Skip to content

If anyone shall set the authority of Holy Writ against…

“If anyone shall set the authority of Holy Writ against clear and manifest reason, he who does this knows not what he has undertaken; for he opposes to the truth not the meaning of the Bible, which is beyond his comprehension, but rather his own interpretation; not what is in the Bible, but what he…” quote by Augustine of Hippo
Download Open image
““If anyone shall set the authority of Holy Writ against clear and manifest reason, he who does this knows not what he has undertaken; for he opposes to the truth not the meaning of the Bible, which is beyond his comprehension, but rather his own interpretation; not what is in the Bible, but what he has found in himself and imagines to be there.””

Augustine of Hippo

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Faith must be guided by reason; misreading scripture reflects personal bias rather than divine truth.

In simple terms: Reason should guide interpretation of holy texts.

Key Takeaway

Check your assumptions before claiming authority.

Themes

faith interpretation reason

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

theological philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal study
  • sermon preparation
  • academic debate

Key Concepts

theology hermeneutics authority

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance faith and reason?
  • What biases affect your reading of sacred texts?
A Different Perspective

Interpretation is still subjective and can be influenced by culture.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Augustine of Hippo

Explore all 153 Augustine of Hippo quotes

More Bible quotes

Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes