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Examined Doctrine

Augustine of Hippo on Authority of Scripture

354 – 430 · LATIN FATHER
STANDARD SCHOLARLY ACCOUNTLEANS TOWARD°
STANCE

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,

2 OTHERS HOLD THIS

AthanasiusIrenaeus
Scripture alone is the final, only infallible authorityJACOBUS ARMINIUS · VODDIE BAUCHAM · CALVIN · JONATHAN EDWARDS · THE CHURCH OF ELEVEN22 STATEMENT OF FAITH · M. HEISER · JOSH HOWERTON · SECOND LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION · LUTHER · JOHN MACARTHUR · PHILIP MELANCHTHON · GAVIN ORTLUND · JOHN OWEN · JUSTIN PETERS · JOHN PIPER · R.C. SPROUL · WESLEY · WESTMINSTER CONFESSION · ZWINGLI
Scripture with tradition and church teaching officeAQUINAS · BASIL THE GREAT · CHALCEDON · CHRYSOSTOM · CONSTANTINOPLE I · EPHESUS · NICAEA I
See all 29 figures on authority of scripture →

ABOUT THIS FIGURE

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.

8 OF 14 POSITIONS QUOTED
Everything Augustine holds →
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"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).

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