Lutheranism

===Bible===
[[File:Lutherbibel.jpg|thumb|[[Luther Bible|Luther's 1534 translation of the Bible]]]]
[[File:Lucas Cranach (I) - The Law and the Gospel.jpg|thumb|[[Moses]] and [[Elijah]] point the sinner looking for God's salvation to the cross to find it, a Lutheran ideal known as the [[Theology of the Cross]].]]
Traditionally, Lutherans hold the [[Bible|Scriptures]] of the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s to be the only divinely inspired books, the only presently available sources of divinely revealed knowledge, and the only infallible source of Christian doctrine.<ref>For the traditional Lutheran view of the Bible, see {{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |pages=3ff |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}. For an overview of the doctrine of verbal inspiration in Lutheranism, see [http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/02/display.asp?t1=i&word=INSPIRATION.DOCTRINEOF Inspiration, Doctrine of] in the Christian Cyclopedia.</ref> [[Sola scriptura|Scripture alone]] is the [[Formal and material principles of theology|formal principle]] of the faith, the [[Rule of Faith|final authority]] for all matters of faith and morals because of its inspiration, authority, clarity, efficacy, and sufficiency.<ref>{{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |pages=7ff |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n58 29] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref>

The authority of the Scriptures has been challenged during the history of Lutheranism. Martin Luther taught that the Bible was the written Word of God, and the only infallible guide for faith and practice. He held that every passage of Scripture has one straightforward meaning, the literal sense as interpreted by other Scripture.<ref>Braaten, Carl E. (1983). Principles of Lutheran Theology. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, p. 9</ref> These teachings were accepted during the [[Lutheran Orthodoxy|orthodox Lutheranism]] of the 17th century.<ref>Preus, Robert. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=McgOAAAAIAAJ The Inspiration of Scripture: A Study of the Theology of the 17th Century Lutheran Dogmaticians].'' London: Oliver and Boyd, 1957. p. 39.</ref> During the 18th century, Rationalism advocated reason rather than the authority of the Bible as the final source of knowledge, but most of the [[Laity#Protestantism|laity]] did not accept this Rationalist position.<ref>{{Cite book | year=1978 | contribution=Lutheran Churches | editor-last=Benton | editor-first=William | editor-link=William Benton (senator) | title=Encyclopædia Britannica | edition=15 | place=Chicago | publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. | volume=11 | pages=197–98 | isbn=978-0-85229-290-7 }}</ref> In the 19th century, a [[Confessional Lutheran|confessional revival]] re-emphasized the authority of the Scriptures and agreement with the Lutheran Confessions.

Today, Lutherans disagree about the inspiration and authority of the Bible. Theological conservatives use the [[historical-grammatical method]] of Biblical interpretation, while [[Liberal Christianity|theological liberals]] use the [[higher criticism|higher critical]] method. The 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey conducted by the [[Pew Research Center]] surveyed 1,926 adults in the United States that self-identified as Lutheran. The study found that 30% believed that the Bible was the Word of God and was to be taken literally word for word. 40% held that the Bible was the Word of God, but was not literally true word for word or were unsure. 23% said the Bible was written by men and not the Word of God. 7% did not know, were not sure, or had other positions.<ref>U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Religious Beliefs and Practices, Diverse and Politically Relevant. Washington D.C.: Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. June 2008. p. 127. Accessed online on 27 September 2009 at [http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report2-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report2-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf].</ref>

====Inspiration====
Although many Lutherans today hold less specific views of [[Biblical inspiration|inspiration]], historically, Lutherans affirm that the Bible does not merely contain the Word of God, but every word of it is, because of plenary, verbal inspiration, the direct, immediate word of God.<ref>{{cite book |last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n55 26] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934}}</ref> The ''[[Apology of the Augsburg Confession]]'' identifies Holy Scripture with the Word of God<ref>"God's Word, or Holy Scripture" from the [http://www.bookofconcord.org/defense_2_originalsin.php Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article II, of Original Sin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022004920/https://bookofconcord.org/defense_2_originalsin.php |date=22 October 2020 }}</ref> and calls the Holy Spirit the author of the Bible.<ref>"the Scripture of the Holy Ghost." [http://www.bookofconcord.org/defense_greeting.php Apology to the Augsburg Confession, Preface, 9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031090229/http://bookofconcord.org/defense_greeting.php |date=31 October 2020 }}</ref> Because of this, Lutherans confess in the ''Formula of Concord'', "we receive and embrace with our whole heart the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the pure, clear fountain of Israel".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookofconcord.org/sd-ruleandnorm.php|title=The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228130027/http://www.bookofconcord.org/sd-ruleandnorm.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The prophetic and apostolic Scriptures are confessed as authentic and written by the prophets and apostles. A correct translation of their writings is seen as God's Word because it has the same meaning as the original Hebrew and Greek.<ref name="Engelder 1934 27">{{cite book |last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 |location=Saint Louis, MO |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n56 27]}}</ref> A mistranslation is not God's word, and no human authority can invest it with divine authority.<ref name="Engelder 1934 27"/>

