How to Understand the Sacred Scriptures: From Clavis Scripturae Sacrae

A Landmark Work in Lutheran Hermeneutics―Now Available in English

In an age of competing interpretations of the Bible, How to Understand the Sacred Scriptures offers a clear and timeless guide. Originally written by Lutheran Reformer Matthias Flacius Illyricus, this pioneering work in biblical hermeneutics affirms the foundational Reformation principle: Scripture interprets Scripture.

Flacius confronts the central challenge of biblical interpretation―how to understand the true, objective meaning of the text apart from personal opinion or institutional authority. He asks: If the Bible is the highest authority, how can we avoid becoming our own popes, each with a different interpretation? His answer is rooted not in subjective experience, but in the internal clarity and unity of God’s Word.

Translated into English by Wade Johnston and introduced by Lutheran theologian Jack Kilcrease, this edition makes Flacius’ vital insights accessible to modern readers. Whether you're a pastor, theologian, student, or serious reader of Scripture, this book offers a faithful and practical method for understanding the Bible as the Reformers intended―clearly, consistently, and Christ-centered.

Perfect for readers of Reformation theology, biblical hermeneutics, and anyone seeking a trustworthy guide to interpreting Scripture.

Wade Johnston serves as associate professor of history and theology at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, WI. He studied at Martin Luther College and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary before ordination. He earned a joint PhD in history from Erasmus University in Rotterdam and Central Michigan University. He writes on history, theology, and philosophy. He cohosts the Let the Bird Fly podcast.