THE CHRISTOLOGY OF JESUS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The sentence quoted in your review of Dr. Stalker's book on Christology in the Spectator of December 16th, that "the words of Christ are kerugma, and not dogma," should have far-reaching results, if their truth be accepted. The word " dogma" is used by St. Luke in its proper sense of "a decree imposed by lawful authority," whether of the Roman Emperor or of the Church in council at Jerusalem,—the only true Apostolic Council summoned not to legislate for the whole Christian body, except incidentally, but to consider whether Gentile converts were bound to submit to the Mosaic law, a question which had arisen in the Church of Antioch, and the decision was as the decision of all Christian Councils should be, in favour of liberty coupled with a consideration for others. In St. Paul's Epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians, where the word is translated "ordinance" in the English versions, the reference is to the Mosaic law, and the word " dogmatise " in Col. ii. 20 (translated " be subject to ordinances ") is connected with a worldly rather than a Christian standard of action. Moses as lawgiver has a right to dogmatise, but his laws, or dogmas, as St. Paul asserted firmly, are of no eternal obligation, and are liable to be superseded by higher and more perfect ordinances, breathing the spirit of the old but emancipated from the letter. How unfortunate, then, has been the application of the word to Christian "doctrine," or "teaching," which is by its very nature progressive and universal. The dogma is as the seed ; it must die that it may live; too often it has strangled the new birth and hindered evolution. " Keragma" is the proclama- tion of the great King, who comes in righteousness, and summons all His loyal subjects to repentance and amend- ment of life, and to that self-sacrifice and care for others which follows from an acceptance of Christ's teaching. The true antithesis to Christ is not heresy, but Mammon.—I am, Sir, &c., E. D. STONE.
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