrine of God’s Word. That is not trembling at God’s Word. God’s Word demands that it alone rules in the Church of God. That is why God gave His Word to His Church. The Church should only speak what comes from the mouth of God. God’s Word should be the only source and norm of Church doctrine. The Savior exhorts, “If you abide in My Word, you are my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth” (John 8:31) Therefore the apostle Peter also exhorts: “If you speak” – namely in the Church of God – “Say what God says”

(I Peter 4:11). And when spirits, which did not want to remain with the doctrine of the apostle, stirred in the congregation at Ephesus, the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that he should order these spirits to teach nothing different. Holding to another teaching and holding to another opinion have no right to exist in the Christian Church. Whoever allows the word of man to be placed next to the Word of God, whoever wants to extend the hand of fellowship, as brothers in the faith, with those who deviate from God’s Word, has reason to examine himself to see if he earnestly regards God’s Word as God’s Word.

We so-called Missourians and confessional brothers have, until now, by God’s grace, kept the right path in regard to church union. Of course we have earnestly entered into “free-conferences” – that is doctrinal discussions to establish doctrinal unity where it does not yet exist. But we only have fellowship as brothers in the faith with those who confess the pure doctrine of Christ as the apostle John demands in his second epistle and which is demanded in the whole Scripture of Old and New Testament.

We are praised for this one part, the smaller one, but greatly blamed by the other, larger part. We must count on the possibility that we will become more isolated than ever before. How will it go for us? We know exactly. We read from the prophet Jeremiah” “they will fight against you,’ says the Lord, ‘To deliver you.’”(1:19). We are victorious when we, by God’s grace, continue to tremble at God’s Word. Those trying to isolate us gain the victory, can penetrate in the front, flanks and center, if we, by our own fault stop trembling at God’s Word. May God in grace grant that we continue to tremble at His Word! Amen.

(This was the opening address for the new school term 1930-31 given by Dr. Franz Pieper.)