Definition

Noun 1. A religious text considered holy: Any writing or body of writings that is venerated as sacred, authoritative, and divinely inspired within a religious tradition. It serves as a foundational source for doctrine, ethics, and spiritual practice.

Usage

• The term is used to refer to the central, canonical texts of a religion.
• It is often used in formal, academic, or interfaith contexts when discussing religious texts in general or when referring to the scripture of a specific faith.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Sacred scripture" vs. "scripture": While often used interchangeably, "sacred scripture" can place stronger emphasis on the text's holy and inviolable nature. "Scripture" alone can sometimes be used more broadly or informally.
• Capitalization: When referring to a specific text by this title (e.g., "the Sacred Scripture"), it may be capitalized, though it is more common to capitalize the actual name of the text (e.g., the Quran, the Vedas).

Variants and Related Words

• Scripture (noun): Often used synonymously with "sacred scripture," but can also refer to a passage from such a text. (e.g., )
• Canon (noun): The officially accepted list of books that constitute a sacred scripture. (e.g., )
• Holy Writ (noun): A synonym for sacred scripture, often with a more traditional or solemn tone.

Synonyms

• Holy scripture
• Religious text
• Canonical writings
• The Word (in specific Christian contexts)

Related Phrases

• "According to sacred scripture...": A phrase used to introduce an authoritative teaching or quote derived from a holy text.
  • According to sacred scripture, we must love our neighbors.
• "To study sacred scripture": To engage in the academic or devotional examination of a religious text.
  • She devoted her life to studying sacred scripture.

Noun

1. any writing that is regarded as sacred by a religious group