The Lutheran Confessionals

When Lutherans mentions this term they are referring to the Lutheran Book of Concord which guides all Lutheran pastors (or should) and Lutheran people. The title of this book comes from the Latin word “concord” which means agreement or unity of purpose. The book was originally published around 1580 and contains the Lutheran Confessions or what we affirm as the essential teachings if the Gospel that our Lutheran unity is based upon.

Although few Lutherans today can read Latin, they usually know what the phrase sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) means. Sola Scriptura is a maxim, our guidebook for action, and is adhered to by all true Lutheran pastors and the laity in our churches. We Lutherans base our theology entirely in the Scriptures of God and nothing more; not our traditions, our leaders’ speculations, “modern scholarship,” nor our own past experiences.

The Book of Concord has ten documents which we Lutherans deem are truthful and authoritative explanations of Holy Scripture. The book contains the three Ecumenical Creeds we aver to, which date back to Roman times and seven creedal documents articulating our Lutheran theology which begun during the Reformation epoch through today.

A copy of the Book of Concord is available free as a download in a link under the Book of Concord heading above.