Principles of Biblical Interpretation in the Lutheran Confessions

by Ralph A. Bohlmann

Publisher:

Concordia Publishing House

, 1968

Overview

Lutherans regard their confessions as expositions of Holy Scripture and, therefore, as authoritative statements of Christian faith and life. This book will aid Lutheran pastors and students in understanding the confessional principles of Biblical interpretation. Its central thesis is that these principles are derived from the confessional doctrine of Holy Scripture.

The first part of the book analyzes the confessional understanding of the nature, function, and central content of Holy Scripture. The second illustrates how the major interpretative principles employed in the confessions are derived from Scripture. Particular attention is given to the influence of the Lutheran doctrine of justification by grace on Biblical interpretation. A newly provided 10th chapter addresses issues that have developed in the last decade.

In the Logos edition of the Principles of Biblical Interpretation in the Lutheran Confessions, you get easy access to Scripture texts and to a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Hovering over Scripture references links you instantly to the verse you’re looking for, and with passage guides, word studies, and a wealth of other tools from Logos, you can delve into God’s Word like never before!

Key Features

• Preface by the author
• Bibliographical references and indexes

Contents

Top Highlights

“‘The literal sense of Scripture alone is the whole essence of faith and Christian theology’; and again, ‘If we wish to handle Scripture aright, our sole effort will be to obtain the one, simple, seminal, and certain sense.’¹⁰ Or again, ‘The Holy Spirit is the plainest writer and speaker in heaven and earth and therefore His words cannot have more than one, and that the very simplest sense, which we call the literal, ordinary, natural sense.’” (Page 83)

“That the Bible can interpret itself is a legitimate principle of interpretation for the Lutheran Confessions only because of the unity of Scripture, which is a unity of authorship, content, and purpose, and because of its fundamental clarity.” (Page 89)

“But understanding what the words say is not always the same as spiritually comprehending the truth which God speaks in the Scriptures.” (Page 59)

“God gives no one His Spirit or grace ‘except through or with the external Word which comes before.’ If we maintain this truth, Luther contends, we shall be protected from those ‘who boast that they possess the Spirit without and before the Word and who therefore judge, interpret, and twist the Scriptures or spoken Word according to their pleasure.’” (Page 79)

“The doctrine of justification is not only the main subject of the Lutheran Confessions but the chief teaching of Scripture as well. The Augsburg Confession argues that ‘the chief article of the Gospel must be maintained, namely, that we obtain the grace of God through faith in Christ without our merits’” (Page 70)

Product Details

• Title: Principles of Biblical Interpretation in the Lutheran Confessions
• Author: Ralph A. Bohlmann
• Publisher: Concordia
• Publication Date: 2000
• Pages: 163