We believe, teach, and confess that the prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments are the only rule and norm according to which all doctrines and teachers alike must be appraised and judged, as it is written in Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” And St. Paul says in Galatians 1:8, “Even if an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.”
Other writings of ancient and modern teachers, whatever their names, should not be put on a par with Holy Scripture [i.e. writings of Church Fathers, decisions of councils]. Every single one of them should be subordinated to the Scriptures and should be received in no other way and no further than as witnesses to the fashion in which the doctrine of the prophets and apostles was preserved in post-apostolic times.
Immediately after the time of the apostles—in fact, already during their lifetime—false teachers and heretics invaded the church [i.e. Galatians 5:1-15; 1 John 2:18-27]. Against these the ancient church formulated symbols (that is, brief and explicit confessions) which were accepted as the unanimous, catholic, Christian faith and confessions of the orthodox and true church, namely, the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. We pledge ourselves to these, and we hereby reject all heresies and teachings which have been introduced into the church of God contrary to them.
With reference to the schism in matters of faith which has occurred in our times, we regard, as the unanimous consensus and exposition of our Christian faith, particularly against the false worship, idolatry, and superstition of the papacy and against other sects, and as the symbol of our time, the first and unaltered Augsburg Confession, which was delivered to Emperor Charles V at Augsburg during the great Diet in the year 1530, together with the Apology [that is, Defense] thereof and the Articles drafted at Smalcald in the year 1537 [including the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope], which the leading theologians approved by their subscription at that time.
Since these matters also concern the laity and the salvation of their souls, we subscribe Dr. Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms as both of them are contained in his printed works. They are “the layman’s Bible” and contain everything which Holy Scripture discusses at greater length and which a Christian must know for his salvation.
All doctrines should conform to the standards set forth above. Whatever is contrary to them should be rejected and condemned as opposed to the unanimous declaration of our faith.
In this way the distinction between the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments and all other writings is maintained, and Holy Scripture remains the only judge, rule, and norm according to which as the only touchstone all doctrines should and must be understood and judged as good or evil, right or wrong.
Other symbols and other writings are not judges like Holy Scripture, but merely witnesses and expositions of the faith, setting forth how at various times the Holy Scriptures were understood by contemporaries in the church of God with reference to controverted articles, and how contrary teachings were rejected and condemned.
– Preface to the Formula of Concord, Epitome (1580)
More detailed reading from the Formula of Concord:
- Epitome (shorter summary)
- Solid Declaration (far more detailed, covering all points)
Answering More Recent Challenges to the Christian truth
- A Brief Statement (1932) covering the following matters:
- Of the Holy Scriptures
- Of God
- Of Creation
- Of Man and Sin
- Of Redemption
- Of Faith in Christ
- Of Conversion
- Of Justification
- Of Good Works
- Of the Means of Grace
- Of the Church
- Of the Public Ministry
- Of Church and State
- Of the Election of Grace
- Of Sunday
- Of the Millennium
- Of the Antichrist
- Of Open Questions
- Of the Symbols of the Lutheran Church
- A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles (1973) – Answering false teachings and doubts about the truth, reliability, and right understanding of Holy Scripture: