Recently, Pope John Paul II issued a statement that the Catholic Church is the only
truth church. The Pope states: "there exists a single Church of Christ, which
subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the bishops in
communion with him."
We offer here Luther's' reply from the 4th Volume of the American Edition of Luther's
Works. These three quotations are from Luther's discussion of the birth of Jacob and Esau
found in his eight volume commentary on the Genesis.
We also offer President of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, A.L. Barry's reply to
Pope John Paul II.
Luther writes:
"We have an all-together similar example in the pope's church and in ours: for we
have the same Baptism, the same Sacrament of the Altar, the same Keys, and the Same
Scripture and Word. Finally we have our origin from the same apostles and the same church,
as though from one mother Rebecca. Why, then do we disagree? We apprehend the Word in the
Sacrament, follow the call, and discuss the Word in accordance with faith; but they do so
in accordance with what is seen on the outside. We declare that when making use of the
sacraments one must pay attention to the Word and accept it in faith; they make it mere
work that is performed. Therefore the true church is the one that holds fast to the Word
and faith and does not rely on works but hears and follows God when He calls. But the call
is the Word through which our nature, which has been corrupted by the devil and sin, is
regenerated. (Luther's Works, American Edition, Vol." 4, page 349)
"Furthermore these two brothers [Jacob and Esau] struggle in the womb; and later
on, after they had been born, they quarrel throughout the entire time of their life. Thus
we continually contend with the pope and the Turk, and it is everlastingly impossible for
us to have fellowship or peace them." (Luther's Works, American Edition, Vol. 4, page
368)
"You will never persuade the Turk that he is condemned before God; nor will you
persuade the pope that the Roman See is the see of Satan; nor will you persuade Charles V,
Ferdinand, and the King of France. For the flesh, that is, the older [brother Esau], is
arrogant, prevails and is everything, as it were, in the world." (Luther's Works,
American Edition, Vol. 4, page 371)
Barry writes:
A Lutheran Response to the Vatican Statement, "Dominus Iesus":
The Vatican's recent assertion that "there exists a single Church of Christ, which
subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the bishops in
communion with him," came as a surprise to many in today's ecumenical climate. But
this claim is neither new nor surprising. Rome is merely restating its historic position.
The Christian Church on earth is one, holy, universal and apostolic, not because it is
the Roman Church, or has a pope, but because it is Christ's church. The church is the
assembly of all believers in which the gospel is taught purely and the sacraments are
administered rightly. God the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the
whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In
this Christian Church, He daily and richly forgives our sins and the sins of all
believers.
The Bishop of Rome is not the head of all Christendom by divine right on the basis of
God's Word. The church cannot be better ruled and preserved than by living together under
one head, Jesus Christ, united in teaching, faith, sacraments, prayers, and works of love.
We Lutherans continue to reject these claims of the Roman Catholic Church and the
Bishop of Rome as contrary to Sacred Scripture. With many other Christian churches, we
express our deep regret and profound disagreement with this statement by the Vatican.