How to Understand the Sacred Scriptures

by Matthias Flacius Illyricus, Wade R. Johnston (Translator), Jack Kilcrease (Introduction)

The Lutheran Reformation sprang from the Scriptures and drew its doctrine from the Scriptures. But many who read the Scriptures came away from them with different interpretations. What was the right interpretation? Luther had toppled the papacy, but would each Christian with a Bible in essence become his or her own pope, interpreting Scripture in his or her own way, with each interpretation real for the interpreter, even if for no one else? This is a question as pertinent today as in Flacius' time. How can we truly understand the Sacred Scriptures? Thankfully, the Scriptures themselves provide the answer. In this pioneering work of biblical hermeneutics, Flacius provides the reader with a reliable way to know, not what the Scriptures mean for him or her, but what the Scriptures actually and objectively mean, as Scripture interprets itself.

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1567

About the author

Matthias Flacius Illyricus (Croatian: Matija Vlačić Ilirik, German: Matthias Flach) was a Lutheran reformer from Istria, present day Croatia.

Reviews

[Jim B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains a wealth of information. First of all, it has a concise biography (by Jack Kilcrease) of Flacius, who was a truly interesting and influential teacher after the death of Luther. I've included the facts of his life in my personal notes attached to this review, so I could remember all his notable achievements.

Secondly, the book contains an important work by Flacius -- a systematic analysis of the obstacles encountered when reading and interpreting Scripture, and his "remedies" for these obstacles. It strikes me that today's guides to reading and interpreting Scripture have the same personal and technical (grammar, historical context) guidelines, but we fall short on the spiritual guidelines -- reading the Bible in faith (another spiritual guideline, and this one does get repeated today: preceding the reading with prayer for guidance and the Holy Spirit's help). Flacius has an amazing list, often complete with examples, of the correct way to read and study Scripture.

The book had a few flaws. A paragraph of Flacius' book was repeated a second time; an average proofreading process should have caught that. The translater, like me, prefers to capitalize pronouns that refer to God, but on one occasion where Flacius reversed the pattern of several sentences, the pronoun was capitalized, and it didn't refer to God. The biggest flaw is that for whatever reason, the book is incomplete. This is unfortunate because often Flacius refers to points made later in the book. The book would be better complete, and with an index!

[Dakota]

A quick read, but not very helpful in terms of hermeneutics. There can be knowledge gained from this book, but compared to other hermeneutical texts this one is a reference at best.

However, M.F. Illyricus is an interesting Lutheran and his theological convictions are all the more...uh, interesting. Let the student of Lutheran Church history understand.

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the introduction (40 pages) more than the actual book

[Jeremiah Gumm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Besides the need for a little more editing in the introduction, this brief work is an excellent addition to the Lutheran study of Biblical interpretation/Hermeneutics. I give thanks that Pr. Johnston has brought this important work from the early history of the Lutheran Church into the common language of American Lutheranism today, and at least every Lutheran pastor should have it on his shelf. Flacius states in often simple paragraphs what any number of American writers have struggled to say over the course of several pages. Read this book and truly learn "how to understand the Sacred Scriptures"!

[Philippe Deblois · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for learning the proper way to read and understand Scripture. The introduction by Dr. Kilcrease is an excellent introduction to Flacius and the material presented. A must read for students of the Word.