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Historical Introductions to the Symbolical
by Friedrich Bente

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Historical Introductions to the Symbolical

Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, by Friedrich Bente This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church

Author: Friedrich Bente

Release Date: October 13, 2008 [EBook #26909]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOOKS OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH ***

Produced by Kurt A. T. Bodling, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Class of 1980

Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church by F. Bente

I. The Book of Concord, or The Concordia.

1. General and Particular Symbols.

Book of Concord, or Concordia, is the title of the Lutheran corpus doctrinae, i.e., of the symbols recognized and published under that name by the Lutheran Church. The word symbol, sumbolon, is derived from the verb sumballein, to compare two things for the purpose of perceiving their relation and association. Sumbolon thus developed the meaning of tessara, or sign, token, badge, banner, watchword, parole, countersign, confession, creed. A Christian symbol, therefore, is a mark by which Christians are known. And since Christianity is essentiall

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