Editing Inward light (section)

== In the Bible ==
[[File:AssemblyOfQuakers.jpg|thumb|400px|A female Quaker [[Homiletics|preaches]] at a [[meeting for worship]].]]
Most Friends, especially in the past, have looked to the Bible as a source of doctrine, wisdom and guidance. Many, if not most of them, have considered the Bible a book [[Biblical inspiration|inspired]] by God. Early Quakers, like George Fox and Robert Barclay, as well as most modern Quakers (including the [[Conservative Friends]], [[Evangelical Friends Church International|Evangelical Friends]], [[Friends United Meeting|Gurneyite Friends]] and [[Central Yearly Meeting of Friends|Holiness Friends]]) believed that promptings which were truly from the [[Holy Spirit]] would not contradict the Bible. They did, furthermore, believe that to correctly understand the Bible, one needed the Inward Light to clarify it and guide one in applying its teachings to current situations.<ref name="CYMF2018"/>  

In the United States, in the nineteenth century, Friends of the Orthodox branch concluded that a minority of those of their faith, especially those of the Liberal Friends tradition, were using the concept of the Inner Light to justify unbiblical views.<ref name="CYMF2018"/> These Orthodox Friends held that the revelations of the Inward Light would not be in contradiction to the teachings of the Bible: "the Scriptures were foundational to Christian doctrine, and the indwelling Spirit was the immediate guide for holy living and worship."<ref name="CYMF2018"/> Friends remain formally, but usually respectfully, divided on the matter.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}}