All Lutheran churches affirm the formal principle of sola Scriptura: Scripture is the sole norm that norms all norms (norma normans non normata) — the supreme authority over all theological doctrine, with creeds and confessions serving as subordinate standards. However, positions on the precise nature of biblical inerrancy diverge significantly between different Lutheran bodies.

Conservative Lutheran churches, particularly the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), hold to verbal, plenary inerrancy of the autographs — Scripture is without error in all that it teaches, including historical and scientific statements. More progressive bodies, notably the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), operate with historical-critical methods that distinguish between the theological message of Scripture (authoritative) and historically conditioned human elements (subject to scholarly analysis). This inerrancy controversy contributed to the walkout and schism within the LCMS in 1974 (Seminex). The Book of Concord itself does not use the term 'inerrancy' but consistently treats Scripture as fully truthful and authoritative.