# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S13
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1884. 13

and have become entirely different people, whereas we have remained with the old ones, but they have fallen away. But let no one be misled by this outcry. The truth is rather this: our adversaries, if one may hold them to their words, practice a shameful idolatry with the dogmaticians, much as the Corinthians did with Apollos; as those called themselves Apollonian, so our opponents may rightly be called Gerhardian, Quenstedtian, Hunniusian, etc. We, on the other hand, have always taught that one should not found one's faith on the dogmaticians; their authority does not bind us. But we hold them in high esteem because they expound Scripture so clearly. Even our opponents must themselves admit that the dogmaticians almost without exception teach falsely about the Sabbath and falsely about the power of the secular government in church matters. Nevertheless we esteem the dogmaticians highly, because in other respects they are mighty and powerful expositors of Scripture. If we did not do so, we would not be true Lutherans. For our Lutheran Church confesses not only that Scripture is the sole source and norm of all doctrines, but also that one should use human teachers for one's salvation. So it says, for example, in the

Formula of Concord: "But hereby other good, useful, pure books, expositions of Holy Scripture, refutations of errors, explanations of the doctrinal articles are not rejected; which, in so far as they conform to the pattern of doctrine now mentioned, can be held and used profitably as useful expositions and explanations." (Repetition. Of the Summary Concept. p. 571.)

Our Confession does not despise even a Melanchthon, although in his writings the beginning or the roots of many errors are found. For when the Formula of Concord was to be drawn up, many thought that now Melanchthon should be condemned and his books all cashiered. But they were told: read them, only test everything. So it says, namely, in the Preface to the Christian Book of Concord: "Thus we have also wished hereby to testify and declare publicly that we . . . do not wish other more useful writings of Master Philip Melanchthon, as also of Brentius, Urbanus Rhegius, Pomeranus, etc., in so far as they agree with the Norma incorporated in the Concordia, to be rejected or condemned." (p. 14.)

Melanchthon is therefore here placed in one row with Brenz, Rhegius, Pomeranus and others. Further we read in the

Smalcald Articles: "Here some passages are brought against us, such as Matt. 16:18 f.: 'You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my congregation or church'; likewise: 'To you I will give the keys'; likewise: 'Feed my sheep'; and the like. But since this whole matter has been treated diligently and sufficiently by our people before, we will here