John William Baier's
_Compendium of Positive Theology_
Edited by C. F. W. Walther
Published by:
St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1877
[Translator's Preface. These are the major loci or topics of
John William Baier's _Compendium of Positive Theology_ as ed-
ited by Dr. C. F. W. Walther. These should be seen as the
broad outline of Baier-Walther's dogmatics, but please don't
assume that this is all. Each locus usually includes copious
explanatory notes and citations from patristics and other
Lutheran dogmaticians.]
Chapter Ten
On the last judgment and the end of the world.
1. Since the universal resurrection of the dead has this goal, that
humans carry off either rewards or punishments, now further it is
to be discussed about that judgment, by which rewards and
punishments happen to humans.
2. That the future judgement is a certain solemn event is most
clear from Scripture. Also it is certain, that on one and the same
day at the same time both the last judgment and the resurrection of
the dead will take place. However when that day will come, God
clearly does not wish us to know beforehand.
3. Meanwhile there are many signs by which God shows the coming
judgment in a certain way of knowing, which signs are for the most
part divided into common signs, or such signs that are of such
quality that they do not apply to one age, but they often reoccur,
or they are continued throughout different ages, e.g., heresies,
wars and similar public calamities, the security of humans; and
special signs, which signs are proper exclusively for the quickly
following judgment, though they are not equally perceived within
earlier ages, e.g., the revealing of the anti-Christ, the singular
eclipses of stars and their falling to the earth, and other things
as they happen.
4. At the time of that special judgment itself a sign is seen, a
sign called the Son of Man. However of what sort of person he will
be is difficult to set forth.
5. The judge will be Christ himself, who in the assumed humanity,
appearing gloriously and seated at the tribunal, conspicuously seen
by all, with divine authority he will pass sentence.
6. The impulsive internal cause is the justice of God, partly
rewarding, partly punishing.
7. The impulsive external cause is partly the merits of Christ
apprehended by faith, partly sin, and especially their final
impenitence, by which they ought to be judged.
8. However Christ will have partly assistants, partly servants of
justice, holy humans and good angels.
9. And indeed the burden of the angels will be, not only to follow
Christ to the coming judgment and by a vast loud sound to manifest
his coming, but truly also to gather from all parts of the whole
world humans, first those brought back to life from the dead, then
those living being surprised, and then to separate the pious from
the impious, the former to the right, the latter gathered to the
left, and then to thrust the damned down to hell.
10. Truly sanctified humans will be witnesses and approvers of the
judgment of Christ.
11. The object of the last judgment is double; the material object,
which are the persons being judged, and the formal object, or that,
according to which any persons comes to be judged.
12. All humans pertain to the material object, both pious and
impious; both those whom that day finds living, and dead, those
being raised before the judgment; however besides humans also evil
angels are the objects of judgment.
13. The formal object on the part of the pious is faith, on the
part of the impious unbelief, in so far as indeed both are known
from works.
14. This judgment of Christ is usually distinguished in a judgement
of examination and retribution.
15. The judgment of examination is said to be that by which all
works, both hidden and manifest, are drawn forth into the light;
especially they see those works which apply to themselves and their
salvation or damnation and understand them thoroughly.
16. The judgment of retribution consists in the pronouncing of the
sentence, which is agreeable to the cause, and through which some
will be sent away into life, others into eternal damnation; from
where at once the execution of the broad sentence takes place.
17. The goal of the final judgment is the glory of the wisdom,
power, goodness and punishing justice of God.
18. The final judgement is able to be described as a solemn act of
Christ appearing in the assumed human nature, by which he, by
divine authority and power and according to divine justice, both
rewarding and punishing justice, collects all humans and evil
angels, by the mediating work of the good angles, to the tribunal
and, having seen every examined and habitual cause by reason of
final faith and of sins, especially finally unbelief, visible from
their own works, he will assign and transfer the fullness of
blessedness to the pious and faithful, but perfect misery to
unbelieving and impious men and demons, with the approving of
sanctified men, to the glory of wisdom, power, goodness, and his
justice.
19. The judgment being completed, at once the consummation of the
world follows, by which heaven and earth, and likewise other
elements and bodies composed from elements, as far as their
substance, by the medium of fire, will perish.
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This text was translated by Rev. Theodore Mayes and is copyrighted
material, (c)1996, but is free for non-commercial use or distribu-
tion, and especially for use on Project Wittenberg. Please direct
any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.
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