# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1874_S6
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 6 —

Thesis 2.

The only outward bond of fellowship between the individual Lutheran congregations among many peoples and languages is the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.

Remark: Not strictly required for Lutheran church fellowship is the acceptance of the other Lutheran confessional writings, provided it is not denied that these stand in orthodox connection with the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.

Thesis 3.

Because the Unaltered Augsburg Confession (which in its origin is as historically particular as it is ecumenical in its doctrinal content) is, in all its articles of faith, the pure and unfalsified explanation and exposition of the divine Word, in both doctrine and defense [Lehre und Wehre], the consciences of all Lutherans, whether individuals or congregations or church bodies, are bound to it.

Thesis 4.

Accordingly there is no orthodox Lutheran congregation or Lutheran church body that does not accept the teaching and defending words of this Confession as they read.

Thesis 5.
Whoever denies the binding force of the conclusions that follow logically from the words of this Confession is no true member of the Lutheran Church, even if he wrongfully retains the Lutheran name.

Last year the discussion of this Thesis had already been begun; but since that discussion had not been brought to a conclusion, what had been recorded on it was to be taken into account this year. (Compare the printed Proceedings of the year 1873, p. 20.) There therefore follow here first the testimonies cited last year:

Testimonies:

J. Dan. Arcularius remarks as follows: "Dannhauer writes: 'We by no means exclude all the lawful, rightly flowing consequences and conclusions that can be drawn from our Confession, and we hold them just as much for our Confession as if they were written out in so many letters, clear and plain; and this all the more, because such conclusions and consequences are not so contrary to Holy Scripture, since Christ the Lord and His apostles themselves have hallowed and ennobled them with the name of Scripture, Matt. 22:29–32.' (Reformirtes Salve [The Reformed Salve], p. 231.) If the words of the Confession are true in their right, proper, well-grounded sense, and I accept the truth of such words from the heart, then I have no consequence to fear, even if twenty or thirty were drawn one after another, provided they follow forcefully and cogently; for the rule always stands firm: Ex veris nonnisi verum, from the truth