The Doctrine of the Word of God

Abstract

In The Doctrine of the Word of God, Siegbert W. Becker defends the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture against modern theological trends, particularly neo-orthodoxy and liberalism. Delivered in 1966, the essay critiques contemporary reinterpretations of revelation, which reduce the Bible to a fallible human record of divine acts. Becker argues that such views undermine the foundation of Christian faith and ultimately distort the person and work of Christ. He affirms the Lutheran confessional principle of sola Scriptura, emphasizing that faith is created and sustained by the Word and that Scripture is the literal Word of God—not merely a derivative witness. Becker warns that abandoning the doctrine of inspiration leads to doctrinal confusion, loss of confidence in the Gospel, and erosion of Christ-centered theology. The essay is a passionate call to preserve the purity and authority of Scripture within the Lutheran tradition. Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).