Christ fully divine from eternity; Nicene translation affirmed
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod affirms the traditional reading of John 1:1 that the Word (Logos) is fully and eternally divine. This reading is grounded in the Nicene Creed and the Formula of Concord's robust Christology. The LCMS doctrine of Scripture and systematic theology consistently interprets John 1:1 as affirming Christ's eternal deity and coequality with God the Father. The Greek construction 'kai theos en ho logos' is understood to attribute the full predicate 'theos' to the Word.
This doctrine is essential to LCMS soteriology and sacramental theology. Only the eternal God incarnate can effect human salvation. The communion of idioms (communicatio idiomatum) in Lutheran Christology presupposes Christ's true deity as established in John 1:1.
Key Distinctions
- Logos divinity:
- theos without article refers to divine nature/essence
- Incarnation:
- Creation role:
Scripture References
Sources
- Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article VIII (1577)
- LCMS doctrinal statements on Christology
- Lutheran Confessions, Augsburg Confession Article III