Ein Kleines Theologisches Wörterbuch

Abstract

“The following list of words is by no means a complete listing of a “Church German” vocabulary–, it is merely an attempt to list those words which will most commonly be found in any reading of theological German. More important than the listing itself is the accompanying discussion of concepts in German Lutheran church usage which do not have an exact equivalent in English, even though there may be only one word which will serve as a translation of the German; the student must remember that Luther gave German words a distinctly “Lutheran flavor,” no less, the Reformed and the Calvinists have given the English equivalents distinctly “non–Lutheran flavors.” It is of the utmost importance that the Lutheran pastor understand the difference and that he clearly communicate pure Lutheran doctrine, even though he is using words which in English often do not convey what they convey in German; in sum, he needs to be dear in his own mind about the meaning that key terms should have and the meaning that they often do have in the minds of his hearers, and then strive through the patient and careful teaching of the Scriptures to correct the misunderstandings common among those raised in the English language.”