{"id":42975,"date":"2020-01-05T16:38:21","date_gmt":"2020-01-05T20:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?p=42975"},"modified":"2020-01-05T16:38:21","modified_gmt":"2020-01-05T20:38:21","slug":"martin-luther-on-the-exact-nature-of-being-biblical","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2020\/01\/martin-luther-on-the-exact-nature-of-being-biblical.html","title":{"rendered":"Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/p>\n

For what is not against the Scriptures is for the Scriptures and the Scriptures are for it.<\/span> (Letter to Philip Melanchthon, 13 January 1522<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I like this. It\u2019s not the too-often expressed silly Protestant understanding that everything must be explicitly<\/em> laid out in Scripture, or cannot be believed. This is much more Catholic and nuanced: whatever is not contrary to, and is harmonious with Scripture is biblical and scriptural. I\u2019ve been saying this for 29 years as a Catholic. I\u2019m delighted to hear that Luther agrees . . .<\/span><\/p>\n

Luther made this observation in the midst of defending infant baptism, which is not explicit in Scripture, but has plenty of deductive or indirect or strongly implied support there, and is in perfect harmony with the Bible (which is why the vast majority of Christians throughout history have believed in it).<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is the context of his remark: the entire paragraph up to and including the portion I have cited:<\/span><\/p>\n

To present a child false for baptism, then, is nothing else than to\u00a0offer it to Christ, as though He were present on earth with\u00a0open hands of grace, and He has showed us by many proofs\u00a0that He accepts what is offered; why should we doubt it? This\u00a0one thing at least we have won from the \u201cprophets\u201d [i.e., Protestant groups more radical than his own]; they\u00a0cannot prove their contention, for they have neither testimonies nor illustrations, but we have both, and their testimony does not contradict us. For who will argue,\u2014\u201dWe must believe and be baptized; therefore infants must not be baptized\u201d?\u00a0They cannot draw that conclusion from that text, for it does\u00a0not prove that infants do not believe; but I presuppose that;\u00a0therefore they ought to prove it otherwise, and cannot. For\u00a0what is not against the Scriptures is for the Scriptures\u00a0and the Scriptures are for it.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The entire letter above is found in<\/span> Luther\u2019s Correspondence and Other Contemporary Letters, Volume II: 1521-1530<\/em><\/a>, translated and edited by Preserved Smith and Charles M. Jacobs, Philadelphia: The Lutheran Publication Society, 1918. The short citation occurs on page 86; the entire letter from pages 84-86.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bible never explicitly endorses infant baptism; however, there are very good and solid indirect, deductive arguments in favor of it from Scripture. See my papers:<\/span><\/p>\n

Infant Baptism: A Fictional Dialogue<\/a>\u00a0[1995]<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Baptism & the Analogy of Circumcision (John Calvin)<\/a>\u00a0[1998]<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Dialogue: Bible on Infant Baptism & Baptismal Regeneration<\/a>\u00a0[3-13-02]<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Baptism of Entire Households in the NT (Infant Baptism)<\/a>\u00a0[2004]<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Old Testament Analogies & Precursors to Infant Baptism<\/a>\u00a0[3-8-06]<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Dialogue with a Baptist: Infant Baptism in the New Testament?<\/a>\u00a0[4-29-15]<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
What the Bible Reveals About Infant Baptism<\/a>\u00a0[National Catholic Register<\/em>, 7-27-17]
\n*<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Reply to Protestant on Infant Baptism & Miscellany<\/a>\u00a0[6-23-18]<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
As for the larger issue of a supposed teaching in Holy Scripture that only doctrines taught explicitly therein are to be believed, see my papers:\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Biblical Argumentation: Same as\u00a0Sola Scriptura<\/em>?:\u00a0Development of Doctrine, Tradition,\u00a0Sola Scriptura<\/em>, and Implicit vs. Explicit Biblical Proofs (The Papacy as a Test Case)\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0[10-7-03]<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
\u201cBiblical Evidence\u201d from the Catholic Point of View<\/a>\u00a0[2-1-08]<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Biblical Argumentation is\u00a0NOT<\/em>\u00a0Sola Scriptura<\/em><\/a>\u00a0[5-8-12]<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
\u201cExplicit\u201d Bible Proofs & Protestant Double Standards<\/a>\u00a0[2-12-16] <\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Catholics R More Biblical Than Protestants? (Dialogue)<\/a>\u00a0(vs.\u00a0Dustin Buck Lattimore) [5-3-17]<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Here\u2019s Proof That Not Every Protestant Doctrine is Biblical<\/a>\u00a0[National Catholic Register<\/em>, 3-6-18]<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Luther also made the following extraordinary comment on this issue of the relationship of tradition to our Christian beliefs. It\u2019s from his letter to Albrecht (or Albert), Margrave of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia, dated April 1532 by some and February or early March by others. The well-known Luther biographer Roland H. Bainton cites the following portion of it:<\/span>\n

This testimony of the universal holy Christian Church,\u00a0even if we had nothing else<\/i>, would be a sufficient warrant for holding this article [on the sacrament] and refusing to suffer or listen to a sectary, for it is dangerous and fearful to hear or believe anything against the unanimous testimony, belief, and teaching of the universal holy Christian churches, unanimously held in all the world from the beginning until now over fifteen hundred years.\u00a0(Studies on the Reformation<\/i>, Boston: Beacon Press, 1963, p. 26; primary source: WA [Werke<\/i>, Weimar edition in German], Vol. XXX, 552)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

