Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 8-05
Committee: Finance
Source: Today's Business, Issue 1
Page: p. 137
To Give Thanks for Concordia Publishing House’s Use of Bible Translations
RESOLUTION 8-05 Overtures 8-07–08 (CW, 440–41)
WHEREAS, We accept without reservation that the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament are “the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice” (Const. Art. II); and
WHEREAS, Passages of Holy Scripture are used throughout the hymnals, catechisms, and other printed resources of the Synod: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16); inasmuch as is feasible and prudent, we should endeavor to have translations that are consistent and faithful; and
WHEREAS, Throughout our history going back even to Luther, Bible translations have never been fully stable ; even Luther revised his German Bible multiple times, and English translations in Synod hymnals have shifted from the King James Version to the New International Version to the English Standard Version (ESV); and
WHEREAS, In 2003, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations cautiously noted the challenges presented by different English Bible translations , declined to adjudicate among them, and left the Commission on Worship to choose which translation to use for the Lutheran Service Book (LSB); and
WHEREAS, 2004 Resolution 2-03A, “To Accept Lutheran Service Book and Agenda as an Official Service Book and Hymnal of Synod” ( Proceedings, 124) approved the LSB with the ESV translation and rejected an amendment to allow voting on the translation used; and
WHEREAS, Concordia Publishing House (CPH) gives preference to the ESV in its resources, as it aligns with the LSB, which was approved by Synod and adopted by over 90 percent of our congregations (Matthew Harrison, “Singing the Gospel,” The Lutheran Witness, Oct. 2019); therefore be it
Resolved, That we give thanks to CPH for its continued efforts of identifying and utilizing translations available that best serve the mission of the Church, and further support its faithful stewardship and partnership with Synod.
