LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 103

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Re Authorship of the Pentateuch
and the Book of Isaiah
RESOLUTION 2-35
Overtures 2-10, 2-11, 2-22 (CW, pp. 52—56, 72)
Wuereas, The Synod has been asked through sev-
eral overtures to this convention to state its position

regarding the authorship of the Pentateuch and the
Book of Isaiah; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod answer these questions
by appealing to what the Scriptures themselves say,
as for example: “For had ye believed Moses, ye would
have believed Me; for he wrote of Me. But if ye be-
lieve not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?”
(John 5:46, 47; cf. Luke 24:27). “And He stood up to
read; and there was given to Him the book of the
prophet Isaiah” (Luke 4:16, 17; cf. Matt. 4:14-16; Rom.
10:16-20). Thus the Scriptures ascribe the Pentateuch
and the Book of Isaiah to Moses and Isaiah respectively.
The Scriptures do not in SO many words ascribe the
human authorship exclusively to these men, but neither
do they in so many words negate these conclusions;
and be it further

Resolved, That while we uphold the importance of
the human authorship of the Scriptures, even though
the human author of each book cannot be ascertained,
we recognize that divine authorship is the dominant
factor in the origin of the Bible, as the Synod empha-
sizes in the statement it adopted in 1959 (Proceedings,
p. 189): “We condemn and reject any and all teachings
and statements that would limit the inerrancy and
sufficiency of Scripture or that deny the divine au-
thorship of certain portions of Scripture” (Statement
on Scripture, 1958); and be it finally

Resolved, That in our preaching and teaching we do
not bind consciences by saying more than the Scrip-
tures say on these matters, and that, on the other hand,
we warn against the use of theories regarding the au-
thorship of Isaiah and the Pentateuch which detract
from or nullify the divine authority of these books.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

To Adopt Statement on Woman Suffrage
in the Church
RESOLUTION 2-36

Overtures 2-03, 2-04, 2-05 (CW, pp. 48, 49); 2-44 Un
(URO, p. 4)

Wuereas, One of God’s gifts to His church is the
large number of faithful women who perform many
and varied services to the congregation in loving obe-
dience to their Lord; and

Wuereas, In previous conventions the Synod has,
after a study in depth by a special committee, repeat-
edly and at length stated its position on the place of
woman in the church according to Scripture (St. Paul
Proceedings, 1956, pp. 553—571; San Francisco Proceed-
ings, 1959, pp. 495, 496); and

DOCTRINAL MATTERS 103

Wuereas, Requests have come for clarification of the
Synod’s position on this matter; and

Wuereas, Scripture is the only norm for solving
the problems confronting us in our church life; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That we adopt the following statement for
guidance in this matter:

1. On the basis of 1 Cor. 14:34, 35 and 1 Tim. 2:11-15
we hold that God forbids women publicly to preach
and teach the Word to men and to hold any office or
vote in the church where this involves exercising au-
thority over men with respect to the public admini-
stration of the Office of the Keys. We regard this
Principle as of binding force also today because 1 Tim.
2:11-15 refers to what God established at creation.

2. As stated at the St. Paul convention in 1956 and
at the San Francisco convention in 1959, we consider
woman suffrage in the church as contrary to Scripture
only when it violates the above-mentioned Scriptural
principles.

3. In Gal. 3:28 St. Paul speaks of the redeemed chil-
dren of God and their blessed relationship with Christ
and with one another. This blessed relationship through
faith does not cancel the order God has established
at the time of creation but sanctifies and hallows it.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

Re Resolutions by Iowa District West
on the Habel Essay
RESOLUTION 2-37
Overture 2-47 M (TB, p. 6)

Whereas, Dr. Norman Habel on request originally
prepared an essay, “The Form and Meaning of the Fall
Narrative,” and presented it to a joint conference of
the faculties of the Springfield and St. Louis seminaries
with the Council of Presidents for the purpose of study
and discussion; and

Whereas, Dr. Habel on invitation by the Iowa Dis-
trict West presented this same essay at a special con-
ference of the District; and

Wuereas, The Iowa District West has indicated cer-
tain concerns in reaction to this essay; therefore be it

Resolved, That in recognition of the concerns ex-
pressed by Iowa District West the Synod advise the
District —

1. to present all concerns involving hermeneutical
method to the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations; and

2. to direct any request pertaining to the classroom
teaching of this material to the appropriate Board of
Control, as specified in the synodical Handbook; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Synod advise the Board of Con-
trol of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., to decide
whether the interpretive method employed in this