1. “Reformation 500th Anniversary Bible Study”
Lesson 4 “Scripture Alone”
Trinity Lutheran Church Norman, OK.
Vicar Keith Kettner
A 6 Week Study –
From Sept. 17 to Oct. 22
Grace, Christ, Faith,
Scripture, Justification, Sacraments along with brief clips from LCMS President Rev. Matt Harrison’s walking tour of Luther sites.

2. Quote from the Formula of Concord
“We believe, teach, and confess that the only rule and guiding principle according to which all teachings and teachers are to be evaluated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments alone…” (Epitome, Introduction)

3. The Church has been built around the Word of God from the very beginning.
Genesis 2:16-17
"Today in our churches we have an altar for the administration of the Eucharist, and we have platforms or pulpits for teaching the people. These objects were built not only to meet a need but also to create a solemn atmosphere. But this tree of the knowledge of good and evil was Adam's church, altar, and pulpit." (Luther’s Works 1:95)
"'The Word which the Lord had spoken to Adam was: "Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.' For Adam this Word was Gospel and Law; it was his worship; it was his service and the obedience he could offer God in this state of innocence." (LW1:146)
"The tree was not poisonous; but, as we said above at great length, it was a tree of divine worship, for man to bear witness through his obedience that he knew, honored, and feared his God. For God saw that everything He had made was very good." (LW1:227)

4. God gave a new Word after the Fall.
Genesis 3:14-19
Genesis 4:1
Genesis 4:26

5. God made clear to the Israelites the importance of His Word (ALONE).
Deuteronomy 4:2
Joshua 23:6-8 – “Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day.”

6. Jesus made clear to the disciples the importance of His Word (ALONE).
Matthew 10:7 (3:2, 4:17)
Matthew 28:16-20

7. John emphasizes his eyewitness testimony to the Word (Jesus Himself).
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 21:24-25 “This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

8. Paul addresses those who listen to the words of others rather than Jesus.
Romans 16:17-20
Galatians 1:6-10
Ephesians 2:19-22
2 Timothy 3:16-17

9. Quotes from Pieper
“Genuine ‘prophecy’ and ‘spirit’ were indeed present in the Apostolic Church; therefore Christian congregations were instructed not to reject a priori this Spirit and prophecy, but to apply to them the test of the Apostle’s Word.” (Dogmatics, I, 196)
“Whatever is not taken entirely from Scripture has its origin in the human Ego and is fittingly given the general name rationalism.” (Dogmatics, I, 212)