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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 451

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE

THE INSPIRATION
OF SCRIPTURE

A Report of the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations

The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
March 1975

Preface

In response to Resolutions 3-16. 3-17, and 3-19 of the 1962 con-
vention of The Lutheran Church— Missoun Synod at Cleveland, Ohio.'
the Commission on Theology and Church Relations produced “A Study
Document on Revelation, Inspiration, and Inerrancy.” This document
presented two positions relative to these topics together with an evalua-
tion of each and a thesis-like statement of the doctrine under discussion
which offered some conclusions that seemed justified by the Com-
mission's studies.

After the Commission had received and studied reactions to the
above named document, it published another report in the form of a
single, positive treatment of the subject entitled “Revision of the Study
Document on Revelation, Inspiration, and Inerrancy.”

Subsequent conventions of the Synod continued to adopt resolu-
tions which called for further study of the inspiration of the Scnptures
and related subjects? The Commission, therefore. prepared the docu-
ment herewith offered to the Synod with the prayer that it may be useful
in resolving some of the questions which have been raised in recent
years about the inspiration, inerrancy, authonty. authorship. canonicity.
and unity of the Sacred Writings. May this document encourage the kind
of fraternal discussion that will with the aid of the Holy Spint promote
concord and reconciliation in the Synod.

Abbreviations

All citations of the Lutheran Confessions are taken from The Book of
Concord, edited by T. G. Tappert (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969),
except when noted to the contrary. The following abbreviations have
been used:

Ap Apology of the Augsburg Confession

LC Large Catechism

Scriptural quotations are taken from the Revised Standard Version.

4

Contents

Preface 4
Abbreviations 4
1. Inspiration and the Writers of Scripture 5
A. Inspiration and Revelation s

B. Inspiration and Sources 6

C. Inspiration and the Act of Writing the Scnptures 7

D. Inspiration and the Wnters of Biblical Literature 8

E. Inspiration and the Biblical Writings 8

F. Inspiration and Literary Forms 9

G. Inspiration and the Authorship of Biblical Books 9

If, Inspiration and History to
A. Inspiration and [nerrancy 10

B. Inspiration and Historical Records in the Bible 1

C. Inspiration and the Meaning of Histoncal Events 12

II}. Inspiration and Biblical Authonty 12
A. Inspiration and the Unity of Scripture 12

B. Inspiration and the Authority of Scnpture 14

C. Inspiration and the Gospel 1s

D. Inspiration and Saving Faith 16

E. Inspiration and Doctrinal Formulations 17

IV. {Inspiration and Canonicits 17
Conclusion 18
Notes 19

THE INSPIRATION
OF SCRIPTURE

I. Inspiration and the Writers of Scripture
A. Inspiration and Revelation

“Inspiration and “revelation” are terms which designate very
closely related spiritual realities. According to 1 Cor. 2:9-13 both refer
to an operation of the Holy Spint: both are involved in imparting to man
the knowledge of God and His saving counsels. both are necessary for
our enlightenment “that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us
by God.”

But “inspiration” and “revelation” are not completely coextensive
terms. Revelation can occur without inspiration: inspiration can occur
without revelation,

The term “revelation” denotes every disclosure that God has given
to men of His being. will. purposes. and acts whether this be through
general revelation in the things which He has made and in His con-
tinuing providence, or through special revelation as in theophanies.
visions, and dreams. in the Word of the Lord that came to the prophets
for the instruction of His people. or in the incarnation of His Son.

The term “inspiration” denotes the guidance of the Holy Spint
under which the Biblical authors recorded what God had revealed to
them about the mysteries of His being and the meaning of His mighty
acts in human history for man’s salvation and under which they wrote
concerning any other subject. even if it was about a matter of which
they had knowledge apart from revelation (e. g.. that Josiah was killed
at Megiddo. that Demas deserted Paul. that Eutychus fell out of a
window),

Apokalupsis (revelatio) means the drawing back of a veil to dis-
close hidden things: theopneustos (inspiratus) refers to that which
is breathed into. infused. In theology these terms are used to express
the truth that the Holy Spirit inspired the writings.

When holy men were speaking about the mysteries of God's being,
of His eternal purposes, and of His actions in human history, then both
revelation and inspiration were involved. 2 Peter 1:20-21 teaches that
no prophecy in the Scriptures about the power and coming of God's Son
into human history is a matter of some human being’s private interpre-
tation of what God was doing. but holy men spoke from God as they
were moved by the Holy Spint.

Note how revelation and inspiration are related in } Cor. 2:9-13:
the Holy Spirit reveals the mysteries of God's grace and teaches the
words in which the mystery is spoken.

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