2005 Synod Assembly

Dr. Richard Carlson Reflects on Luke 24 Text in Bible Study

(Live Update added 1 p.m., Friday, May 6, 2005)

The Rev. Dr. Richard Carlson Photo by Pastor Todd Hawkins

"We are not unique," began Dr. Carlson. Just as the early apostles carried the task of interpreting, so do we. In fact, he asserted, this interpretation continues today in pulpits across the world. Our job has always been to "understand, discern, and make understandable" the Word of God.

Dr. Carlson, the Glatfelter Professor of Biblical Studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, led the voting members through a sweeping overview of historical biblical interpretation, focusing on a model developed by Martin Luther. Beginning with the Ascension story of Jesus Luke 24.44-48, Carlson presented the framework that Jesus used with his disciples, a three stage process. With Jesus as the center and under the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, scripture, and the community mutually interpret each other, finally for the sake of mission. That mission, according to Carlson, is proclaiming Jesus' message of forgiveness.

Moving to Luther, Dr. Carlson contrasted the interpretive model of his time, controlled by church tradition. Instead, "Luther read the Bible as the Bible and not through the lens of the Church." Still, this was not actually Luther's model. "Luther didn't invent this; he got it from Jesus and from Paul." Echoing Bishop Usgaard's earlier sermon, ultimately Carlson asserts, "What trumps [everything] is God's will for mercy."

Finishing where he began, Dr. Carlson reminded the assembly that "What unites us is always more important than what divides us. And what unites us is, 'Jesus Christ is Lord.'"

To wrap up his study, Dr. Carlson asked the voting members to discuss three questions in small groups. Following this discussion, Dr. Carlson answered questions from the floor.

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