Of Interpreting the Holy Scripture; and of Fathers, Councils, and Traditions (Second Helvetic Confession, 2a)
This article examines the Second Helvetic Confession's teachings on proper Scripture interpretation, emphasizing that faithful exegesis must be grounded in the text itself rather than external church authority. Cammenga explores how the Reformed principle of sola scriptura, combined with the doctrine that preached Scripture is God's Word, establishes both the objective standard for interpretation and the means by which God continues to speak to His people today.
Previous article in this series: August 2015, p. 438. The True Interpretation of Scripture The apostle Peter has said that the Holy Scriptures are not of private interpretation (II Pet. 1:20), and thus we do not allow all possible interpretations. Nor consequently do we acknowledge as the true or genuine interpretation of the Scriptures what is called the conception of the Roman [Catholic] Church, that is, what the defenders of the Roman [Catholic] Church plainly maintain should be thrust...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org