Homework

Read Articles 1 through 3 (provided) and work through some of the

questions and Bible verses.
28 points
a study of the Augsburg Confession
· Why is it important to clear up who God is in the debate that
the Lutherans are about to have?

· “A minister without theology is like a doctor without

anatomy or an engineer without physics. They will kill
someone.” When are you asked questions about who God
is? How does a knowledge of God’s character and nature
figure into your own struggles with life?

The Book of What?

Introduction to the Book of

Please don’t throw this away. If you’re not going to use it, leave it for
someone else to use. Concord and the Augsburg
Confession

A Book of Harmony
The year was 1530. It had been about 15 years since Luther had
started a ruckus in Wittenberg by posting the 95 Theses. Since then,
a new grouping of Christians had come on the scene – some of them
called themselves the “Evangelisch Kirke” or the “Gospel Church”,
some of them just called themselves “The Lutherans”.
Even at this point, after their leader, Martin Luther, had been
excommunicated from the Roman Catholic church and attempts had
been made on his life – these Lutherans did not see themselves as a
separate denomination. They saw themselves as a group advocating
reform with the Roman Catholic church.
They were still making their arguments hoping that some how the
Roman Catholic church would come to its senses and accept the
Lutheran position on Scripture and grace as well as a few other
things.
In order to help produce this “harmony” between the Lutherans and
the Roman Catholics – the Lutherans drew up a document for
perusal by both the civic leaders of the day as well as the Roman
Catholic church leaders. This document soon became known as the
Book of Concord. Although it never established harmony between
the Lutherans and the Roman Catholics – it did serve as the
harmonious common belief of all Lutherans.
· Recently the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America made a
decision to allow non-celibate homosexual people to practice
as clergy. Some have said that this makes them cease being
Lutheran – from what you know of the beliefs of Lutherans –
do you agree?
Article III: Of the Son of God
1] Also they teach that the Word, that is, the Son of God, did assume
the human nature in 2] the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, so that
there are two natures, the divine and the human, inseparably enjoined
in one Personq, one Christ, true God and true man, who was born of
the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and 3] buried,
that He might reconcile the Father unto us, and be a sacrifice, not
only for original guilt, but also for all actual sins of menr.
4] He also descended into hell, and truly rose again the third day;
afterward He ascended into heaven that He might sit on the right
hand of the Father, and forever reign and have dominion over all
creatures, and sanctifys 5] them that believe in Him, by sending the
Holy Ghost into their hearts, to rule, comfort, and quicken t them,
and to defend them against the devil and the power of sin.
6] The same Christ shall openly come again to judge the quick and
the dead, etc., according to the Apostles' Creed.
· I Corinthians 15:1-11
· The person of Jesus is the cornerstone of all Christian faith.
When Jesus becomes less of a human or less of a member of
the Trinity, our hope is lost. If Jesus was only a man, why
would we not have hope? If Jesus were only God, why
would we not have hope?
q
The Two Natures in Christ are often considered to be “the other mystery” of
the Trinity – although they deal with only one Person of the Trinity, the Son.
r
Jesus came not only to fix that which we had no control over, but also to fix
what we do have control over – the sins that we knowingly and unknowingly
commit daily
s
This means “actively make holy”
t
Literally “make them alive”
Article II: Of Original Sin
1] Also theyn teach that since the fall of Adam all men begotten in the
natural way are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God,
without trust in God, and with 2] concupiscenceo; and that this
disease, or vice of origin, is truly sin, even now condemning and
bringing eternal death upon those not born again through Baptism
and the Holy Ghost.
3] They condemn the Pelagiansp and others who deny that original
depravity is sin, and who, to obscure the glory of Christ's merit and
benefits, argue that man can be justified before God by his own
strength and reason.
· Romans 5:12-21
· Original sin is the issue that makes infant Baptism a practice
of the Lutheran (and other Christian) churches. This belief
explains why we sin, because we’re born with a mutation that
causes us to sin. This mutation in itself is sin (alteration from
God’s plan) and is therefore damning. Baptism then works
like a pacemaker, constantly providing a “jolt” of forgiveness
that corrects the mutation when it seeks to do us harm. Why
do you think some Christians do not believe in original sin?
Do you think that it is important that we as Lutherans do
believe in it?
· Some people quibble with “Baby baptism” claiming that it is
not explicitly mentioned in the Scriptures. Technically they
are correct (although it IS implicitly mentioned), but is that
enough evidence to not baptize an infant?
The Augustana
The first and most foundational document of the Book of Concord
is called “The Augsburg Confession” which is often shortened to
“The Augustana”.
This is going to be the text that we are examining during this study.
The 28 articles of the Augustana is divided into two parts:
· The Chief Articles of the Faith (1-21)
· Abuses Corrected (22-28)
These 28 Articles were presented and then later on defended in a
subsequent document called “the Apology [or Defense] of the
Augsburg Confession”. In between these two documents, the
Roman Catholics wrote a response called the “Confutation” which
turned out to be very shoddy work and was never released for wide
spread publication.
Ten years later the Augsburg Confession was altered by those who
wished to seek more of a bond with John Calvin and his reformation
activities. This document was often called “The Variata” by
Lutherans who considered the document to be un-Lutheran since it
substantially altered the understanding of Christ’s presence in
communion to be only “spiritually present” but not physically “in
with and under” the bread and wine.
· What points would you include on a “What We Believe” for
University Lutheran?

