Date of Award

6-1-1953

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Divinity (B.Div)

Department

Systematic Theology

First Advisor

Lewis Spitz

Scripture References in this Resource (separated by semi-colons)

Romans 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Acts 17:22-25, 29; Romans 1:19-20; Acts 14:15-17; Romans 2:15; Acts 17:28; Amos 9:2; Acts 4:12; Luke 11:28; Psalm 115:3; Psalm 139:7;

Abstract

It is the purpose of this paper to consider the relation or the unio mystica to the body of Christian doctrine. We will note first of all how so many well-meaning people have practiced all sorts of mystical exercises which they believed would obtain and strengthen their union with God. Many have believed and taught this doctrine as the basis of man's justification, saying that "faith justifies … as the germ of renewal, or as the means or ingrafting into the new humanity. Others seem to overlook this doctrine altogether, in spite of the fact that the unio mystica has more Scriptural proofs than many doctrines that are discussed at greater length in dogmatical literature and seem, therefore, to be given a more prominent position in the corpus doctrinae. Perhaps we hesitate to discuss this doctrine because the unio mystica is, in the words or Ephesians 5:32 "a great mystery." We realize that we cannot satisfactorily explain the union between God and the believer nor the manner or it. The very title of the doctrine indicates this by the use of the word "mystica", which means "relating to mysteries"; or "secret". The unio rnystica is an invisible and intangible union, one that is imperceptible to the senses. But all of this should not deter us from making a thorough study of this doctrine so that it may assume its rightful position both in the dogmatical formulations of our Lutheran theologians and in the Christian lives of our people.

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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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