--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The authority of Scripture is greater…" description: "\"The authority of Scripture is greater than the comprehension of the whole of man's reason.\" — Martin Luther" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/martin-luther-106_authority_the-authority-of-scripture-is-greater-th_2219155.jpg" --- # The authority of Scripture is greater than the… ![“The authority of Scripture is greater than the comprehension of the whole of man's reason.” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/martin-luther-106_authority_the-authority-of-scripture-is-greater-th_2219155.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/martin-luther-106_authority_the-authority-of-scripture-is-greater-th_2219155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bb/martin-luther-106_authority_the-authority-of-scripture-is-greater-th_2219155.jpg) > “The authority of Scripture is greater than the comprehension of the whole of man's reason.” [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine revelation surpasses human reasoning in authority. **In simple terms:** Scripture is higher than human reason. Key Takeaway Trust in spiritual guidance over intellect. Themes faith scripture reason Mood contemplative serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious study - personal belief - ethical decisions Key Concepts theology epistemology Questions to Reflect On - Do you balance faith and reason? - When should reason challenge doctrine? A Different Perspective Human reason still plays a role in interpreting texts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Authority Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority-scripture-299896/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Comprehension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comprehension/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Greater Comprehension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-comprehension-4946082/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Scripture Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture-greater-3595166/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [A simple layman armed with Scripture is greater than the mightiest pope without it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/a-simple-layman-armed-with-scripture-is-greater-than-the-mightiest/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-time-has-come-for-us-to-stand-a-little-taller-to-lift-our-eyes/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [The notion of the enduring authority focuses on the fact that some people think that notions like authority of Scripture's is passé, while others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/the-notion-of-the-enduring-authority-focuses-on-the-fact-that-some/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [It must be conceded by those who admit the authority of Scripture (such only he is addressing) that from the decision of the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/it-must-be-conceded-by-those-who-admit-the-authority-of-scripture/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [It is scripture alone, not conservative Evangelical tradition or any other human authority, that must function as the normative authority for the definition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/it-is-scripture-alone-not-conservative-evangelical-tradition-or-any/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [“As the exalting one man so greatly above the rest cannot be justified on the equal rights of nature, so neither can it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/as-the-exalting-one-man-so-greatly-above-the-rest-cannot-be-justified/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Thomas’s procedure, then, may be summarized in three steps: (1) Fulfilled prophecies and miracles make it credible that the Scriptures taken together as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/thomas-s-procedure-then-may-be-summarized-in-three-steps-1-fulfilled/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [I think that the authority of Scripture must be accepted by Catholics and Protestants, and that if our doctrinal judgments are not measured by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-levering/i-think-that-the-authority-of-scripture-must-be-accepted-by-catholics/) [Matthew Levering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-levering/) > [Unbelief is like gravity, it's always pulling down on the authority of Scripture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/unbelief-is-like-gravity-it-s-always-pulling-down-on-the-authority-of/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [We want to fan the flames of Christians for whom inerrancy and the authority of Scripture are not mere shibboleths, but part of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/we-want-to-fan-the-flames-of-christians-for-whom-inerrancy-and-the/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [When Christians speak of the authority of Scripture, because Christians believe that this word, even though it's mediated through many different human authors, nevertheless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/when-christians-speak-of-the-authority-of-scripture-because/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [We do not sit in authority over the Scripture, the Scripture sits in authority over us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-j-lawson/we-do-not-sit-in-authority-over-the-scripture-the-scripture-sits-in/) [Steven J Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-j-lawson/) > [John Frame's magnificent work on the Christian life fully endorses the authority of Scripture and practically addresses the need to consider the situations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-pratt-jr/john-frame-s-magnificent-work-on-the-christian-life-fully-endorses/) [Richard L. Pratt, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-pratt-jr/) > [...tis a dangerous thing to ingage the authority of Scripture in disputes about the Natural World, in opposition to Reason; lest Time, which brings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-burnet/tis-a-dangerous-thing-to-ingage-the-authority-of-scripture-in/) [Thomas Burnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-burnet/) > [As to those other things which we hold on the authority, not of Scripture, but of tradition, and which are observed throughout the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/as-to-those-other-things-which-we-hold-on-the-authority-not-of/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) ## More by Martin Luther > [“It was easy for you to say these things, since you either knew you were not writing to Luther, but for the general public,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-was-easy-for-you-to-say-these-things-since-you-either-knew-you/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [If you could understand a single grain of wheat you would die of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-you-could-understand-a-single-grain-of-wheat-you-would-die-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“God made man out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-made-man-out-of-nothing-and-as-long-as-we-are-nothing-he-can-make/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“But the truth will win out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-the-truth-will-win-out/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God wants us to pray, and he wants to hear our prayers-not because we are worthy, but because he is merciful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-wants-us-to-pray-and-he-wants-to-hear-our-prayers-not-because-we/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Our office...subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world. But Christ himself will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-office-subjects-us-to-great-burdens-and-labors-dangers-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Our faith in Christ does not free us from works but from false opinions concerning works, that is, from the foolish presumption that justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-faith-in-christ-does-not-free-us-from-works-but-from-false/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/do-not-suppose-that-abuses-are-eliminated-by-destroying-the-object/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/for-we-maintain-that-a-man-is-justified-by-faith-apart-from-observing/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [There are only two days on my calendar... today and the day of judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-are-only-two-days-on-my-calendar-today-and-the-day-of-judgment/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ Antichrist is the pope and the Turk \[Muslim\] together. A beast full of life must have a body and soul. The spirit or soul… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/antichrist-is-the-pope-and-the-turk-muslim-together-a-beast-full-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) [Explore all 1,292 Martin Luther quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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