The Word of God in the Theology of Martin Luther

Abstract

In this 1963 paper, Dr. Siegbert W. Becker presents a thorough defense of Martin Luther’s doctrine of the Word of God, emphasizing its divine inspiration, authority, and inerrancy. Becker argues that Luther consistently identified the Scriptures as the very Word of God, composed of divinely given words, not merely human reflections or symbolic expressions. He refutes modern neo-orthodox interpretations that claim Luther viewed the Bible as derivative or secondary to proclamation. Drawing extensively from Luther’s writings and sermons, Becker demonstrates that Luther affirmed verbal inspiration, upheld the Bible’s factual and theological accuracy, and treated even its “trivial” details with reverence. Becker also shows that Luther placed the preached Word under the judgment of the written Word and rejected any notion that Scripture contained errors. The paper concludes that Luther’s theology of Scripture aligns with classical Lutheran orthodoxy and stands in stark contrast to contemporary liberal reinterpretations. Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)