For more along these lines, see:<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Martin Luther\u2019s Remarkably \u201cPro-Tradition\u201d Strain of Thought<\/a>\u00a0[1-18-08]<\/p>\n

The \u201cCatholic-Sounding\u201d Luther: 25 Examples<\/a>\u00a0[6-16-08]<\/p>\n

Martin Luther: Catholicism is Christian<\/a>\u00a0[6-12-13]<\/p>\n

Top Ten Remarkable \u201cCatholic\u201d Beliefs of Martin Luther<\/a>\u00a0[1-19-15]<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Money Trees Do Not Exist<\/strong>:<\/span>\u00a0If you have been aided in any way by my work, or think it is valuable and worthwhile, please strongly consider financially supporting it (even $10 \/ month \u2014 a mere 33 cents a day \u2014 would be very helpful). I have been a full-time Catholic apologist since Dec. 2001, and have been writing Christian apologetics since 1981 (see\u00a0my Resume<\/a>).\u00a0My work has been proven (by God\u2019s grace alone) to be fruitful, in terms of changing lives (see the tangible evidences\u00a0from unsolicited \u201ctestimonies\u201d<\/a>).\u00a0I have to pay my bills like all of you: and have a (homeschooling) wife and three children still at home to provide for, and a mortgage to pay.<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
My book royalties from\u00a0three bestsellers in the field<\/a>\u00a0(published in 2003-2007) have been decreasing, as has my overall income, making it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.\u00a0 I provide over 2600 free articles here, for the purpose of your edification and education, and have\u00a0written 50 books<\/a>.\u00a0It\u2019ll literally be a struggle to survive financially until Dec. 2020, when both my wife and I will be receiving Social Security. If you cannot contribute, I ask for your prayers (and \u201clikes\u201d and links and shares). Thanks!<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
See my\u00a0information on how to donate<\/a>\u00a0(including 100% tax-deductible donations). It\u2019s very simple to contribute to my apostolate via PayPal, if a tax deduction is not needed (my \u201cbusiness name\u201d there is called \u201cCatholic Used Book Service,\u201d from my old bookselling days 17 or so years ago, but send to my email: apologistdave@gmail.com). Another easy way to send and receive money (with a bank account or a mobile phone) is through\u00a0Zelle<\/a>. Again, just send to my e-mail address.\u00a0May God abundantly bless you.<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
***<\/span><\/div>\n

(originally posted on 11-10-14 on Facebook; revised and expanded on 1-5-20)<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo credit:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Martin Luther; portrait by Daniel Hopfer in 1523<\/span> [Wikimedia Commons<\/a> \/\u00a0Creative Commons<\/a>\u00a0Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International<\/a>\u00a0license]<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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For what is not against the Scriptures is for the Scriptures and the Scriptures are for it. (Letter to Philip Melanchthon, 13 January 1522) I like this. It\u2019s not the too-often expressed silly Protestant understanding that everything must be explicitly laid out in Scripture, or cannot be believed. This is much more Catholic and nuanced: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":42978,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,23],"tags":[48,514,1879,1878,33,1387,1386,535,1877,10074,3676,7107,32,536,35,47],"class_list":["post-42975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-and-tradition","category-martin-luther","tag-bible-alone","tag-bible-only","tag-biblical-prooftexts","tag-biblical-theology","tag-christian-authority","tag-exegesis","tag-hermeneutics","tag-holy-bible","tag-infallible-authority","tag-luther-scripture","tag-luther-sola-scriptura","tag-luther-the-rule-of-faith","tag-rule-of-faith","tag-sacred-scripture","tag-scripture-alone","tag-sola-scriptura"],"yoast_head":"\nMartin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being "Biblical"<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Being "biblical" doesn't mean that everything must be explicitly laid out in Scripture, or cannot be believed. 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Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \\\"Catholic Answers Live\\\" (twice), \\\"Faith and Family Live\\\" (Steve Wood), \\\"Kresta in the Afternoon,\\\" \\\"Son Rise Morning Show,\\\" \\\"Catholic Connection\\\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \\\"The Catholics Next Door.\\\" His large and popular website, \\\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\\\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \\\"index\\\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \\\"Surprised by Truth\\\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \\\"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\\\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \\\"The Catholic Verses\\\" (2004), \\\"The One-Minute Apologist\\\" (2007), \\\"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\\\" (2009), \\\"The Quotable Newman\\\" (editor: 2012), and \\\"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\\\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \\\"The New Catholic Answer Bible\\\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \\\"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\\\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \\\"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\\\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \\\"Quotable Wesley\\\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being \"Biblical\"","description":"Being \"biblical\" doesn't mean that everything must be explicitly laid out in Scripture, or cannot be believed. 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \"This Rock\" (now called \"Catholic Answers Magazine\"), \"Envoy Magazine\" (Patrick Madrid), \"The Catholic Answer,\" \"The Coming Home Journal,\" \"Gilbert Magazine\" (American Chesterton Society), and \"The Latin Mass.\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \"The Michigan Catholic\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \"Envoy Magazine.\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \"Catholic Answers Live\" (twice), \"Faith and Family Live\" (Steve Wood), \"Kresta in the Afternoon,\" \"Son Rise Morning Show,\" \"Catholic Connection\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \"The Catholics Next Door.\" His large and popular website, \"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \"Envoy Magazine.\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \"index\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \"Surprised by Truth\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \"The Catholic Verses\" (2004), \"The One-Minute Apologist\" (2007), \"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\" (2009), \"The Quotable Newman\" (editor: 2012), and \"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \"The New Catholic Answer Bible\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \"Quotable Wesley\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).","sameAs":["https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42975"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42975\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}