Do all Lutherans view the Pope as the Anti-Christ?

[Mannyfit75]

I got this information from a Lutheran website. I want to know from Lutherans if they believe this as true statement of faith:

The source is lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=579

Of the Antichrist

(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, N.D.)
[Adopted 1932]

1. As to the Antichrist we teach that the prophecies of the Holy Scriptures concerning the Antichrist, 2 Thess. 2:3-12; 1 John 2:18, have been fulfilled in the Pope of Rome and his dominion. All the features of the Antichrist as drawn in these prophecies, including the most abominable and horrible ones, for example, that the Antichrist “as God sitteth in the temple of God,” 2 Thess. 2:4; that he anathematizes the very heart of the Gospel of Christ, that is, the doctrine of the forgiveness of sins by grace alone, for Christ’s sake alone, through faith alone, without any merit or worthiness in man (Rom. 3:20-28; Gal. 2:16); that he recognizes only those as members of the Christian Church who bow to his authority; and that, like a deluge, he had inundated the whole Church with his antichristian doctrines till God revealed him through the Reformation – these very features are the outstanding characteristics of the Papacy. (Cf. Smalcald Articles, Triglot, p. 515, Paragraphs 39-41; p. 401, Paragraph 45; M. pp. 336, 258.) Hence we subscribe to the statement of our Confessions that the Pope is “the very Antichrist.” (Smalcald Articles, Triglot, p. 475, Paragraph 10; M., p. 308.)

If this statement is true, then they really got the themselves in a very bad situation because we know that the Pope is not the Anti-Christ.

For one the Pope like every devout Catholic recites the Nicene Creed. The Anti-Christ deny Jesus as the Son of God, and the Messiah.

This hardly fits the Pope himself.

I

 

[TriuneUnity]

I got this information from a Lutheran website. I want to know from Lutherans if they believe this as true statement of faith:

The source is lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=579

If this statement is true, then they really got the themselves in a very bad situation because we know that the Pope is not the Anti-Christ.

For one the Pope like every devout Catholic recites the Nicene Creed. The Anti-Christ deny Jesus as the Son of God, and the Messiah.

This hardly fits the Pope himself.

I

It would refer to the passages in 2 Thessalonians and not the passages which refer to denying Jesus in the flesh.

It is affirmed by most of the conservative Lutheran church bodies. Individual Lutherans may differ on it, I believe.

 

[Mannyfit75]

It would refer to the passages in 2 Thessalonians and not the passages which refer to denying Jesus in the flesh.

It is affirmed by most of the conservative Lutheran church bodies. Individual Lutherans may differ on it, I believe.

I find it disturbing because this doctrine is misleading Non-Catholic Christians and give them a false misconceptions about the Pope.

 

[TriuneUnity]

I find it disturbing because this doctrine is misleading Non-Catholic Christians and give them a false misconceptions about the Pope.

If you view it as false, yes. One must remember that the article doesn’t condemn the individual Pope holding the Office, rather, the Office itself.

 

[Mannyfit75]

If you view it as false, yes. One must remember that the article doesn’t condemn the individual Pope holding the Office, rather, the Office itself.

The Office itself does not deny Christ. It only affirms what the Church has already believe. The statement still remains false and it is completely erroneous from a Catholic standpoint.

The office of Papacy is the Chair of Peter. When the Pope exercises the matters concerning faith and moral in union with the bishops of the entire Church, it is preserved from teaching error.

I have also read the Bible time and time again, and the office of the Papacy is very Biblical.

 

[TriuneUnity]

The Office itself does not deny Christ. It only affirms what the Church has already believe. The statement still remains false and it is completely erroneous from a Catholic standpoint.

It’s not in reference to denying Jesus in the flesh. The teachings from 2 Thessalonians to which our confession refers is not regarding that subject.

 

[Mannyfit75]

It’s not in reference to denying Jesus in the flesh. The teachings from 2 Thessalonians to which our confession refers is not regarding that subject.

The passage in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2:3-12 states:

Let no one deceive you in any way. For unless the apostasy comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one doomed to perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship, so as to seat himself in the temple of God, claiming that he is a god-- do you not recall that while I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. But the one who restrains is to do so only for the present, until he is removed from the scene.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord (Jesus) will kill with the breath of his mouth and render powerless by the manifestation of his coming, the one whose coming springs from the power of Satan in every mighty deed and in signs and wonders that lie, and in every wicked deceit for those who are perishing because they have not accepted the love of truth so that they may be saved. Therefore, God is sending them a deceiving power so that they may believe the lie, that all who have not believed the truth but have approved wrongdoing may be condemned.

This passage is use to justify that the Pope is the lawless one aka the Anti-Christ.

The statement of faith by Lutheran on the website declares the Pope as the deceiver.

Throughout my study of the Papacy, the Pope does not fit the individual in 2 Thess.

 

[TriuneUnity]

The passage in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2:3-12 states:

This passage is use to justify that the Pope is the lawless one aka the Anti-Christ.

The statement of faith by Lutheran on the website declares the Pope as the deceiver.

Throughout my study of the Papacy, the Pope does not fit the individual in 2 Thess.

Well, of course not, otherwise, I would hope, you wouldn’t be Catholic!

 

[Mannyfit75]

Well, of course not, otherwise, I would hope, you wouldn’t be Catholic!

Do you believe that the office of the Papacy is the Anti-Christ?

 

[TriuneUnity]

Do you believe that the office of the Papacy is the Anti-Christ?

Yes.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Yes.

Wow that is really bad and Un-Biblical.

 

[JonNC]

Do you believe that the office of the Papacy is the Anti-Christ?

