Semantic Fields in Hebrew, Greek, German, and English: The Word of God

Martin Luther’s concept of God was drawn from the entirety of Scripture. It is impossible, therefore, to isolate one passage as “the” central and decisive key to interpreting Luther, or to interpreting Luther’s understanding Scripture.

It is, however, clear that at least a few key texts are essential to understanding Luther (e.g., Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38, all of which refer to Habakkuk 2:4; or Ephesians 2:8-9). But it is also clear that no one text in Scripture will capture God’s totality or will encapsulate His entire plan of salvation.

One of the many texts which is key to understanding Luther is Hebrews 4:12 — “The Word of God is living and active.”

Luther’s linguistic insight is that the Hebrew word dabar and the Greek word logos have semantic fields which extend far beyond the German Wort or the English word. The word ‘word’ is a complicated word!

The Hebrew word dabar can mean, simply, ‘word’ — a linguistic unit. But its semantic field is far greater than this. It can mean: situation, event, activity, circumstance, or a group or cluster of related things. It is rendered into English in a wide variety of ways, again going beyond the simple word ‘word.’

It is therefore appropriate that Luther’s writings about The Word are confusing, as Frank Seilhamer notes:

Luther means so many different things when he uses the term “Word of God” that at times he may seem confused, as well as confusing. Depending on the context in which he is writing, “Word of God” may refer to anything from the Bible, to the whole of divine revelation, and the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, to the apostolic Kerygma, the preached Gospel, the Sacraments, or the advice given by a brother monk. Basically, however, in its deepest sense the “Word of God” is the creative, redemptive activity of God, who is constantly at work revealing himself to man, calling him to repentance and faith. As was true for the ancient Semites, for Luther the “Word” is nothing other than God himself at work with the two-fold purpose of redemption and revelation. The “Word” found, and continually finds, expression in the historic sense in concrete acts of God in the created world, and in concrete events in human history.

Likewise, the Greek word logos means ‘word’ and beyond that can refer to discourse or conversation as a rational process. Logos can also refer to a organizing principle.

As a scholar who was intimately acquainted with both Greek and Hebrew, Luther understood that word in the Scriptures refers often to something deeper and more significant than a linguistic unit, as Frank Seilhamer explains:

The “Word,” as Luther comprehends it, is the dynamic activity of the living God. The “Word” is God actively engaged in “speaking” to his creation. “The ‘Word of God’ is the speech of God,” writes Jaroslav Pelikan, “ and ‘the God who speaks’ would be an appropriate way to summarize Luther’s picture of God.” As Luther so vigorously points out, the God of all creation is not a God of isolation, who exists far off, but is a God who is near. He is a God who by nature wants to “speak,” is able to “speak,” and who is never “speechless.” And when he “speaks” it is not just sounds that he utters. In a “good” Hebraic framework, Luther held that in his “speaking” God himself is present in his “Word.” The “Word” of God is as eternal as God himself. “This voice and eternal speech of God (is) the cosmic sense of the term the ‘Word of God.’”

The implications for the reader are that, when reading Scripture, words like ‘thing, matter, activity’ and many others should be examined to see if they are English renderings of dabar. The phrase ‘The Word of the Lord’ turns out to be a phrase of expansive depth and breadth, and God’s ‘word’ is present, “living and active” in many passages of Scripture which do not contain the English word word.

When the Scriptures speak of the ‘word’ of God, they speak not only of His linguistic activity, but His presence and interaction in all of creation. This observation is not the conclusion of a thought, but rather merely the beginning of the task of reading the totality of Scripture with an eye to the underlying dabar or logos.

Spener’s Theology of Baptism: Anxiety Transforms Grace into Legalism

Philipp Jakob Spener’s 1675/1676 publication Pia Desideria has become a classic text within the pietistic movement, and thereby attracted both praise and disapproval from critics.

Worth noting is Spener’s attitude toward baptism. Spener presents himself as solidly within Lutheranism. Although he affirms a more-or-less standard version of the Lutheran understanding of baptism, he seems almost reluctant to embrace the joyful assurance which Lutheranism finds within baptism.

