Holy Scripture comprises the canonical books received by the Church as inspired testimony to God’s revelation and saving work. It includes the Old Testament and the New Testament, centred upon Jesus Christ.
Scripture and the Church
The biblical books arose within the worshipping community and were preserved, proclaimed, and interpreted within Holy Tradition. Scripture holds a unique and normative place in Christian teaching while remaining inseparable from the apostolic faith in which its canon was recognized.
Use
Scripture is read publicly in the liturgy and privately for prayer, study, doctrine, and moral formation. Responsible interpretation considers literary form, historical setting, the unity of the canon, and the received faith of the Church. In the Orthodox and Catholic tradition, ultimate authority for the interpretation of Scripture rests with the Church herself, and individual interpretation is neither consistent with tradition nor permitted.