n
They = “Our churches”, the Lutheran churches. Sometimes the use of 3rd
person plural can get confusing.
o
Concupiscence is a technical theological term that actually becomes very
important in the Lutheran meaning of “sin” and “Original sin”. It basically
means “a lust for sin”.
p
Pelagians are followers of Pelagius. This early church heretic believed that
Jesus did not actually come to save the world through His atoning sacrifice, but
that He came to save it merely through providing us with a good example of
what our lives should be like.

How This Study Works
This study will be a little different than some of our studies have
been. This is mostly due to the fact that the text of the Augsburg
Confession isn’t something that most people – even most Lutherans
– actually own.
Because of that the 28 Articles of the Augsburg Confession will be
printed in this booklet weekly. You are encouraged to read the
articles before we meet every week. Additionally, each article will
include Bible readings and questions to research.
Today we will try to read the Preface together and Articles 1-3 will be
the subject of our discussion for next week.
Preface to the Emperor Charles V
1] Most Invincible Emperor, Caesar Augustus, Most Clementa Lord:
Inasmuch as Your Imperial Majesty has summoned a Dietb of the
Empire here at Augsburg to deliberate concerning measures against
the Turkc, that most atrocious, hereditary, and ancient enemy of the
Christian name and religion, in what way, namely, effectually to
withstand his furor and assaults by strong and lasting military
provisiond; 2] and then also concerning dissensions in the matter of
our holy religion and Christian Faith, that in this matter of religion
the opinions and judgments of the parties might be heard in each
other's presence; and considered and weighed 3] among ourselves in
mutual charity, leniency, and kindness, in order that, after the
removal and correction of such things as have been treated and
understood in a different manner in the writings on either side, these
matters may be settled and brought back to one simple truth and
Christian concord, 4] that for the future one pure and true religion
a l
Lenient, inclined to mercy
b
Meeting of the Holy Roman Empire, a union of territories in Europe
c
Muslims, whom the leaders of the Holy Roman Empire were extremely afraid
of taking over their lands
d
Part of the reason the Holy Roman Empire is paying attention is because they
think the Lutherans splitting off will make them militarily weak and therefore
easy prey for the Muslims
Article I: Of God
1] Our Churches, with common consent, do teach that the decree of
the Council of Nicaeaj concerning the Unity of the Divine Essence
and concerning the Three Persons, is true and to be believed without
any doubting; 2] that is to say, there is one Divine Essence which is
called and which is God: eternal, without body, without parts, of
infinite power, wisdom, and goodness, the Maker and Preserver of all
things, visible and invisible; and 3] yet there are three Persons, of the
same essence and power, who also are coeternal, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost. And the term "person" 4] they use as the
Fathers have used it, to signify, not a part or quality in another, but
that which subsists of itself.
· Matthew 28:1-20
· The Trinity is a confusing topic because it is humans trying to
conceptualize God’s very nature. This article boils it down to
two basic statements. How would you tell someone what the
Trinity is?
5] They condemn all heresies which have sprung up against this
article, as the Manichaeansk, who assumed two principles, one Good
and the other Evil: also the Valentinians, Arians, Eunomians,
Mohammedans, and all suchl. 6] They condemn also the
Samosatenesm, old and new, who, contending that there is but one
Person, sophistically and impiously argue that the Word and the Holy
Ghost are not distinct Persons, but that "Word" signifies a spoken
word, and "Spirit" signifies motion created in things.
· The Lutherans here are showing that they have a knowledge
of what heresy is, and that they don’t think they are heretics.
What are some of the heresies alive and well today?
j
The same Council that began the work we recognize today as “The Nicene
Creed” that was later adopted at the Council of Constantinople.
k
Manicheans – dualists who believed in two *equal* forces and/or “gods” in the
world, good and evil
Valentinians, Arians, Eunomians, Mohammedans… - All considered to be
branches of the “Gnostics”. “Gnostics” were people that believed that a special
knowledge was given to them outside of the revelation of Scripture – this