Triune Unity and I agree on the substance of our disagreements with Rome, but disagree about the use of the term antichrist. I believe the use of this term in the confessions is a 500 year old polemic that is misunderstood in light of modern Christian charity and some of the (false) end times philosophies of today.
I think our belief can be better described using terms that, in and of themselves, do not create hostility and misunderstanding.

I do not believe that Pope Benedict XVI is the antichirst. In fact, I believe he is a Chrstian of great faith. I believe JP II was perhaps the finest Christian leader of my lifetime. I do not believe that the antichrist will arise out of Rome as some beast. I do believe that there are (some) errors in the teachings of the papacy, including its view of its own authority. To the extent that some of these errors are in opposition to Christ’s teachings, the errors are anti christ.

Jon

 

[Pinkyyy]

You know, sometimes I am offended by titles on here (and it only seems to be on the non-catholic group here). Why don’t I just say, “why do ALL you catholics think only catholics are going to Heaven?” Obviously not all catholics believe this, so why do you ask if ALL Lutherans believe that? You know the answer already, right? I don’t believe this is a sincere question - just another finger pointing at the Luteran religion and quite frankly this finger pointing and attitude keeps me from wanting to leave Lutheranism and come to the church (now, I’m not saying other religions don’t sometimes do the same thing to catholics).

As for your answer, no not too many Lutherans would call the Pope the anti-christ. In fact, I would go even further and say that Luterans are some of the least likely Protestants to say this. On the other hand, this is not the first time I’ve hear this theory - and not from Lutherans but from all kinds of backgrounds (yes, even Catholic). I don’t buy it - but this isn’t really a “new” thing that’s being said.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Wow that is really bad and Un-Biblical.

You would have to debate that on the merits of the claim. To reiterate what Jon said, I do not see the Pope as an apocalyptic end times figure as portrayed in, say, the Left-Behind series. Nor would I say Pope Benedict XVI is the Anti-Christ. The papacy is the Anti-Christ and fits the biblical model of 2 Thessalonians.

 

[ribozyme]

I do not know what the “anti-Christ” means, but I can say that Lutherans are not millenialists or dispensationalists.

 

[Pinkyyy]

You would have to debate that on the merits of the claim. To reiterate what Jon said, I do not see the Pope as an apocalyptic end times figure as portrayed in, say, the Left-Behind series. Nor would I say Pope Benedict XVI is the Anti-Christ. The papacy is the Anti-Christ and fits the biblical model of 2 Thessalonians.

Triune are you saying that you believe the papacy will someday be controlled by the anti-christ? I can see where you may think this, but I think it’s much more likely when the end comes, for Christians to unite, and I believe the “headquarters” if you’ll call it will be in Rome under the Pope (I mean, no other christian religion really has a “leader” like the Catholics do, so it has to be somebody, why not him?). I believe we may not all be “catholic” but we will come together as Christians at that time. That’s what I believe anyway. I think the Pope will head the fight - not create it.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Triune are you saying that you believe the papacy will someday be controlled by the anti-christ?

No. I believe that the actions of the papacy over the last millennia confirm that the papacy is that institution spoken of in 2 Thessalonians.

I can see where you may think this, but I think it’s much more likely when the end comes, for Christians to unite, and I believe the “headquarters” if you’ll call it will be in Rome under the Pope (I mean, no other christian religion really has a “leader” like the Catholics do, so it has to be somebody, why not him?). I believe we may not all be “catholic” but we will come together as Christians at that time. That’s what I believe anyway. I think the Pope will head the fight - not create it.

One would hope so; and if the Pope changes the erroneous teachings of the Catholic Church I would gladly reunify with him regardless of whether it’s current circumstances or the end times.

 

[Believe_85]

No. I believe that the actions of the papacy over the last millennia confirm that the papacy is that institution spoken of in 2 Thessalonians.

One would hope so; and if the Pope changes the erroneous teachings of the Catholic Church I would gladly reunify with him regardless of whether it’s current circumstances or the end times.

What are the erroneous teachings?

 

[TriuneUnity]

What are the erroneous teachings?

The Papacy
The Invocation of the saints
Justification
The doctrine of the Mass

These would be our main disagreements. There are other issues of course, but that would take a hundred years to type.

 

[RC_Matt]

You know, sometimes I am offended by titles on here (and it only seems to be on the non-catholic group here). Why don’t I just say, “why do ALL you catholics think only catholics are going to Heaven?” Obviously not all catholics believe this, so why do you ask if ALL Lutherans believe that? You know the answer already, right? I don’t believe this is a sincere question - just another finger pointing at the Luteran religion and quite frankly this finger pointing and attitude keeps me from wanting to leave Lutheranism and come to the church (now, I’m not saying other religions don’t sometimes do the same thing to catholics).

As for your answer, no not too many Lutherans would call the Pope the anti-christ. In fact, I would go even further and say that Luterans are some of the least likely Protestants to say this. On the other hand, this is not the first time I’ve hear this theory - and not from Lutherans but from all kinds of backgrounds (yes, even Catholic). I don’t buy it - but this isn’t really a “new” thing that’s being said.

LOL, cool down there, don’t generate any opinions on a faith by what you read on internet boards. I’ve known an awful lot of Lutherans (even almost married one) and sure never heard that anti-Christ bit. I learned about it on this board a while back, and then went to Lutheran sources to verify it. I’m no expert on Lutheranism, but I understand that there are different traditions within Lutheranism. I didn’t make of career out of looking for info, but I only found that reference on a website for one of the traditions (and I don’t recall which one). In any case, it appears that this issue lends itself to being easily misunderstood by both Catholics and Lutherans, or abused by hot-heads in both groups, and this tends to result in unwarranted friction. Personally, I think the actual tenet is kinda goofy; but it does NOT mean that Lutherans believe the Pope to be the anti-Christ. As you alluded, Lutheranism is a liturgical tradition and it is not as far removed from Catholicism as many would believe.