All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,
reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the
man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2
Timothy 3:16-17
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also
received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the
Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in
accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to
the twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5
And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will
do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until
the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this
first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someones own
interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of
man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy
Spirit. 2 Peter 1:19-21
There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the
ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the
other Scriptures. 2 Peter 3:16
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of
Isreal; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their
inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people. Jeremiah, 31:33
Quotations on Scripture from Friends
For though I read the Scriptures that spoke of Christ and of
God, yet I knew him not but by revelation, as he who hath the key did
open, and as the Father of life drew me to his Son by his
spirit. George Fox, journal
And if there was no scripture for our mens and womens meetings,
Christ is sufficient...he is our rock and our foundation to build
upon. George Fox, Works, VIII, 115, Epistle 320, quoted in
George Foxs Conception of the Church, by Lewis Benson
Christ has tasted death for every man, which knowledge we willingly
confess to be very profitable and comfortable, but not absolutely
needful unto such, from whom God himself hath withheld it. An
Apology for the True Christian Divinity, by Robert Barclay
1st. Can the Scriptures, or did they ever, save anyone without the spirit?
2nd. Is a person called to the work of the ministry by the Scriptures, or by the spirit of Jesus Christ?
3rd. Is a man brought under a concern to go from one place to
another to preach the gospel, by the Scriptures, or by the constraining
power of the spirit and love of Jesus Christ? Letters to a
Friend, on some of the Primitive Doctrines of Christianity, by John
Wilbur
In the scriptures God has deemed it proper to give us a looking glass
in which we can see the conditions and experiences of ancient
believers. There we find that our experience is analogous to
theirs. We may thus become more confirmed and comforted and
strengthened in our hope of obtaining the same end. Observing the
providence that watched over them, and the snares which they
encountered, and beholding the ways in which they were delivered, we
may find ourselves directed toward salvation, and appropriately
reproved, and instructed in righteousness.
This is the great work of the scriptures, and their
usefulness to us. They find a respondent spark in us, and in that
way we discern the stamp of Gods ways and his Spirit upon them.
We know this from the inward acquaintance we have with the same Spirit
and with his work in our hearts. The prophecies of the scriptures
are also uplifting and of profit to us. For the same Spirit gives
us the insight by which we can fulfill them and be fulfilled.
Barclays Apology in Modern English, Dean Freiday, ed., p. 59
Secondly, God hath seen meet that herein we should, as in a
looking-glass, see the conditions and experiences of the saints of old;
that finding our experience answer to theirs, we might therefore be the
more confirmed and comforted, and our hope of obtaining the same end
strengthened; that observing the providences attending them, seeing the
snares they were liable to, and beholding their deliverances, we may
thereby be made wise unto salvation, and seasonably reproved and
instructed in righteousness. This is the great
work of the Scriptures, and their service to us, that we may witness
them fulfilled in us, and so discern the stamp of Gods spirit and ways
upon them, by the inward acquaintance we have with the same Spirit and
work in our hearts. The prophecies of the Scriptures are also
very comfortable and profitable unto us, as the same Spirit enlightens
us to observe them fulfilled, and to be fulfilled... An Apology
for the True Christian Divinity, p. 76, by Robert Barclay.
IV. However, this should not be
understood as a claim that the other means of knowledge of God are
useless and of no service to man. This will be clear from what is
said of the scriptures in the next proposition. The question is
not what may be profitable or helpful, but what is absolutely
necessary. Many things may contribute to the furtherance of a
work without being the essential thing that makes the work go on.
In summary, what has been said amounts to stating that
where true inward knowledge of God exists through the revelation of his
Spirit, everything essential is there, and there is no absolute
necessity for anything else. But where the best, highest, and
most profound knowledge exists without the revelation of his Spirit,
there is nothing, so far as the great object of salvation is
concerned. An Apology for the True Christian Divinity, by Robert Barclay
But my mind did not then know how to turn to, and dwell with that
which gave me the savour; nor rightly to read what God did daily write
in my heart; which sufficiently manifested itself to be of him, by its
living virtue, and pure operation upon me. But I looked upon the
Scriptures to be my rule, and so would weigh the inward appearances of
God to me by what was outwardly written; and durst not receive anything
from God immediately, as it sprang from the fountain, but only in that
mediate way. Herein did I limit the Holy One of Israel, and
exceedingly hurt my own soul, as I afterwards felt, and came to
understand. Yet the Lord was tender to me, and condescended
exceedingly, opening Scriptures to me freshly every day, teaching and
instructing, warming and comforting my heart thereby. The Light
Within and Selected Writings, by Isaac Penington
Quotations on Scripture from Other Faith Traditions
But the man who rejects the words of the Scriptures and follows the
impulse of desire attains neither his perfection, nor joy, nor the Path
Supreme. The Bhagavad-Gita, 16:23, translated by Juan Mascaro.
Let the Scriptures be therefore thy authority as to what is
right and what is not right. Know the words of the Scriptures,
and do in this life the work to be done. The Bhagavad-Gita, 16:24,
translated by Juan Mascaro.
And We gave unto Moses the Scripture and the Criterion (of right and
wrong), that ye might be led aright. The Meaning of the Glorious
Koran, translated by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall.
And verily We gave unto Moses the Scripture and We caused a train of
messengers to follow after him, and we gave unto Jesus, son of Mary,
clear proofs (of Allahs sovereignity), and we supported him with the
Holy Spirit. Is it ever so, that, when there cometh unto you a
messenger (from Allah) with that which ye yourselves desire not, ye
grow arrogant, and some ye disbelieve and some ye slay? The
Meaning of the Glorious Koran, translated by Mohammed Marmaduke
Pickthall.
Then We caused Our messengers to follow in their footsteps; and We
caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow, and gave him the Gospel, and
placed compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed
him. But monasticism they invented--We ordained it not for
them--only seeking Allahs pleasure, and they observed it not with the
right observance. So We give those of them who believe their
reward, but many of them are evil-livers. The Meaning of the
Glorious Koran, 57:27, translated by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall.
And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps [the
Old Testament Prophets] confirming that which was (revealed) before him
[the Torah], and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and
a light, confirming that which was (revealed) before it in the Torah--a
guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil). The
Meaning of the Glorious Koran, 5:46, translated by Mohammed
Marmaduke Pickthall.