Scripture

Scripture is the most important of the 4 sources for thinking theologically. (Remember that the 4 sources are Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience.) However, we never actually use Scripture by itself. Whenever we approach Scripture, we are already using Reason to read and interpret them, not to mention the kind of historical information that we now rely on in trying to understand Scripture. Our context (part of the general category of Experience) affects our interpretations of Scripture also. And the Christian Tradition, based in Scripture, provides a framework through which we approach Scripture too. The Basis of Union talks about the interaction of the theological sources in this way:

The Uniting Church acknowledges that God has never left the Church without faithful and scholarly interpreters of Scripture, or without those who have reflected deeply upon, and acted trustingly in obedience to, God’s living Word. In particular the Uniting Church enters into the inheritance of literary, historical and scientific enquiry which has characterised recent centuries, and gives thanks for the knowledge of God’s ways with humanity which are open to an informed faith. The Uniting Church lives within a world-wide fellowship of Churches in which it will learn to sharpen its understanding of the will and purpose of God by contact with contemporary thought. Within that fellowship the Uniting Church also stands in relation to contemporary societies in ways which will help it to understand its own nature and mission. The Uniting Church thanks God for the continuing witness and service of evangelist, of scholar, of prophet and of martyr. It prays that it may be ready when occasion demands to confess the Lord in fresh words and deeds (Para. 11).

God’s Word is God’s very action and presence in the world. Jesus is the very Word of God (see John 1). Through the Scriptures, we encounter God’s Word made known to us in Jesus. Through honest and authentic engagement with the Scriptures, we discover something of God’s Word for our lives today.