He subscribes to Luther’s foundational teaching about baptism:

So weiß ich auch die Taufe und deren Kraft nicht hoch genug zu preisen, und glaube, daß sie das eigentliche Bad der Wiedergeburt und Erneuerung des heiligen Geistes sei, Tit. 3,5, oder wie unser Luther im Katechismus sagt: „daß sie wirke Vergebung der Sünden, erlöse von Tod und Teufel, und gebe (nicht nur verspreche) die ewige Seligkeit.“

Yet Spener quickly turns to examine the abuses of baptism. He sees baptism as a standard part of the “lifeless Christianity” trope: the usual presentation of a person who considers herself or himself to be a Christian, and to be assured of eternal salvation, because she or he has performed, or participated in, some list of the church’s rites and ceremonies.

Spener seems focused on contemplating the possible problems caused by those who would see baptism as an easy way to get “cheap grace,” rather than celebrating the benefits of baptism. To be sure, there is a real risk: some people do actually think that their spiritual life is complete based upon the fact of their baptism and perhaps a few other tokens of faith. But Spener dwells almost exclusively on that risk, and doesn’t see that baptism is also the key to the very reformation and renewal that he desires for the church.

Denn wir können nicht leugnen, sondern werden durch die tägliche Erfahrung davon überzeugt, daß nicht Wenige meinen, ihr ganzes Christenthum bestehe darinnen, und alsdann hätten sie dem Gottesdienst übrig genug getan, wenn sie eben getauft wären, das Wort Gottes in der Kirche hörten, beichteten, die Absolution empfingen und zu dem heiligen Abendmahl gingen, mag nun das Herz dabei sein oder nicht, mögen Früchte folgen oder nicht; wenn’s hoch kommt, bemühen sie sich etwa dabei ein solches Leben zu führen, darin eben die Obrigkeit nichts Strafbares findet.

Spener’s desire for a deeper, more passionate and heartfelt faith is certainly sincere and admirable. But his demand to do more is perhaps misguided. Rather than saying that it’s not enough to be baptized, hear God’s Word, confess one’s sins, receive the absolution, and partake of the Lord’s Supper, he might perhaps encourage the reader to contemplate the blessings already received in these things.

It is perhaps a common mistake, throughout the history of the church, to see imperatives as a route to a more living and active faith. Correctly seeing that unengaged worshipers could have a more vibrant spiritual life, Spener and others like him incorrectly imagine that the path to that better life lies in challenges and tasks.

While well-intentioned, externally imposed requirements are merely another form of legalism. Flourishing spiritual life is not fostered by moralizing lectures. It is fostered by receiving grace: through the Word and Sacrament, of course, but also through living in and among followers of Jesus. The vigorous faith which Spener wishes for people is encouraged by example, by seeing the fruit of the Spirit in others.

Spener’s frustration and disappointment are understandable, as is his inclination to prescribe activities designed to fuel a more active spiritual life. But such activities are effective, not when they’re prescribed, but when they’re sought.

He cites a passage from Johann Arndt’s 1605/1610 book, Vier Bücher vom wahren Christentum:

Oder wie der theure Johann Arndt solcher Leute Einbildung beschreibt in seinem Wahren Christenthum Buch 2, Kap. 4: „Ich bin ein Christ, getauft, habe Gottes Wort rein, höre dasselbe, brauche das heilige Sakrament des Abendmahls, ich glaube und bekenne auch alle Artikel des christlichen Glaubens; darum kann es mir nicht mangeln, mein Thun muß Gott gefallen, und ich muß selig werden. So schließt jetzt alle Welt, und hält auch dafür, darinnen bestehe die Gerechtigkeit.“ Man seh am angegebenen Orte auch die Antwort.

The best gratitude is unsolicited gratitude. The best apology is an unsought apology. Likewise, the best act of “living out one’s baptism” — as the common phrase expresses it — is not a response to admonition, but rather emerges from gratitude.

