Authority of Scripture read with spiritual discernment

What it is: Historical Quakerism gives great value to the Bible, but resists a purely literalist reading disconnected from the living experience of the Spirit.

How the tradition understands it: For many Friends, Scripture witnesses to revelation and must be read in the light of the same Spirit that inspired its origin. This avoids both contempt for the Bible and the idea that the text works in isolation without spiritual discernment.

Basis and context: The classical position was formulated in polemic with established churches and with groups accused of disordered enthusiasm.

Debates and variations: There are differences between more biblicist-confessional evangelical Quakers and more liberal Quakers open to interreligious language.