====Clarity====
Historically, Lutherans understand the Bible to present all doctrines and commands of the Christian faith [[Clarity of scripture|clearly]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Psalm|19:8|50}}, {{bibleverse||Psalm|119:105|50}}, {{bibleverse||Psalm|119:130|50}}, {{bibleverse|2|Timothy|3:15|50}}, {{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|30:11|50}}, {{bibleverse|2|Peter|1:19|31}}, {{bibleverse||Ephesians|3:3–4|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|8:31–32|31}}, {{bibleverse|2|Corinthians|4:3–4|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|8:43–47|31}}, {{bibleverse|2|Peter|3:15–16|31}}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n58 29] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}, {{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |pages=11–12 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition, Lutherans believe that God's Word is freely accessible to every reader or hearer of ordinary intelligence, without requiring any special education.<ref>{{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=11 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref> A Lutheran must understand the language that scriptures are presented in, and should not be so preoccupied by error so as to prevent understanding.<ref>{{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=11 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result of this, Lutherans do not believe there is a need to wait for any clergy, pope, scholar, or [[ecumenical council]] to explain the real meaning of any part of the Bible.<ref>{{cite book |last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934}}
</ref>

====Efficacy====
Lutherans confess that Scripture is united with the power of the Holy Spirit and with it, not only demands, but also creates the acceptance of its teaching.<ref>{{bibleverse||Romans|1:16|50}}, {{bibleverse|1|Thessalonians|2:13|50}}, {{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=11 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n56 27] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref> This teaching produces faith and obedience. Holy Scripture is not a dead letter, but rather, the power of the Holy Spirit is inherent in it.<ref>{{bibleverse||Romans|1:16|50}}, {{bibleverse|1|Thessalonians|1:5|50}}, {{bibleverse||Psalm|119:105|50}}, {{bibleverse|2|Peter|1:19|50}}, {{bibleverse|2|Timothy|1:16–17|31}},{{bibleverse||Ephesians|3:3–4|50}}, {{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |pages=11–12 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref> Scripture does not compel a mere intellectual assent to its doctrine, resting on logical argumentation, but rather it creates the living agreement of faith.<ref>{{bibleverse||John|6:63|31}}, {{bibleverse||Revelation|1:3|31}}, {{bibleverse||Ephesians|3:3–4|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|7:17|31}}, {{cite book|last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=12 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712193848/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=12 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}, {{cite book|last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref> As the [[Smalcald Articles]] affirm, "in those things which concern the spoken, outward Word, we must firmly hold that God grants His Spirit or grace to no one, except through or with the preceding outward Word".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookofconcord.org/smalcald.php#confession|title=Smalcald Articles – Book of Concord|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731111923/http://www.bookofconcord.org/smalcald.php#confession|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Sufficiency====
[[File:Cranach Gesetz und Gnade Gotha.jpg|thumb|''Law and Grace'', a portrait by [[Lucas Cranach the Elder]]; the left side shows humans' condemnation under God's law and the right side presents God's grace in Christ.|alt=]]
Lutherans are confident that the Bible contains everything that one needs to know in order to obtain salvation and to live a Christian life.<ref>
{{bibleverse|2|Timothy|3:15–17|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|5:39|31}}, {{bibleverse||John|17:20|31}}, {{bibleverse||Psalm|19:7–8|31}}, {{cite book |last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934}}</ref> There are no deficiencies in Scripture that need to be filled with by tradition, [[Obsequium religiosum|pronouncements of the Pope]], new revelations, or present-day [[development of doctrine]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Isaiah|8:20|50}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|16:29–31|50}}, {{bibleverse|2|Timothy|3:16–17|31}}, {{cite book |last=Graebner |first=Augustus Lawrence |url=http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |title=Outlines of Doctrinal Theology |page=13 |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1910 |isbn=978-0-524-04891-7 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807135035/http://showcase.netins.net/web/bilarson/bibliology.txt |archive-date=7 August 2007 |df=dmy-all }}, {{cite book |last=Engelder |first=Theodore E.W. |url=https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1 |title=Popular Symbolics: The Doctrines of the Churches of Christendom and Of Other Religious Bodies Examined in the Light of Scripture |page=[https://archive.org/details/MN41551ucmf_1/page/n57 28] |location=Saint Louis, MO |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1934 }}</ref>

====Law and Gospel====
Lutherans understand the Bible as containing two distinct types of content, termed [[Law and Gospel]] (or Law and Promises).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookofconcord.com/defense_4_justification.php|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118113812/http://www.bookofconcord.com/defense_4_justification.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 January 2013|title=Defense of the Augsburg Confession – Book of Concord|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> Properly distinguishing between Law and Gospel prevents the obscuring of the Gospel teaching of justification by grace through faith alone.<ref>Walther, C. F. W. [http://lutherantheology.com/uploads/works/walther/LG/index.html The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel]. W. H. T. Dau, trans. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1929.</ref>