Certain New Testament passages which use words like “admonish, warn, reprimand” are not presenting a general rule for motivating disciples, but rather are directed toward curbing behavior.

Aber damit kehren solche blinde Leute Gottes heilige Absicht ganz um; denn Gott hat dir freilich die Taufe gegeben, daß du nur einmal getauft werden darfst; aber er hat mit dir darin einen Bund gemacht, welcher auf seiner Seite ein Gnadenbund, von der deinigen aber ein Bund des Glaubens und guten Gewissens ist; dieser Bund muß nun dein Leben lang währen. Du tröstest dich also vergeblich deiner Taufe, und der darin zugesagten Gnade der Seligkeit, wenn du auf deiner Seite nicht auch in dem Bunde des Glaubens und guten Gewissens bleibest, oder, wenn du ihn verletzt, wiederum durch herzliche Buße ihn wieder aufrichtest. Also muß deine Taufe, soll sie dir nützen, in steter Übung des ganzen Lebens bleiben.

So it is, then, that Spener loses sight of the blessings which baptism bestows. He is focused on extracting a life of discipleship rather than showing the grace which will cause discipleship to arise uncoerced.

He is so worried that people might become lax in their faith and seek cheap grace, that he sees baptism only as a temptation to laziness and an enticement to spiritual sloth. Thus it is that baptism gradually becomes devalued to the reader of Spener’s book.

Daher soll man auch fleißig nachweisen, wie die göttlichen Mittel des Wortes und der Sakramente es mit solchem innerlichen Menschen zu thun haben; es sei also nicht genug, daß wir das Wort mit dem äußerlichen Ohr hören, sondern wir müssen es auch in das Herz dringen lassen, daß wir daselbst den heiligen Geist reden hören, d.i. seine Versiegelung und Kraft des Wortes mit lebendiger Bewegung und Trost fühlen; es sei nicht genug, daß wir getauft sind, sondern unser innerlicher Mensch, welcher Christum in der Taufe angezogen, müsse auch mit ihm bekleidet bleiben, und das durch sein äußerliches Leben beweisen; es sey nicht genug, äußerlich das heilige Abendmahl empfangen zu haben, sondern unser inwendiger Mensch müsse auch durch solche selige Speise wahrhaftig genährt werden; es sei nicht genug, äußerlich mit dem Munde zu beten, sondern das rechte und wahre Gebet geschehe in unserem Herzen, und breche entweder dann erst in Worte aus, oder bleibe wohl auch gar in der Seele, wo es doch Gott finde und antreffe; es sei nicht genug, daß wir in dem äußerlichen Tempel Gott dienen, sondern unser innerlicher Mensch müsse vor allem Andern in seinem eigenen Tempel (im Herzen) Gott verehren, man sei äußerlich in der Kirche oder nicht, und was dergleichen mehr ist.

Spener is like a man who has a valuable jewel, and yet can see this possession only as a cause to worry about its being stolen. He is like a man who is on a vacation to a beautiful tropical island, and does nothing but worry about the possibility of his stay on the island being disrupted by a hurricane.

Scholars are well aware of Spener’s occasional theological errors, most of which result from the influence of Calvinism. In the case of baptism, however, Spener’s error is less theological and more psychological. He gets the theology mostly correct — citing Luther — but he fails to live in the affect of that theology. The affect of baptism is one of peace, gratitude, and joy. Luther found comfort and shelter in the statement: “I am baptized” — ich bin getauft or baptizatus sum. Spener finds only anxiety and uneasiness in the concept of baptism.

The effect of Spener’s lack of affect is to drive Spener into the arms of legalism: if baptism is perceived exclusively as something which is likely to be misused, then the solution is to create a list of imperatives designed to create the proper spiritual life and thereby to avoid the threatening misuse. But this solution will not work, and will not achieve the desired result. Baptism is one of the means of grace, but Spener’s fretting about it yields the very opposite of grace.

