Scripture supreme, recognized and interpreted through the church
THE POSITION
Scripture holds supreme authority, but Augustine is famously willing to say he would not believe the gospel except that the authority of the church moved him — reading canonical recognition as a churchly act.
SCRIPTURE
2 TIMOTHY 3:16 · BSB
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Scripture alone is the final, only infallible authorityJACOBUS ARMINIUS · VODDIE BAUCHAM · CALVIN · JONATHAN EDWARDS · THE CHURCH OF ELEVEN22 STATEMENT OF FAITH · CHARLES GRANDISON FINNEY · BILLY GRAHAM · M. HEISER · JOSH HOWERTON · TIM KELLER · SECOND LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION · LUTHER · JOHN MACARTHUR · PHILIP MELANCHTHON · GAVIN ORTLUND · JOHN OWEN · JUSTIN PETERS · JOHN PIPER · R.C. SPROUL · WESLEY · WESTMINSTER CONFESSION · GEORGE WHITEFIELD · ZWINGLI
Scripture with tradition and church teaching officeAQUINAS · BASIL THE GREAT · CHALCEDON · CHRYSOSTOM · CONSTANTINOPLE I · EPHESUS · NICAEA I · WILLIAM OF OCKHAM · JOHN DUNS SCOTUS
Bishop of Hippo. The single most influential theologian in Western Christianity; both Catholic and Reformed traditions claim him. Anti-Pelagian works, the Enchiridion, and On Baptism Against the Donatists.
"Augustine of Hippo on Authority of Scripture", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/augustine/scripture-authority (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/augustine/scripture-authority).