While Lutherans recognize that there are differences in the way the Bible is studied and interpreted, there is no debate that it is the primary and authoritative witness to the church's life and mission. It is the source and norm for the faith we practice and proclaim. As Martin Luther once said, "The Bible is the manger (the cradle) in which the Christ is laid."
Written and transcribed by many authors over a period of many centuries, the Holy Bible bears remarkable testimony to the mighty acts of God in the lives of people and nations.
In the Old Testament, we find the vivid accounts of God's own faithfulness and covenantal relationship offered to Israel, the first people of God, as revealed through the central figures of Moses and the prophets .
In the New Testament, we encounter the first-hand witness of God's new promise, reaching out to redeem all people and all of creation, through the saving acts of Jesus the Christ.
The Bible is not a definitive record of history or science. Rather, it is the God-breathed, written expression of God's own heart and hands continually at work all throughout the course of history.
As we study, interpret, and use the Bible, it is always important to understand the context in which we find a particular verse or passage of God's Word, and always balance one portion of Scripture by other Scripture. And no matter what section of the Bible we study, we learn to read and interpret it through the lens of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here at Santa Cruz, we encourage one another in developing a regular habit of reading of the Bible. A link to a "Read Through the Bible in One Year" is located on our "Helpful Links" page.
Links to a couple online Bibles may also be found on that same page.