[Campion]

1 Jn 2 says that there were "many antichrists come into the world" at the time the epistle was written, and further says that the antichrist is "he who denies the Father and the Son". 1 Jn 4 further says that antichrist is "he who confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh".

Sounds like Fr Martin was engaging in some bad exegesis.

[Carl Vehse]

Campion @12, You err in your misunderstanding of the Lutheran Confessions and Scripture.

Scripture speaks (Matt. 24:5, 23-24; Mark 13:6, 21-22; Luke: 21:8; 1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 John 7) about many antichrists appearing in the church throughout history. These antichrists teach against God's Word. However Scripture also speaks (Dan.7:8, 11, 20-21, 24-25; 11:36-45; 2 Thessalonians 2; 1 John 2:18; 4:3; Revelation 17-18) of one climactic "Antichrist." It is the pope and his successors who Martin Luther and the Lutheran Confessions explain fit the Scriptural description and marks of the Antichrist.