Ecclesiastical Power and the Civil Government
We believe, teach and confess … that “the authority of the Keys [Matthew 16:19], or the authority of the bishops—according to the Gospel—is a power or commandment of God, to preach the Gospel, to forgive and retain sins, and to administer Sacraments.” (Augsburg Confession XXVIII.5)
1] [1]There has been great controversy concerning the Power of Bishops, in which some have awkwardly confused the power of the Church 2] and the power of the sword. And from this confusion very great wars and tumults have resulted, while the Pope’s, emboldened by the power of the Keys, not only have instituted new services and burdened consciences with reservation of cases and ruthless excommunications, but have also undertaken to transfer the kingdoms of this world, 3] and to take the Empire from the Emperor. These wrongs have long since been rebuked in the Church 4] by learned and godly men. Therefore our teachers, for the comforting of men’s consciences, were constrained to show the difference between the power of the Church and the power of the sword, and taught that both of them, because of God’s commandment, are to be held in reverence and honour, as the chief blessings of God on earth.
5] But this is our opinion, that the power of the Keys, or the power of the bishops, according to the Gospel, is a power or commandment of God, to preach the Gospel, to remit and retain sins, and to administer Sacraments. 6] For with this commandment Christ sends forth His Apostles, [John 20:21], “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.’”7] [Mark 16:15] “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
8] This power is exercised only by teaching or preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments, according to their calling either to many or to individuals. For thereby are granted, not bodily, but eternal things, as eternal righteousness, the Holy Spirit, eternal life. 9] These things cannot come but by the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, as Paul says, [Romans 1:16], The Gospel “… is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, …” 10] Therefore, since the power of the Church grants eternal things, and is exercised only by the ministry of the Word, it does not interfere with civil government; no more than the art of singing interferes with civil government. 11] For civil government deals with other things than does the Gospel. The civil rulers defend not minds, but bodies and bodily things against manifest injuries, and restrain men with the sword and bodily punishments in order to preserve civil justice and peace.
12] Therefore the power of the Church and the civil power must not be confused. The power of the Church has its own commission to teach the Gospel and 13] to administer the Sacraments. Let it not break into the office of another; let it not transfer the kingdoms of this world; let it not abrogate the laws of civil rulers; let it not abolish lawful obedience; let it not interfere with judgements concerning civil ordinances or contracts; let it not prescribe laws to civil rulers concerning the form of the society. 14] As Christ says, [John 18:36], “My kingdom is not of this world”; 15] also [Luke 12:14], “… who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 16] Paul also says, [Phillippians 3:20], “… our citizenship is in heaven …”; 17] [2 Corinthians 10:4], “… the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,…”.
18] After this manner our teachers distinguish between the duties of both these powers, and command that both be honoured and acknowledged as gifts and blessings of God.
[1] BOC, www.bookofconcord.org., Augsburg Confession, Article XXVIII,1-18. Note: This passage has been edited, slightly, to enhance the readability and to fit the structure of the website page.
