Luther rejected the popular allegorical interpretation of Scripture in favor of a historical, literary and philological interpretation. Although Luther saw the Bible as much more than a historical document, he did not find the study of the Bible as a historical document, including it’s textual errors, to be a threat to its status as the word of God.

—Dr. Walter Taylor, at a meeting of Canadian and U. S. Lutheran bishops today

Bishop of the Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

January 8, 2011

2 thoughts on “Luther rejected the popular allegorical interpretation of Scripture in favor of a historical, literary and philological interpretation. Although Luther saw the Bible as much more than a historical document, he did not find the study of the Bible as a historical document, including it’s textual errors, to be a threat to its status as the word of God.”

Kevin Haug
January 8, 2011 at 8:49 am

Not necessarily what Dr. Craig Nessan of Wartburg said in his lecture: “Interpreting the Bible Lutheranly: Between the Undertow and a Tsunami”.
Mike Rinehart
January 8, 2011 at 10:07 am

Agreed. Excellent article Kevin.

I suspect Nessan and Taylor would have an interesting conversation.

I tend to think of Luther as between the under-determination of
postmodern interpretation and the over-determination of modern
fundamentalism.

Perhaps Wally was saying what Nessan reflected:

“Luther… understood that the Bible developed in a process subject to
the vagaries of human authorship and redaction.”