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A Special Pastoral Letter to
Pastors of The Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod
From President Jerry
Kieschnick
March 1, 2007
RE: Response to "The Lost Tomb of Jesus"
Dear Brothers in Christ:
Recent media attention has been given to an upcoming
television special that explores a tomb from a 1980
archeological discovery in Jerusalem, purporting that it
contains a supposed ossuary (burial box) of Jesus. In regard
to this matter, two Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
theologians have written responses about the "lost tomb"
issue. These responses share helpful information and insights
for the church on this subject. It is my hope that receiving
these resources in advance of the airing of this television
program will be helpful for you and your congregation in
addressing and responding to this report.
The responses are provided by Dr. Paul L. Maier, well-known
church historian and Second Vice President of The Lutheran
Church--Missouri Synod and Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, Assistant
Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, MO. Dr. Maier's response can be found on the LCMS
website, www.lcms.org.
Dr. Kloha's response can be found on the Concordia Seminary
faculty website, www.concordiatheology.org or the Concordia Seminary website, www.csl.edu.
These resources are being shared with you in the certainty
and hope of the resurrection of our risen and living Lord
Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul has written, "For what I
received I passed on to you as of first importance: that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he
was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to
the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the
Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred
of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still
living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to
James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared
to me also, as to one abnormally born . . . Thanks be to God!
He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1
Corinthians 15:3-8, 57 (NIV)
Jerry Kieschnick
Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod
e-mail: president@lcms.org
Web
page: www.lcms.org/president
"Transforming lives through Christ's love ... in time
... for eternity ..." John 3:16-17
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One Message,