What is the analogy of Scripture/analogy of faith?

The analogy of Scripture, sometimes called the analogy of faith, is the belief that the Bible is consistent and does not contradict itself. This means that when passages in different parts of the Bible discuss the same topic, they agree about it. In practice, readers can use context to clarify and connect multiple passages. As a result, understandable verses and passages can clarify confusing ones. Overall, the analogy of Scripture describes how God’s Word presents a unified message to readers.

The analogy of Scripture is a principle of biblical hermeneutics. Biblical hermeneutics is the study of how to interpret the Bible. One of the laws of biblical hermeneutics is that Scripture is always the best interpreter of Scripture. Readers can better understand God’s meaning in each verse of Scripture by considering other relevant passages.

Themes shared between the Old and New Testaments illustrate how Scripture interprets Scripture. For example, Hebrews 9:1–10 describes aspects of the Old Testament tabernacle and the priestly ministry that took place there. The priests worshiped God by offering the sacrifices He commanded under the old covenant. Hebrews 9:11–28 explains that Jesus Christ fulfilled what those sacrifices pointed forward to. His once-for-all sacrifice secured the forgiveness of sins for those who believe, unlike the repeated animal sacrifices that could never take away sins completely.

Hebrews 9 also helps readers interpret the tabernacle descriptions in the Old Testament. For example, Exodus 25:31–40 describes the seven-branched lampstand that stood in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. Some interpreters see symbolic meaning in its various features. However, Hebrews 9 encourages readers to focus primarily on the purpose of the tabernacle and its furnishings. They pointed forward to Christ’s greater priestly ministry and highlighted the superiority of His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross.

The analogy of Scripture also helps reconcile passages that appear to contradict one another. One well-known example involves the writings of the apostles Paul and James. Paul writes in Romans 3:28, “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” James 2:24, however, states, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

The context of each passage helps reconcile these statements. Paul confronts those who believe they can be justified by keeping the law or by their own good works. James confronts those who claim to have faith but do not demonstrate it through obedience. As James writes, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). Rather than contradicting one another, Paul explains that people are justified by faith apart from works, while James teaches that genuine faith is revealed by works. Together, the two passages present a consistent biblical understanding of faith and salvation.

The analogy of Scripture reminds readers that the stories, prophecies, and teachings of the Bible form a unified and consistent message. As Psalm 119:160 declares, “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” Comparing related passages throughout the Old and New Testaments provides a fuller understanding of God's Word. As readers study Scripture in its context and allow clearer passages to explain more difficult ones, they gain a deeper understanding of the Bible and grow in their faith. As Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).