To borrow a phrase from Luther, the Bible is “the manger in which the Word of God is laid.” While Lutherans recognize differences in the way the Bible should be studied and interpreted, it is accepted as the primary and authoritative witness to the church’s faith. Written and transcribed by many authors over a period of many centuries, the Bible bears testimony to the mighty acts of God in the lives of people and nations. In the Old Testament we find the vivid account of God’s covenant relationship to Israel. In the New Testament is found the story of God’s new covenant with all of creation in Jesus; it is the first-hand proclamation of those who lived through the events of Jesus’ life, death, and Resurrection, and is the authority for Christian faith and practice.