The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

not the original, but a copy merely, and the labors of Weber have
demonstrated that this copy has no claim to be regarded as made from the
original, but is a transcript from one of the less-finished copies of the
Confession, made before it had assumed, under Melanchthon's hand, the
exact shape in which it was actually presented. While, therefore, the
ordinary edition of the Augsburg Confession, the one found in the Book of
Concord, and from which the current translations of the Confession have
been made, does not differ in meaning at all from the original edition of
Melanchthon, it is, nevertheless, not so perfect in style, and where they
differ, not so clear. The highest critical authority, then, both German and
Latin, is that of Melanchthon's own original editions. 184
The current edition of the German, and the earlier edition of
Melanchthon, are verbally identical in the larger part of the articles, both of
doctrine and of abuses. The only difference is, that Melanchthon's edition
is occasionally somewhat fuller, especially on the abuses, is more perfectly
parallel with the Latin at a few points, and occasionally more finished in
style. When the question between them has a practical interest, it is simply
because Melanchthon's edition expresses in terms, or with greater
clearness, what is simply implied, or less explicitly stated in the other.
Structure and Divisions of the Augsburg Confession.
The structure of the Augsburg Confession bears traces of the mode
of its growth out of the Articles which formed its groundwork. It contains,
as its two fundamental parts, a positive assertion of the most necessary
truths, and a negation of the most serious abuses. It comprises: I. THE
PREFACE; II. TWENTY-ONE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF FAITH;
III. AN EPILOGUE-PROLOGUE, which unites the first part with the
second, and makes a graceful transition from the one to the other; IV. THE
SECOND GREAT DIVISION, embracing SEVEN ARTICLES ON
ABUSES; V. THE EPILOGUE, followed by the SUBSCRIPTIONS.
The ARTICLES are not arranged as a whole with reference to a
system. They may be classified thus:
184 For the facts here presented, compare Weber Krit. Geschichte: Hase, Lib. Symb, Francke do. Köllner Symb,
Luther. Kirch.. 342.