Biblical Authority

The Bible is the source and final authority for our faith. The scriptures—the Old and New Testaments taken together—are the ultimate voice in all matters of faith and practice. No other authority can override the authority of God as revealed in the scriptures.

Likewise, we recognize the sufficiency of the scriptures. The scriptures teach everything that human beings need to know for their salvation.

John Wesley teaches us concerning the biblical witness:

The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testaments of whose authority was never any doubt in the church. ...

The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testaments everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and Man. ... Although the law given from God by Moses as touching ceremonies and rites doth not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of necessity be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.