Edmund Schlink war Professor für Systematische Theologie in Heidelberg und offizieller Beobachter des Zweiten Vatikanischen Konzils.

Title Page 4
Copyright 5
Table of Contents 6
Body 8
Foreword to the German Edition 8
Editor's Notes 10
Preface to the American Edition 11
Edmund Schlink (1903–1984): An Ecumenical Life 16
Matthew L. Becker 16
Early Years and Education 17
Initial Teaching and Pastoral Activities 19
Heidelberg 26
Ecumenical Activities 32
Final Years 41
Abbreviations 43
Book One: The Coming Christ and Church Traditions: Essays for the Dialogue among the Separated Churches 46
Introduction: The Task 48
Editor's Notes 51
Part One: Methodological Considerations 54
Chapter One: The Task and Danger of the World Council of Churches 54
I. 54
II. 57
III. 58
IV. 60
V. 61
VI. 63
VII. 64
Editor's Notes 66
Chapter Two: The Structure of the Dogmatic Statement as an Ecumenical Issue[i] 68
I. The Dogmatic Statement in the Context of the Basic Forms of the Theological Statement 68
1. The Basic Forms of the Theological Statement 69
2. Structural Problems of the Dogmatic Statement 82
II. The Dogmatic Statement in Relation to the Basic Forms of Human Perceiving 92
1. The Basic Anthropological Forms of Perceiving 93
2. Structural Problems in Theological Perceiving 102
III. The Complexity of the Problem of the Theological Statement 109
IV. The Dogmatic Statement in the Mutual Interaction of the Theological and Anthropological Basic Forms 118
V. The Issue of the Unity of Dogmatic Statements 120
Editor's Notes 125
Part Two: Aspects of the Dogmatic Foundation 128
Chapter Three: The Christology of Chalcedon in Ecumenical Dialogue 128
Editor's Notes 135
Chapter Four: Christ and the Church 136
Twelve Theses for an Ecumenical Dialogue between Theologians of the Protestant Church in Germany and the Roman Church 136
I. The church is the people of God called by Christ from the world. 137
II. The church is the prophetic, priestly, royal people sent by Christ into the world. 138
III. The church is the worshiping assembly, in which Christ is actively present. 139
IV. The church is the bride waiting for Christ, who already now, in the worshiping assembly, takes part in the coming wedding feast. 140
V. The church is the body of Christ, which in the worshiping assembly is being built up for the new universe. 140
VI. The church is the fellowship of the gifts of grace in whose multiplicity the one grace of Christ actively manifests itself. 141
VII. The church is the congregation led by Christ himself through the pastoral office.[v] 142
VIII. The church is “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic” (The Nicene Creed). 143
1. The unity of the church 144
2. The holiness of the church 144
3. The catholicity of the church 145
4. The Apostolicity of the Church 146
IX. The church is indestructible. 147
X. The church is visible in this world. 149
XI. The threat of judgment applies to the church. 151
XII. The promise of glorification by the Christ, who is coming again, applies to the church. 152
Editor's Notes 154
Chapter Five: The Expanse of the Church according to the Lutheran Confession 156
I. 156
II. 159
III. 161
IV. 164
V. 165
Editor's Notes 166
Chapter Six: The Cultus in the Perspective of Evangelical-Lutheran Theology 167
I. God's Service to the Congregation 169
II. The Congregation's Service in the Presence of God 170
III. The Ecclesiological Development of God's Service to the Assembled Congregation 174
IV. The Cosmological Development of God's Service to the Assembled Congregation 174
Editor's Notes 176
Chapter Seven: Law and Gospel as a Controversial Issue in Theology 177
I. The Issue of Distinguishing between Law and Gospel 178
II. The Gospel in the Old Testament Law 183
III. The Law in the New Testament Gospel 184
IV. The Unity of Law and Gospel 187
V. Distinguishing between Law and Gospel 189
VI. The Gospel as God's Proper Word 190
VII. The Ecumenical Significance of the Distinction between Law and Gospel 193
Editor's Notes 210
Chapter Eight: Apostolic Succession[i] 212
I. The Church as the Fellowship of Charismata 213
II. The Sending into Servant Ministry 217
III. The Concept of the Church's Ministerial Office 223
IV. The Task and Forms of the Pastoral Office 231
V. The Concept of the Apostolate 235
VI. The Apostles as Foundation of the Church 238
VII. The Apostles as Members of the Church 240
VIII. The Servant Ministry of the Apostles in the Fellowship of the Church 240
IX. Pastoral Office and the Church 241
X. Apostolic Succession 246
Editor's Notes 249
Chapter Nine: On the Issue of Tradition 250
Theses for an Ecumenical Dialogue between Theologians of the German Protestant Church and the Russian Orthodox Church 250
I. 250
II. 250
III. 250
IV. 251
V. 251
VI. 251
VII. 252
VIII. 254
IX. 254
X. 254
XI. 255
XII. 256
Editor's Notes 256
Part Three: Conciliar Encounter 258
Chapter Ten: The Sojourning People of God 258
I. 258
II. 259
III. 260
IV. 261
V. 263
VI. 264
VII. 265
Editor's Notes 266
Chapter Eleven: Christ—The Hope for the World 267
I. 267
II. 268
III. 270
