Why Bible-Believing Lutherans Subscribe to the Book of Concord

Abstract

John F. Brug’s essay explains why confessional Lutherans subscribe to the Book of Concord alongside Scripture. He emphasizes that while the Bible is the sole infallible source of doctrine, confessions are necessary to clarify and publicly affirm biblical teachings in the face of false interpretations. Brug defends “quia” (because) subscription to the Lutheran Confessions, rejecting the “quatenus” (insofar as) approach used by liberal churches to evade doctrinal accountability. He addresses common objections, such as historical or scientific inaccuracies in the confessions, and clarifies that subscription applies only to their doctrinal content. Brug also critiques the ELCA’s vague confessional stance and warns against using confessions to create extra-biblical doctrines. He concludes that the confessions are faithful expositions of Scripture, essential for preserving unity and guarding against error, and that subscription to them is a meaningful declaration of biblical faith. Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).