We confess that scripture is the very Word of God. As such we hold to the statement of the Lutheran Confessions in the Formula of Concord: “We believe, teach, and confess that the prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments are the only rule and norm according to which all doctrines and teachers alike must be appraised and judged, as it is written in Psalms. 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” And St. Paul says in Gal. 1:8, “Even if an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Epitome to the Formula of Concord, Par.1) As Scripture is the very Word of God we believe that it is verbally inspired. This does not mean that the men of God who wrote the scriptures were automatons, or robotic, but rather that God guided them in accord with their various gifts such that that which was written is the very word of God. For “No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (1 Peter 2:20, 21; cf. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17).
Consequently we believe that each word is true and accurate, that is, inerrant and infallible, and comes from God as it was written and given in the original autographs (John 17:17; John 10:35).
God's Word is powerful and efficacious. The Apostle Paul declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). Again He writes, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16,17). And the writer to the Hebrews says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12).
The Scripture is sufficient. It contains everything that is needed for the salvation of men, and for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).
The chief purpose of the Word of God is in this, that God uses His Word of the Gospel as the means and mode by which He brings the Holy Spirit to sinful men. In this way, God changes sinful men from within, makes them believers in the promise of God, forgives their sins, and restores the image of God by creating them anew through the transforming word.
Scripture is clear. Every doctrine which God wants men to believe and teach is plainly taught in the Holy Scriptures. Scripture must be understood as a whole. If God's will toward us is to be properly understood, unclear passages must be interpreted in the light of clear passages which directly address the doctrine. We recognize that there textual difficulties in certain places concerning the reading of the original manuscripts, but these difficulties in no way effect the clarity or doctrinal content of the Scriptures.
Scripture is eternal. The word of the eternal God cannot be broken or pass away (John 6:39). As God is true even so His word is true. It is written, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matt. 24:35; cf. 1Pe. 1:25; Ps. 119:160). This is of comfort to us for by it we learn that God's promise of love, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ is ours even when disaster strikes us, our sins and the devil torment us, or the earth itself comes to an end.