IV. 271
V. 272
VI. 274
VII. 275
Editor's Notes 276
Chapter Twelve: Transformations in the Protestant Understanding of the Eastern Church 277
I. 279
II. 280
III. 281
IV. 285
Editor's Notes 287
Chapter Thirteen: The Significance of the Eastern and Western Traditions for Christendom 289
Editor's Notes 297
Chapter Fourteen: Ecumenical Councils Then and Now[i] 299
I. 302
II. 310
III. 318
Editor's Notes 330
Chapter Fifteen: The Resurrection of God's People 333
Sermon on the Text of Ezekiel 37.1–14 333
Book Two: After the Council 338
Preface 340
Editor's Notes 341
Chapter I: The Spiritual Awakening of Christendom 342
1. Christendom's Loss of Its Security 342
2. Renewal from the Source 344
3. The Responsibility for the World 346
4. The Ecumenical Movement 348
5. The World Council of Churches 351
Editor's Notes 352
Chapter II: The Conciliar Awakening of the Roman Church 354
1. The Announcement and Preparation of the Council 355
2. The Structure of a Council of the Roman Church 357
3. The First Period of the Council[viii] 359
4. The Second and Third Periods of the Council[xviii] 363
5. The Conclusion of the Council[xxv] 367
Editor's Notes 368
Chapter III: The Resolutions of the Council 372
1. Constitutions, Decrees, Declarations 372
2. An Attempt at Systematically Ordering the Council's Resolutions 374
3. Preliminary Hermeneutical Remarks 377
Editor's Notes 381
Chapter IV: The Reform of the Worship Service 382
1. The Salvific Action of God 382
2. The Participation of the Congregation 385
3. Enabling the Vernacular 387
4. Enabling Further Accommodations 388
5. Liturgical Rights of the Conferences of Bishops 389
6. New Structures 390
Editor's Notes 392
Chapter V: The Self-Understanding of the Roman Church 393
1. The Starting Point in Salvation History 393
2. Body of Christ and People of God 395
3. Arranging the Members of the Church 398
a) Pope and Bishops 398
b) Bishops and Priests 401
c) Priests and Deacons 403
d) Hierarchy and Laity 404
e) Religious Orders 406
4. The Borders of the Church 407
5. Mary and the Church 413
Editor's Notes 416
Chapter VI: The Council and the Non-Roman Churches 418
1. Openness toward the Non-Roman Churches 418
2. Directives Regarding Ecumenical Conduct 420
3. The Goal 424
a) The Renewal of the Roman Church 425
b) The Unfolding of the Roman Church's Catholicity 426
c) The Unification of the Separated Churches 427
4. Possibilities and Limits of Ecumenism 429
5. Roman Ecumenism 435
Editor's Notes 436
Chapter VII: The Council and the Non-Christian Religions 438
1. The Opening toward the Non-Christian Religions 439
2. Israel 440
3. Directives Regarding Conduct in Relation to the Non-Christian Religions 442
4. The Goal 443
5. Mission and Ecumenism 444
Editor's Notes 445
Chapter VIII: The Council and the World 446
1. Openness toward the Contemporary World 449
2. The Starting Point for Dialogue with the World 452
3. Directives for Servant Ministry in the Contemporary World 455
a) Marriage and the Family 455
b) Cultural Progress 456
c) The Socio-Economic Life 458
d) The Life of Political Communities 459
e) Peace and the Community of Nations 460
4. Christ and the World 462
5. The Church and the World 464
6. Servant Ministry to the World and Ecumenism 467
Editor's Notes 468
Chapter IX: Scripture, Tradition, Teaching Office 469
1. The Revelation of God in Jesus Christ 470
2. Scripture and Tradition 471
3. The Interpretation of Holy Scripture 474
4. The Church's Teaching Office 475
5. Directives for the Use of Holy Scripture 476
6. The Ecumenical Significance 478
Editor's Notes 479
Chapter X: Post-Conciliar Possibilities of the Roman Church 480
1. Openness and Concentration 480
2. Aggiornamento 481
3. The Dialectic of the Council's Resolutions 482
4. Possibilities of Post-Conciliar Activity 484
Chapter XI: Pope and Curia 486
1. The Post-Conciliar Position of the Pope 486
2. Objections of the Non-Roman Churches 489
3. The Reform of the Curia 490
Editor's Notes 492
Chapter XII: The Significance of the Council for the Other Churches 493
1. Unchanged Differences and New Starting Points 493
2. The Significance of Roman Ecumenism 495
3. The Practical Consequences 497
4. The Council as a Challenge to the Other Churches 498
Editor's Notes 500
Chapter XIII: Anxious Christendom 501
1. Grounds for Angst 501
2. Church Tradition as Protection and Hindrance 504
3. The Relationship between Past and Future 506
4. The Common Norm 509
5. Overcoming the Fear 512
Editor's Notes 514
Chapter XIV: Necessary Steps 515
1. Wrong-Headed Reactions 515
2. The Necessary Presuppositions 516
3. The Ecumenical Dialogue 518
4. Joint Prayer 520
5. Easing Catholic and Non-Catholic Interaction 521
6. Joint Work 522
7. The Joint Witness to Christ 522
Editor's Notes 523
Chapter XV: The Mystery of Unity 524
1. The Turning-Point in the Understanding of the Church 525
2. The Mercy of Christ 528
3. The Recognition of Unity 530
4. The Manifestation of Unity 533
Editor's Notes 537
Index of Biblical References 538
Old Testament 538
New Testament 538
Index of Persons 542
Index of Subjects 548