Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Psalm 119:105
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Psalm 119:105
From the Confessions: Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope
Therefore, let us primarily show from the Gospel that the Roman bishop is not by divine right above other bishops and pastors.
Pulling It Together: If we wish to demonstrate that the pope—or anyone else, for that matter—cannot claim rule and power whatsoever over bishops, pastors, or laity either, then we had better have some authority behind our statement. There is no authority greater than divine authority. Lutherans regard the Holy Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, as being the very word of God. Scriptures carry the full weight of God’s authority, requiring our trust and acceptance. We walk in darkness without it; as it is breathed out by God himself (2 Tim 3:16), it is the supreme rule over all of life. Everything else—all books, traditions, and teachings—are subordinate. This is the substance behind that famous saying of the Lutheran Reformation: sola Scriptura.
Prayer: Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, to the light of your Word. Amen.
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Author
Rev. Mark E. Ryman serves as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. Previously, Pastor Ryman has served other congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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