Q. I'm interested in how the LCMS came to the view of inerrancy of the Bible since the evidence is overwhelming that Martin Luther rejected the notion of Biblical inerrancy.

A. In response, let me note the following. Luther said the following in the Large Catechism: "We know that God does not lie. My neighbor and I--in short, all men--may err and deceive, but God's Word cannot err" ( LC IV, 57). Again he states in the Large Catechism, "If you cannot feel the need, therefore, at least believe the Scriptures. They will not lie to you, and they know your flesh better than you yourself do" (LC V, 76). Luther's view on this question is summarized by the Lutheran Cyclopedia as follows: "Scripture remained [Luther's] sole authority. Though many things in the Bible puzzled and amazed him, he admitted no error in its original MSS. At the same time he emphasized the human part in its writing."

The Lutheran position on the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures was first developed by the Lutheran dogmaticians (theologians) of the seventeenth century. For a review of this teaching and its roots following the period of the Reformation see Robert Preus, "The Inspiration of Scripture in the Concordia Heritage Series" (Edinburgh, 1955), 76-87. See also "F. The Infallibility of Scripture" in A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles .