“God's Word & Luther's Doctrine…” motto – 3b of 5

      This Part 3b (of 5) continues from Part 3(a) (see Intro for Table of Contents), my publication of a serial essay by Prof. E. Pardieck explaining and defending the great Lutheran motto.
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Translation by BackToLuther.  All emphasized words are from the original.  Highlighting is mine.

[Der Lutheraner vol. 68, no. 11 (May 28, 1912), p. 167-168]

“God's Word and Luther's Doctrine Pure.”

III.(b)

[by Prof. E. Pardieck]

That Luther's doctrine was the doctrine of Scripture, even the enemies had to admit. It is well known that when in the year 1530 the Augsburg Confession had been read before the Emperor and Empire, Duke William of Bavaria, overwhelmed by what had been read, said to Dr. Eck: “I have been told a lot about Luther's doctrine, for I have heard it in their confessions. You have also comforted me, that their teaching is to be disproved.”  Then Eck gave the answer: “With the fathers I dare to refute them, but not with the Scriptures.”  It became clear to him that with Scripture one cannot harm the doctrine of the Lutherans; because they have the Scriptures for themselves. The Duke then rejoined this answer: “So I am to understand, the Lutherans are sitting in Scripture and we are beside it.”  Luther often refers to this. He says:

“The Papists do not wander into sin, but knowingly, willingly; for they know, especially the chief among them, that our doctrine is right and founded in the Word of God, as they have known and said to themselves at the Diet of Augsburg in 1530.” (XXII, 359.)  And another time: “Therefore it is that the best and worst among them must say that our doctrine is not contrary to any article of faith. I was so fond of this confession of the Papists as if someone had given me 100,000 guilders.” Carlstadt, Münzer, the heavenly prophets, Zwingli— all could not suffer from Luther that he clung to the Word of Scripture and held it. “The text, the text is too powerful,” he always said. Yes, just this holding on the word brought him the heretic's name. “This is the doctrine for which we bear not only the name “heresy” but punishment, namely, that we attribute everything to hearing or to the Word or to faith in the Word” (V, 563; AE 12, p. 369). Such people were called disgraceful Lutherans, who, in matters of doctrine, would not submit to any pope, reason, or new revelation, except the Word of God. Our confession laments: "This blessed doctrine, the precious holy Gospel, they call Lutheran." (Müller, p. 213; Triglotta p. 327; Apology to the Augsburg Confession, “Article XV (VIII): Of Human Traditions in the Church” § 42)

Luther's doctrine is nothing but God's Word. Luther's doctrine is simply the doctrine, as it is stated in Scripture. Yes, the gospel – that will turn the enemies Lutheran. Whether or not the doctrine is now called “Lutheran” is of no importance. We will not say with this verse that certainly to the last day a church will be called “Lutheran,” and that in all times the doctrine according to Luther's name will be called “Luther's doctrine.” On the contrary, we may say that the doctrine taught by Luther will remain eternal as the Word of God because Luther's doctrine is the Word of God. This is what we say even more.

All who believe and accept the Word of God are in this sense Lutheran, though they may not call themselves so, or even know Luther's name, or may not suffer to be named so. Indeed, the Lutheran doctrine, because it is nothing more than the doctrine of the Word of God, has long existed before Luther was born. An old [page 168, col. 2] Lutheran teacher has written a book with the title “Lutheranism before Luther.” [Kürtzlich-gewiesenes Lutherthum vor Luthero by August Pfeiffer] There he enumerates all the dear confessors of truth and says that all are what we call “Lutherans” in our time, namely Bible Christians. Luther himself says of himself: “Thus Luther himself will not be Lutheran, unless he teaches the Holy Scripture purely." Only in this sense can we also call ourselves “Lutheran.” We have recognized that Luther's doctrine is true with Scripture, that is, God's doctrine is God's Word itself. Of course, one must have realized that Luther's doctrine is God's Word. Our verse is a confession. You can only confess what you know and believe. He who does not know the Word of God and Luther's doctrine cannot, of course, confess that the two are in agreement. He must first come to know both God's Word and Luther's doctrine, and convince himself that Luther is teaching nothing but God's Word. Then, of course, he will no longer stumble on the verse. Because we are now convinced that Luther's doctrine is the Biblical truth, nothing other than God's Word, and no one has ever been able to convict us of the contrary, we confess of the two as one thing:

God's Word and Luther's Doctrine Pure

Shall to Eternity Endure.

E.P.

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      There are a lot of Christians today who will "not suffer to be named" as Lutherans.  But so far as they believe and accept God's Word, they ARE Lutherans.  And I would extend Prof. Pardieck's statement:

In so far as “Lutherans” do not believe and accept God's Word, they ARE NOT Lutherans.

      I have read of some scholars who question whether the Papists verbally said the Lutherans were Scriptural and they, the Papal party, had to rely on the traditions of men.  But I will believe Luther's own testimony that they did indeed say these very things at Augsburg in 1530.  Let the modern scholars and theologians mumble and grumble… they were not there with Luther.
      I confess with Prof. Eduard Pardieck:

“Because we are now convinced that Luther's doctrine is the Biblical truth, nothing other than God's Word, and no one has ever been able to convict us of the contrary, we confess of the two as one thing.”

i.e. God's Word = Luther's Doctrine. — In the next Part 4a...