Richard C. H. Lenski

Richard Charles Henry Lenski (September 14, 1864 – August 14, 1936) was a German-born American-naturalized Lutheran pastor, scholar, and author who published a series of Lutheran New Testament commentaries.

This article is about the Lutheran theologian. For the evolutionary biologist (his descendant), see Richard Lenski.
The Reverend

Richard C. H. Lenski
Born
Richard Charles Henry Lenski

(1864-09-14)September 14, 1864
Greifenberg, Brandenburg-Prussia
DiedAugust 14, 1936(1936-08-14) (aged 71)
EducationCapital University
ChildrenLois Lenski
ChurchEvangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio
Ordained1887
WritingsNew Testament commentaries
Congregations served
Baltimore, Maryland; Trenton, Springfield, and Anna, Ohio
Offices held
President of Western district of Joint Synod of Ohio; theology professor at Capital University

Life

Lenski was born on September 14, 1864, in Greifenberg, Brandenburg-Prussia (now Gryfice,[1] Poland). In 1872 he emigrated to the United States. He was educated at Capital University and its Theological Department, which were institutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio. He was ordained as a pastor in that synod in 1887, and served congregations in Baltimore, Maryland, and in Trenton, Springfield, and Anna, Ohio.[2][3]

He was editor of Die Lutherische Kirchenzeitung for twenty years, beginning in 1904.[4] In 1911, he became a professor of theology at Capital University and its theological department. He also served the Joint Synod of Ohio as president of its Western District for a number of years.[2]

Lenski died on August 14, 1936.[3]

Publications

Lenski's major work was a 12-volume series of commentaries on the New Testament, published originally by the Lutheran Book Concern. Each contains a literal translation of the Greek texts and commentary from a traditional Lutheran perspective.[5] Some of the volumes were published after his death.

Other works include The Active Church Member, The Eisenach Gospel Selections, The Eisenach Old Testament Selections, The Epistle Selections of the Ancient Church, The Gospel Selections of the Ancient Church, The Sermon: Its Homiletical Construction, and Saint Paul.[3]

Descendants

Lenski was the father of the author Lois Lenski,[1] grandfather of the sociologist Gerhard Lenski, and great-grandfather of the evolutionary biologist Richard Lenski.

Theology

As a Lutheran, Lenski shows little sympathy for Reformed theology in his commentaries.[6] Lenski had sometimes distanced himself from the Calvinism-Arminian debate.[7] However he practically adopted the main distinctive tenets of the Arminian soteriology.[8][9][10][11] Though not using the exact terminology, he held to conditional election,[12] unlimited atonement,[13] prevenient grace[14] and conditional preservation of the saints.[15]

Notes and references

Citations
  1. Journey into childhood: The autobiography of Lois Lenski 1972 "My father, Richard Charles Henry Lenski, and his brother Paul, were born in Greifenburg, Prussia, in 1864 and 1866."
  2. Juergen Ludwig Neve, Willard Dow Allbeck History of the Lutheran church in America 1934 "RCH Lenski, DD, was born at Greifenberg, Pomerania, September 14, 1864, and came to America in 1872. ... He served pastorates in Baltimore, Md., Trenton, Springfield, and Anna, Ohio, and came to Capital University as theological professor in 1911. For a number of years he was president of the Western district, and he was editor-in-chief of Die Lutherische Kirchenzeitung for twenty years, in addition to being a frequent contributor to theological magazines."
  3. Lueker, Erwin L.; Poellot, Luther; Jackson, Paul, eds. (2000). "Lenski, Richard Charles Henry". Christian Cyclopedia (Online ed.). St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  4. Walter A. Elwell, Jim D. Weaver Bible interpreters of the twentieth century 1999 entry Richard Lenski
  5. The Book Review Digest Vol.33 H.W. Wilson Company - 1938 "LENSKI, RICHARD CHARLES HENRY. The interpretation of St Paul's Epistles to the Galatians. to the Ephesians and ... commentary maintains the standard set by its predecessors in the 'great' tradition of conservative Lutheran scholarship."
  6. White 2001.
  7. Lenski 2001, p. 799.
  8. Nicholoson 1999. "Arminian, respected Lutheran commentator, R. H. Lenski [...]"
  9. Henebury 2009. "R.C.H. Lenski – Conservative Arminian [...]"
  10. McMahon 2009, p. 203, note 95. "Even the Arminian, R.C.H. Lenski [...]"
  11. Bing 2010. "Of course, Arminian interpreters have no problem accepting the obvious evidence that the readers are genuine believers. [note 10] For example, R. C. H. Lenski, The Epistle to the Hebrews (MinneapoIis: Augsburg, 1966), 174-187, 355-357 [...]"
  12. Forlines, p. 311. It should be pointed out that though Lenski and Meyer in their comments support the concept of conditional election, as Lutherans, they would not use the term "Conditional election."
  13. Lenski 2008a, p. 305. Here we have an adequate answer to Calvin's limited atonement: The Sovereign, Christ, bought with His blood not only the elect but also those who go to perdition.
  14. Lenski 2001, p. 418. Yet the Scriptures are full of instances of prevenient grace. See how this grace operates upon Nicodemus, upon the Samaritan woman before life and faith were kindled in them. Grace operates according to a certain law or order and never effects regeneration all at one blow. The law always first takes hold and works the knowledge of sin and contrition for sin ; this is combined with the knowledge and the saving power of the gospel that is drawing us to Christ (John 6:44, 65).
  15. Lenski 2008b, p. 388. What a calamity when a professing Christian finds himself “rejected” in the end! How much worse when one of the Lord’s own heralds has this experience! Paul regards his work and even the way in which he does work with extreme seriousness. The fact that he is an apostle is not yet proof to him that he will be saved.

Sources
  • Bing, Charlie (2010). "Is There Hellfire in Hebrews?". GraceLife. Retrieved 2020-04-19.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Forlines, Leroy F.; Pinson, Matthew J.; Ashby, Stephen M. (2001). The Quest for Truth: Answering Life's Inescapable Questions. Nashville: Randall House Publications.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Henebury, Paul Martin (2009). "Personal Thoughts about Commentaries (3): ROMANS". Dr Reluctant : Musing of a "reluctant" dispensationalist. Retrieved 2020-04-19.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lenski, Richard C. H. (2001). The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Ephesians, and to the Philippians. Peabody: Hendrickson.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lenski, Richard C. H. (2008a). The Interpretation of I Corinthians. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lenski, Richard C. H. (2008b). Interpretation of the I & II Epistles of Peter the Three Epistles of John and the Epistle of Jude. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Nicholson, J. B. (Jabe) (1999). "I Don't Care for Daises, Either". Uplook. Grand Rapids, MI: Uplook Ministries. 66 (10): 10.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • McMahon, C. Matthew (2005). The two wills of God : does God really have two wills?. New Lenox, IL: Puritan Publications.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • White, James (2001). "A Reformed Response to the Comments of R. C. H. Lenski on Romans 9". Alpha and Omega Ministries. Retrieved 2020-04-18.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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