Formula of Concord XI serves as a sort of capstone to the entire Book of Concord, because it brings together numerous topics of Christian doctrine: the authority of Scripture, God, the Holy Spirit, Law and Gospel, the Means of Grace, faith, the limits of human reason and, above all, the person and work of Christ, who is “the Book of Life” (Ep XI 7, 13). We are taught to avoid prideful speculation about God’s hidden purposes and cling humbly to His gracious will revealed in His inspired and inerrant Word, the Bible.
As we learned in Article IX to shun “useless, unnecessary questions” and “believe with Christian simplicity” (Ep IX 3) the Word, so now we bow before “the mystery of God’s eternal election” (Ep XI 11), also known as “predestination” (Ep XI 5). Election/predestination is distinguished from God’s “foreknowledge,” which means that He knows everything that will happen but does not thereby cause evil or sin (Ep XI 3–4). Biblical election/predestination, on the other hand, refers to the teaching that God elects Christians to salvation. This is not a fatalistic, Calvinistic double predestination — we do not believe that God elects anyone to damnation. Rather, predestination “covers only the godly, beloved children of God. It is a cause of their salvation, which He also provides” (Ep XI 5). God’s truth about election/predestination provides “glorious comfort” (Ep XI 13) for us as we live under the cross and are attacked by the devil, the world and our own sinful flesh.
Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the November 2026 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Article XI: Predestination and Election” on Article XI in the Formula of Concord. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Following the Formula” and will walk through the Formula of Concord in the Augsburg Confession. Follow along every month!
This year, “Searching Scripture” is walking through the Formula of Concord (FC) from our Lutheran Confessions, exploring the biblical foundations for each topic. Before starting this study, it may be helpful to read FC Ep XI on Predestination and Election (p. 497–500 in Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, CPH 2005). Or follow along with the full Formula of Concord monthly reading plan at witness.lcms.org/reading-plan.
Listen to the Coffee Hour episode with Rev. Brady Finnern on Article XI at kfuo.org/2025/11/03/coffee-hour-110325-election-in-the-formula-of-concord, and find correlating Concord Matters episodes at kfuo.org/formulaofconcord.
Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.
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Today’s episode of The Coffee Hour is underwritten in part by Concordia University, Chicago. You can learn more about Concordia University, Chicago at cuchicago.edu.