Nothing New, But Everything of Great Value: Philipp Jakob Spener’s Pia Desideria

In 1675-1676, a publisher named Zunner and a printer named Fritgen teamed up in Frankfurt to publish what would become Philipp Jacob Spener’s most famous work: a book titled Pia Desideria. Spener’s book would become a key text in a movement called ‘pietism’ and have an impact in many parts of the world over many years.

In 1674, the Dutch theologian Jodocus van Lodenstein coined the phrase semper reformanda. Certainly, both Spener and Luther would have found plenty of points on which they disagreed with van Lodenstein, but they would have embraced at least some interpretation of the idea that the church is ever in need of reform.

The church requires a continuous critical eye, not from the outside, but rather from the inside, to ensure that it is staying true to its mission, to God’s immutable teachings, and to Jesus. Periodic course corrections are required to keep the church on track.

Spener saw himself in this way, as working in the patterns of Josiah and Luther. Spener argued that he presented nothing new, but rather was seeking to reform the church by bringing it back to its original way of being. The publication of Pia Desideria was Spener’s manifesto: he was making the case that the church needed to be reformed, and giving specific steps for that reform.

Freely admitting that he presents nothing new, Spener offers six points for action:

First, that God’s Word is to be plentiful among us.

Second, to establish and diligently carry out the priesthood of all believers.

Third, the Christianity consists not only of knowing, but also of actions.

Fourth, proper behavior during religious disagreements.

Fifth, the training of preachers at universities.

Sixth, the organizing of sermons for edification of the people.

A quick glance at these six points informs the reader that, with a little adjustment in the wording, they could be found a century or two early among Luther and his colleagues, or a century or two later among theologians ranging from C.F.W. Walther to Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Spener begins his presentation of the first point this way:

Daß man dahin bedacht wäre, das Wort Gottes reichlicher unter uns zu bringen: Wir wissen, daß wir von Natur nichts gutes an uns haben, sondern soll etwas an uns seyn, so muß es von Gott in uns gewürcket werden, und darzu ist das Wort das kräftige Mittel, indem der Glaube aus dem Evangelio entzündet werden muß, das Gesetz aber die Regel gibt der guten Wercke und viel herzlichen Antrieb denselben nachzujagen. Je reichlicher also das Wort unter uns wohnen wird, je mehr werden wir Glaubens und dessen Früchte zuwegen bringen.

If the church has a ministry of “word and sacrament,” Spener seems perhaps to tilt the balance in favor of the word. To be sure, he honors a basic Lutheran understanding of the sacraments, but the amount of text devoted to the word far outweighs the few mentions of the sacraments in the Pia Desideria.

In Spener’s era, it was not unusual for churches, especially in larger cities, to have daily services — sometimes even more than once a day. Given that most preachers constructed their sermon on or around a text, or even as a running exposition of a text, the reader might think that God’s Word was plentiful enough already.

But Spener goes on to note that even a daily sermon — or even a twice daily sermon — does not meet our spiritual needs, because the passive intake of the Word in a sermon is only one of several ways in which we can immerse ourselves in God’s Word. For spiritual health, it is necessary for people to actively and interactively explore God’s Word:

Nun sollte es zwar scheinen, daß das Wort Gottes reichlich genug unter uns wohnte, indem an unserschilichen Orten (und zwar auch in hiesiger Stadt) täglich, anderswo gleichwohl zum öfteren, von der Kanzel gepredigt wird, wo wir aber der Sache reiflich nachdenken, werden wir auch in diesem Stück vieles finden, das noch weiter nötig sei. Ich verwerfe die haltende Predigten durchaus nicht, da aus einem gewissen vorgelegten Text und dessen Erklärung die christliche Gemeinde unterrichtet werde, als der ich selbst dergleichen vortrage und verrichte. Aber ich finde nicht, daß dieses genug sei.

He goes on to recommend, in addition to sermons, other opportunities to read and discuss Scripture. Again, his recommendations will offer no novelties to those well-versed in church history.

Spener’s goal is to convince his reader that he is offering nothing new, but rather recalling the church to something of great value.