I. The Authority of Scripture and the Confessions (p. 354 et seq.)

A. Lutheran Church

1. In adopting its Symbols, or Confessions.

a. Did not adopt doctrines foreign to Scripture.

b. Did confess its faith in the doctrines revealed in Scripture.

2. Was forced to adopt to counter unscriptural doctrines under the guise of Scriptural teachings.

3. Had to set forth what the Scriptures actually do teach.

4. Simply affirmed the Scriptural doctrine over the denial by heretics.

B. Same truth is evidenced by its insistence on the quia form of subscription.

1. Binds its teachers.

a. To the doctrine contained in the Confessions.

b. Because it is the doctrine of Scripture!

2. However, many insist on the quatenus form of subscription.

a. i.e. “in sofar as” the Symbols teach the Scripture truth.

b. Would allow one to subscribe to the Koran!

c. If not yet certain, not ready for the ministerial office.

d. If complains re: “coercion of his conscience”, no one is coercing him to take up the office.

e. Quatenus form annuls the Symbols as a Confession of faith.

C. The quatenus pledge has appeared in several forms.

1. One: “The Symbols offer an essentially correct presentation of the chief doctrines.”

a. Leaves decision re: “chief doctrines” to individual’s whim.

b. Same re: “an essentially correct” presentation.

2. Two: “The Symbols must be interpreted historically.”

a. i.e. only binding re: those which Church were compelled to discuss due to controversy in its midst.

b. Everything else, they would regard as not binding.

c. Lets individuals decide which parts are “historically occasioned.”

d. e.g. Art XI of F.C.: there was no controversy yet re: election of children of God.

e. e.g. doctrine of inspiration of Scripture.

3. Three: Some ready to subscribe with the understanding that the Confessions must be interpreted “according to Scripture” or “correctly”.

a. In this sense, Reformed theologians, e.g. Calvin, have signed the U.A.C.

b. Has a pious and Scriptural ring to it.

c. But overlooks and disregards the purpose of the Symbols.

d. Minister must affirm that he finds them to be the expression of his own faith and confession.

4. Four: It is quatenus form when profess to follow, not the “letter”, but the “spirit” of the Confessions.

a. By “spirit”, they mean their own spirit.

b. Transforms the essence of Christianity into heathen morality.

D. All quatenus forms frustrate the purpose of the confessional obligation.

1. Congregation could never know how much doctrine is being accepted.

2. Are in conflict with common honesty and uprightness.

3. Refusal to make quia form hides denial to accept certain doctrines.

E. Subscription does not force subscription to all the historical, scientific and purely external remarks found here and there in the Confessions.

1. The confessional pledge covers only the doctrine.

2. Nor does pledge include “all exegetical proof” offered in the Confessions (e.g. whether Augustine wrote a specific work)

3. Some quotes do truly apply elsewhere. (e.g. Ro 12:7).

4. But, there is no doctrine found in the Confessions for which there is not ample Scripture proof offered.

5. Confessions employ little “exegesis”, as usually understood, but are satisfied to let the nuda Scriptura, without much explanation, speak for itself.

F. To show relation between Scripture and the Symbols, following terms have been used:

1. norma and norma normata.

a. norma normata: the standard in theology, used in the church, based on an absolute standard (norma normans)

b. In Lutheran theology, the norma normata are the Confessions and the norma norms is the Bible.

2. norma primaria and secundaria (first standard and second standard).

3. The Symbols are a norm, but not by themselves (absolute), but only in a certain respect (secundum quid), namely a derived norm.

4. The doctrines of the Symbols are taken from Scripture.

5. Purpose of Symbols brought out in terms norma decisionis and norma discretionis (deciding norm and distinguishing norm).

a. Scripture alone decides which doctrine is true, and which is false.

b. But attitude towards the Symbols distinguishes one who knows and accepts the Scripture doctrine from one who does not accept it.

6. Symbols should not be called inspired; reserve that term for the writings of the Apostles and the Prophets.