“So My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.” — Isaiah 55:11 (BSB)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (BSB)
“And we continually thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God, which now works in you who believe.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (BSB)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (BSB)
The Word of God in Scripture is not a dead letter but a living testimony to God’s truth, holiness, and grace. It does not return void (Isaiah 55:11) and speaks authoritatively in all matters of faith and practice. It reveals the story of redemption, from creation to new creation, and centers on Jesus Christ—“the Word made flesh.” The Bible is God’s Word written, and when rightly preached, read, and obeyed, it brings conviction, guidance, and life.
In the Anglican tradition, the authority of Scripture is paramount. Article XX of the Thirty-Nine Articles declares that “the Church may not… so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another,” emphasizing Scripture’s supremacy and consistency. The Book of Common Prayer affirms in every liturgy that the Scriptures are “for our learning,” encouraging all believers to hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest God’s Word as the foundation for faith.
The Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison described the Word of God in Scripture as “God’s chosen instrument to bring us to Himself.” It is by His Word that God calls us, convicts us, sanctifies us, and assures us of His promises. We do not come to Scripture to impose our opinions upon it, but to sit under its authority. Scripture is not just about God—it is from God, and through it, He continues to speak to His people today.
Bishop J.C. Ryle rightly said, “No book in existence is so full of deep truth, and yet so suited to the simplest minds. It is God’s book, and it speaks with God’s voice.” To say that the Bible is the Word of God is to confess that it bears divine authority, demands our reverence, and gives life to those who hear and believe.
Irenaeus affirmed the divine origin of Scripture as the product of the Word and Spirit of God.
St. Clement of Rome (1st century AD) taught: “Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit.” — 1 Clement 13
Clement clearly identified Scripture as the very speech of the Spirit of God.
St. Athanasius (c. 296–373 AD) stated: “The holy and inspired Scriptures are sufficient for the explanation of all truth.” — Against the Heathen, 1.3
Athanasius recognized Scripture as divinely inspired and fully authoritative for teaching truth.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) said: “It is to the canonical Scriptures alone that I owe my consent with such firm faith that I believe none of their authors has erred in anything.” — Letters, 82.3
Augustine held Scripture as entirely truthful and divinely authoritative because it is God’s Word.
St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 AD) proclaimed: “The Scriptures were not given to us simply that we might have books, but that we might be led to Christ and conformed to His likeness.” — Homily on Matthew 2
Chrysostom emphasized that Scripture as the Word of God transforms us and leads us to Christ.
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
St. Thomas Church
PO Box 873
Abbotsford, BC,
V2T 7A2, Canada
If you are interested in starting a St. Thomas Church in your area and or ordination path fill the contact card form.
St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
