Index of Scripture Passages (Topically Arranged) Concerning the Intersynodical Issues

Abstract

This topical index, compiled by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod’s Standing Committee in Matters of Church Union (1956), organizes Scripture references relevant to doctrinal controversies between Lutheran synods, particularly those surrounding the Common Confession, justification, conversion, election, church fellowship, unionism, prayer fellowship, and cooperation in externals. The index includes citations from synodical reports, tracts, and publications from 1946–1956, offering biblical support for WELS positions on objective justification, sola gratia, the marks of the church, and the identification of the papacy as Antichrist. It also addresses practical concerns such as Scouting, military chaplaincy, and intersynodical negotiations. The document emphasizes fidelity to Scripture, warns against selective use of biblical texts, and affirms the necessity of doctrinal clarity in maintaining confessional integrity. It serves as a resource for pastors and laypeople seeking scriptural grounding for WELS’s doctrinal stance during a period of intersynodical tension. —Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)