Lutheran

Grew from

Roman Catholic

From

1517 AD

Origin

Wittenberg

Began with Luther's protest over indulgences and the authority behind them; the first Reformation body to produce a confession of its own.

In the record

1. 1517 AD Reform

   The Reformation begins

   Luther's objections to indulgences opened a wider argument about authority, scripture and justification that divided western Christendom.

What it holds

Each position in the terms this tradition itself uses, with its confessional source.

Baptism Church-dividing

Baptism works forgiveness and new birth, and is offered to children, who are thereby received into God's grace. Augsburg Confession, Article IX (1530)

Church authority Church-dividing

Bishops have authority to preach and administer the sacraments, but not to impose what scripture does not require. Augsburg Confession, Article XXVIII (1530)

Justification Church-dividing

Sinners are justified freely on account of Christ, through faith, and not for any merit or work of their own. Augsburg Confession, Article IV (1530)

Mary Church-dividing

Mary is worthy of honour and called blessed, but is not to be invoked; Christ alone is mediator. Augsburg Confession, Article XXI (1530)

Scripture and tradition Church-dividing

Scripture is the only rule and norm by which all teaching is to be judged; the creeds are received because they agree with it. Formula of Concord, Epitome (1577)

The Lord's Supper Church-dividing

The body and blood of Christ are truly present and distributed in, with and under the bread and wine, without the substance of bread being destroyed. Augsburg Confession, Article X (1530)

The saints and intercession Church-dividing

The saints are to be remembered and imitated, but scripture nowhere commands invoking them. Augsburg Confession, Article XXI (1530)

The state after death Church-dividing

Purgatory is rejected; the dead rest until the resurrection. Smalcald Articles, II.ii (1537)

How many sacraments Genuine disagreement

Two are certainly sacraments, baptism and the Supper; absolution is sometimes counted a third. Augsburg Confession, Article XIII (1530)

Icons and images Genuine disagreement

Images are permitted and used for teaching; they are neither commanded nor forbidden. Formula of Concord (1577)

Ordination of women Genuine disagreement

Practice differs by church body: many Lutheran churches ordain women, others do not. Contemporary practice, summarised

Perseverance of the saints Genuine disagreement

Faith can be lost through unbelief or grievous sin, and is restored through repentance. Formula of Concord, Article XI (1577)

Predestination and free will Genuine disagreement

Election to salvation is by grace alone, but the lost are condemned by their own resistance; God is not the cause of anyone's damnation. Formula of Concord, Article XI (1577)

How the cross saves Difference of emphasis

Holds substitution together with Christ's victory; the cross is both payment and conquest. Held across the confessional standards; no tradition makes one theory a test of communion.

Spiritual gifts Difference of emphasis

Extraordinary gifts are not required; the ordinary means of word and sacrament are emphasised. Lutheran teaching, summarised

The millennium Difference of emphasis

Amillennial; the Augsburg Confession explicitly rejects the expectation of an earthly golden age before the resurrection. Augsburg Confession, XVII (1530) for the Lutheran position; otherwise contemporary practice, summarised.

Inspiration of scripture Broad agreement

Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Held across all confessional standards

Salvation originates in grace Broad agreement

Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Second Council of Orange (529)

The Incarnation Broad agreement

Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)

The Resurrection Broad agreement

Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)

The Trinity Broad agreement

Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)