Melanchthon wrote the Augsburg Confession and the Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession. The Formula of Concord authors called themselves "theologians of the Augsburg Confession."
Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Calvin's Disciples Defend UOJ with Slogans, Not Sc...":
Anonymous at 7:20PM, so you reject the Lutheran Confessions when they state,
[86] "We, therefore, will add testimonies which clearly declare that faith is that very righteousness by which we are accounted righteous before God,"
http://www.bookofconcord.org/defense_4_justification.php
1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" Christ is made righteousness in those who are in Him and He in them through faith.
Faith is righteousness given graciously by the Holy Ghost. It is a gift of God.
Also, don't disregard what follows the BOC quote above, "We, therefore, will add testimonies which clearly declare that faith is that very righteousness by which we are accounted righteous before God, namely, not because it is a work that is in itself worthy, but because it receives the promise by which God has promised that for Christ's sake He wishes to be propitious to those believing in Him, or because He knows that Christ of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor. 1:30."
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GJ - This passage illustrates the value of engaging in doctrinal debate. The Reformers had no qualms about discussing these issues at length. If these issues trouble readers, they should read the appropriate passages in Scripture and use the Book of Concord as an exegetical guide.
The time has come to put away the threadbare slogans of the Synodical Conference and look at justification by faith without the filters of Pietism and synod-worship.
Here is some irony. ELCA compromised completely on justification in its Munich Pact with the Church of Rome. The Church of Rome conceded nothing, while the Lutheran Left-wing conceded everything. Therefore, conservative Lutherans are now supposed to use the ELCA version (Kolb/Wengert) of the Book of Concord. No, I have not seen it or opened it. I would not crack open a free copy of an ELCA book at gunpoint.
Kolb/Wengert did allow participation from a Missouri guy - Chuck Arand, who teaches at Our Lady of Sorrows Seminary, St. Louis. He is a translator. ELCA has fellowship principles, so they did not pick someone known for opposing ELCA on anything.
