symbolical books

or symbolic books

plural noun

, Ecclesiastical.

1. the books of a religion containing the creeds, beliefs, etc.

symbolical books

plural noun

1. Christianity the books containing the creeds, beliefs, or doctrine of religious groups that have emerged since the Reformation

Word History and Origins

Origin of symbolical books¹

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

The Church of the Union in the Palatine of the Rhine.—In the Bavarian Palatine of the Rhine the union had been carried out in 1818 on the understanding that the symbolical books of both confessions should be treated with due respect, but no other standard recognised than holy scripture.

From Project Gutenberg

But in this Bickell, professor of law at Marburg, saw a loss to the church in legal status, an endangering of the evangelical church; the theological professor, Hupfeld, also in the further course of the controversy took his side, while the advocate, Henkel, in Cassel, as a popular agitator opposed him and demanded a State Synod for the formal abolishing of all symbolical books.

From Project Gutenberg

For I again protest and declare that I desire my writings to be understood in accordance with the Symbolical Books of the Church of the Augsburg Confession, and in no other sense.

From Project Gutenberg

After the excitement of feeling peculiar to Arndt's age, had been allayed by time, the Lutheran Church regarded the whole as a mere adiaphoron, that is, a “thing indifferent,” not essentially involving any principle whatever, inasmuch as the doctrine of Original Sin had already been very explicitly set forth and confessed in her Symbolical Books.

From Project Gutenberg

I also affirm, that this Book, as well in all other articles and points, as also in the articles of Free Will, and of the Justification of a poor sinner before God, is not to be understood in any other manner than in accordance with the Symbolical Books of the churches of the Augsburg Confession, namely, the first Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Two Catechisms of Luther, and the Formula of Concord.

From Project Gutenberg