normally included a different conceptualization of God (i.e. the Arians
confessed only 2 members of the Trinity as being fully God, disqualifying Jesus)
m
Samosatenes – a follower of a variety of teachings which at one point or
another make only one member of the Trinity truly God.
General Council, to be published as soon as possible by letters that
were to be sent out.
· This is not only the freedom to practice Christianity, but the
freedom to practice it in a sectarian denomination because
that is what your conscience demands. Denominations get a
bad rap these days, but what would happen if we were all
forced to be “generic Christian”. What would be the good
that came from that? What would be the bad?
21] If the outcome, therefore, should be such that the differences
between us and the other parties in the matter of religion should not
be amicably and in charity settled, then here, before Your Imperial
Majesty we make the offer in all obedience, in addition to what we
have already done, that we will all appear and defend our cause in
such a general, free Christian Council, for the convening of which
there has always been accordant action and agreement of votes in all
the Imperial Diets held during Your Majesty's reign, on the part of
the Electors, Princes, and other Estates of the Empire. 22] To the
assembly of this General Council, and at the same time to Your
Imperial Majesty, we have, even before this, in due manner and form
of law, addressed ourselves and made appeal in this matter, by far the
greatest and gravest. To this 23] appeal, both to Your Imperial
Majesty and to a Council, we still adhere; neither do we intend nor
would it be possible for us, to relinquish it by this or any other
document, unless the matter between us and the other side,
according to the tenor of the latest Imperial citation should be
amicably and charitably settled, allayed, and brought to Christian
concord; 24] and regarding this we even here solemnly and publicly
testify.
· It was reported that the princes offered this document as they
were told to recant their position as reformers and supporters
of the reformation. When they did so, they knelt down and
bowed their heads – not in prayer – but in defiance saying
that if they were not allowed to follow the Gospel, they were
willing to be beheaded. They kept their heads. The word
“martyr” means witness, not necessarily “dead witness” –
how can we be martyrs today?
may be embraced and maintained by us, that as we all are under one
Christ and do battle under Him, so we may be able also to live in
unity and concord in the one Christian Church.
· The Lutherans are making the argument here that allowing
for the free practice of religion and the unity of the Christian
church is actually good for the state. Do you agree?
And inasmuch as we, the undersigned Electors and 5] Princese, with
others joined with us, have been called to the aforesaid Diet the same
as the other Electors, Princes, and Estates, in obedient compliance
with the Imperial mandatef, we have promptly come to Augsburg,
and—what we do not mean to say as boasting—we were among the
first to be here.
6] Accordingly, since even here at Augsburg at the very beginning of
the Diet, Your Imperial Majesty caused to be proposed to the
Electors, Princes, and other Estates of the Empire, amongst other
things, that the several Estates of the Empire, on the strength of the
Imperial edict, should set forth and submit their opinions and
judgments in the German and the Latin 7] language, and since on the
ensuing Wednesday, answer was given to Your Imperial Majesty,
after due deliberation, that we would submit the Articles of our
Confession for our side on next Wednesday, therefore, in obedience
to Your Imperial Majesty's 8] wishes, we offer, in this matter of
religion, the Confession of our preachers and of ourselves, showing
what manner of doctrine from the Holy Scriptures and the pure
Word of God has been up to this time set forth in our lands,
dukedoms, dominions, and cities, and taught in our churches.
· It is important to note here that while the pastors are advisory
members to this group, it is made up largely of politicians and
lay persons. If you were called upon to defend your church’s
existence in a court of law, what kinds of things do you think
you would have to argue?
e
The electoral college members and other royalty of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Lutherans had several influential politicians on their side who signed under
or “subscribed” to the Augsburg Confession.
f
They had been called in to explain why they were allowing this heresy to
continue to go on.

