The Natural Knowledge of God - CTCR

The 2007 synodical convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) requested the preparation of “a study of the natural knowledge of God, and especially its implications for our public witness.” Partially predicating this request was the stated conviction that “the Scriptures teach that all people have a natural knowledge of God,” and that “an understanding of the natural knowledge of God can assist the members of the congregations of the LCMS in their witness.” Also informing this request, however, was another pair of equally firm convictions: not only is humanity’s natural knowledge of God “not saving knowledge”; but its very possession may lead many to be “confused about the one true God” and “to believe falsely that all religions lead to salvation.”

In this light, the present study seeks to examine, first, the biblical, confessional, and dogmatic treatment of the natural knowledge of God and certain intimately intertwined concepts.