The Church of the Brethren affirm the authoritative character of Scripture. The Bible is the word of God and the primary source for faith and practice. Believers should trust Scripture and obey its teachings.

However, the denomination does not require strict affirmation of absolute verbal inerrancy. This represents a moderate evangelical position. The Bible may contain ancient literary forms, cultural assumptions, and human language limitations while remaining authoritative and trustworthy for salvation and Christian living.

The Church of the Brethren emphasizes that Scripture is interpreted within the community (the church), not individualistically. The community's tradition (Brethren heritage), reason, and experience guide interpretation. This communal hermeneutic prevents both fundamentalism (claiming to have the only correct interpretation) and pure subjectivism.