9] And if the other Electors, Princes, and Estates of the Empire will,
according to the said Imperial proposition, present similar writings,
to wit, in Latin and German, giving their opinions in this 10] matter
of religion, we, with the Princes and friends aforesaid, here before
Your Imperial Majesty, our most clement Lord are prepared to
confer amicably concerning all possible ways and means, in order that
we may come together, as far as this may be honorably done, and, the
matter between us on both sides being peacefully discussed without
offensive strife, the dissension, by God's help, may be done away and
brought back to one true accordant 11] religion; for as we all are
under one Christ and do battle under Him, we ought to confess the
one Christ, after the tenor of Your Imperial Majesty's edict, and
everything ought to be conducted according to the truth of God; and
this it is what, with most fervent prayers, we entreat of God.
12] However, as regards the rest of the Electors, Princes, and Estates,
who constitute the other part, if no progress should be made, nor
some result be attained by this treatment of the cause of religion after
the manner in which Your Imperial Majesty has wisely held that it
should be dealt with and treated namely, by such mutual presentation
of writings and calm conferring together among ourselves, 13] we at
least leave with you a clear testimony, that we here in no wise are
holding back from anything that could bring about Christian
concord,—such as could be effected with God and a good
conscience,—as 14] also Your Imperial Majesty and, next, the other
Electors and Estates of the Empire, and all who are moved by
sincere love and zeal for religion, and who will give an impartial
hearing to this matter, will graciously deign to take notice and to
understand this from this Confession of ours and of our associates.
· In other words, “we want to prove that we are Christians in
our words and actions and seek to be completely
transparent.” Do you think that Christian churches are
transparent in the decisions they make? If they aren’t
transparent at times, when are they not so transparent?
15] Your Imperial Majesty also, not only once but often, graciously
signified to the Electors Princes, and Estates of the Empire, and at
the Diet of Spiresg held A.D. 1526, according to the form of Your
Imperial instruction and commission given and prescribed, caused it
to be stated and publicly proclaimed that 16] Your Majesty, in dealing
with this matter of religion, for certain reasons which were alleged in
Your Majesty's name, was not willing to decide and could not
determine anything, but that Your Majesty would diligently use Your
Majesty's office with the Roman Pontiff for the convening of a
General Council.h
17] The same matter was thus publicly set forth at greater length a
year ago at the last Diet which met at Spiresi. 18] There Your
Imperial Majesty, through His Highness Ferdinand, King of Bohemia
and Hungary, our friend and clement Lord, as well as through the
Orator and Imperial Commissioners caused this, among other things,
to be submitted: that Your Imperial Majesty had taken notice of; and
pondered, the resolution of Your Majesty's Representative in the
Empire, and of the President and Imperial Counselors, and the
Legates from other Estates convened at Ratisbon, 19] concerning the
calling of a Council, and that your Imperial Majesty also judged it to
be expedient to convene a Council; and that Your Imperial Majesty
did not doubt the Roman Pontiff could be induced to 20] hold a
General Council, because the matters to be adjusted between Your
Imperial Majesty and the Roman Pontiff were nearing agreement and
Christian reconciliation; therefore Your Imperial Majesty himself
signified that he would endeavor to secure the said Chief Pontiff's
consent for convening, together with your Imperial Majesty such
g
Or Diet of Speyers, this was a two month long meeting which allowed for each
prince or ruling official of a province to determine if he or she would allow
reformist Christians to live without being persecuted. Before this point, the
Edict of Worms had outlawed all reformer churches and had in part started the
Peasant’s Wars. This Diet was a truce or armistice for those princes that wished
to allow the reformers to practice theologically in their provinces.
h
Although Speyers allowed for religious freedom under this truce, it was not a
“legal” religious freedom because it had not been allowed by the Pope. That’s
part of what they are hoping will happen here at Augsburg.
i
This is a second Diet of Speyers which, in effect, negated the religious
freedoms of the first Diet and puts the reformers once again at risk of being
killed.