# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S31
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1884. 29

command you." If nothing may be added to Scripture and yet one finds the truth in it, then it alone must have the authority to give all knowledge of the faith, to impart all divine saving truths. The papists indeed say: That is not a correct interpretation of this passage, for after the 5 Books of Moses much has been added. But where does it say here that God may add nothing? Us, us men he forbids the adding. So one cannot, to be sure, prove from the 5 Books of Moses that Christ was to be born of a virgin. This revelation God added only much later through the prophet Isaiah. If, then, when Moses died, there was nothing further of divine word than the 5 Books of Moses, they were nevertheless then the complete canon. Whoever taught what was not in the 5 Books of Moses, and could not prove that he had received a new revelation from God, was a heretic if he stubbornly persisted. Therefore the children of God already then had their perfect Bible, and that was enough for them.

Another proof passage is 2 Tim. 3:15–17: "And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Here it is said not only that the whole Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit and has a fourfold use, but also that it makes a servant of God perfect, equipped for every good work. But what can make a man perfect must itself be perfect. Hence it follows of itself: if Holy Scripture is perfect with respect to its purpose, then it is quite unnecessary to seek other sources besides. If these other sources teach the same, they are unnecessary; but if they teach something else, we must reject them all the more. Whoever, therefore, sets another source of knowledge of the faith beside Scripture denies the authority that belongs to it alone.

Further it says in Acts 26:22: And saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come." Even a Paul wanted to say nothing beside or outside Scripture, how much less have we the power to do so! Even if what we teach did not contradict Scripture, indeed agreed with it, it is nevertheless to be rejected if we cannot prove that we have drawn it out of Scripture.

Luke 16:27–31: "Then he said (the rich man): I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father