We deny that Scripture may be interpreted in such a way as to suggest that <strong>on</strong>e passage corrects ormilitates against another. We deny that later writers of Scripture misinterpreted earlier passages of Scripturewhen quoting from or referring to them.ArticleXVIIIWe affirm that the Bible's own interpretati<strong>on</strong> of itself is always correct, never deviating from, but ratherelucidating, the single meaning of the inspired text. The single meaning of a prophet's words includes, but isnot restricted to, the understanding of those words by the prophet and necessarily involves the intenti<strong>on</strong> ofGod evidenced in the fulfillment of those words.We deny that the writers of Scripture always understood the full implicati<strong>on</strong>s of their own words.Article XIXWe a'ffirm that any preunderstandings which the interpreter brings to Scripture should be in harm<strong>on</strong>y withscriptural teaching and subject to correcti<strong>on</strong> by it.We deny that Scripture should be required to fit alien preunderstandings, inc<strong>on</strong>sistent with itself; such asnaturalism,evoluti<strong>on</strong>ism,scientism,secular humanism,and relativism. .Article XXWe affirm that since God is the author of all truth, all truths, biblical and extrabiblical, are c<strong>on</strong>sistent andcohere, and that the Bible speaks truth when it touches <strong>on</strong> matters pertaining to nature, history, or anythingelse. We further affirm that in some cases extrabiblical data have value for clarifying what Scriptureteaches,andfor promptingcorrecti<strong>on</strong>of faulty interpretati<strong>on</strong>s. .We deny that extrabiblical views ever disprove the teaching of Scripture or hold priority over it.Article XXIWe affirm the harm<strong>on</strong>y of special with general revelati<strong>on</strong> and therefore of biblical teaching with the facts ofnature.We deny that any genuine scientific facts are inc<strong>on</strong>sistent with the true meaning of any passage of Scripture.Article XXIIWe affirm that Genesis 1-11 is factual, as is the rest of the book.We deny that the teachings of Genesis 1-11 are mythical and that scientific hypotheses about earth historyor the origin of humanity may be invoked to overthrow what Scripture teaches about creati<strong>on</strong>.Article XXIIIWe affirm the clarity of Scripture and specifically of its message about salvati<strong>on</strong> from sin.We deny that all passages of Scripture are equally clear or have equal bearing <strong>on</strong> the message of redempti<strong>on</strong>.We affirmscholars.Article XXIVthat a pers<strong>on</strong> is not dependent for understanding of Scripture <strong>on</strong> the expertise of biblicalWe deny that a pers<strong>on</strong> should ignore the fruits of the technical study of Scripture by biblical scholars.ArticleWe affirm that the <strong>on</strong>ly type of preaching which sufficiently c<strong>on</strong>veys the divine revelati<strong>on</strong> and its proper applicati<strong>on</strong>to life is that which faithfully expounds the text of Scripture as the Word of God.We deny that the preacherhasany messagefrom God apart from the text of Scripture.- .. III! . -XXVThe original document is located in the <strong>Dallas</strong> <strong>Theological</strong> Seminary Archives.
1J(n)1f~W(n)Wl(DC0(n)W(1 ~C0~@(JUw~(n)(3WWW(n)~lVTHE CHICAGO STATEMENTON BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICSExpositi<strong>on</strong>The following paragraphs outline the generaltheological understandingwhich the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Chicago</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Statement</str<strong>on</strong>g><strong>on</strong> <strong>Biblical</strong> <strong>Hermeneutics</strong> reflects. They were firstdrafted as a stimulus toward that statement. They havenow been revised in the light of it and of many specificsuggesti<strong>on</strong>s received during the scholars' c<strong>on</strong>ference atwhich it was drawn up. Though the revisi<strong>on</strong> could not becompleted in time to present to the c<strong>on</strong>ference, there isevery reas<strong>on</strong> to regard its substance as expressingwithbroad accuracy the comm<strong>on</strong> mind of the signatories ofthe statement.Standpoint of the Expositi<strong>on</strong>The living God, Creator and Redeemer, is acommunicator, and the inspired and inerrant Scriptureswhich set before us his saving revelati<strong>on</strong> in history arehis meansof communicating with us today. Hewho <strong>on</strong>cespoke to the world through Jesus Christ his S<strong>on</strong> speaksto us still in and through his written Word. Publicly andprivately, therefore, through preaching, pers<strong>on</strong>al studyand meditati<strong>on</strong>, with prayer and in the fellowship of thebody of Christ, Christian people must c<strong>on</strong>tinually labor tointerpret the Scriptures so that their normative divinemessage to us may be properly understood. To haveformulated the biblical c<strong>on</strong>cept of Scripture asauthoritative revelati<strong>on</strong> in writing, the God-given rule offaith and life, will be of no profit where the message ofScripture is not rightly grasped and applied. So it is ofvital importance to detect and dismiss defective ways ofinterpreting what is written and to replace them withfaithful interpretati<strong>on</strong> of God's infallible Word.That is the purpose this expositi<strong>on</strong> seeks to serve.What it offers is basic perspectives <strong>on</strong> the hermeneuticaltask in the light of three c<strong>on</strong>victi<strong>on</strong>s. First, Scripture,being God's own instructi<strong>on</strong> to us, is abidingly true andutterly trustworthy. Sec<strong>on</strong>d, hermeneutics is crucialto the battle for biblical authority in the c<strong>on</strong>temporarychurch. Third, as knowledge of the inerrancy of Scripturemust c<strong>on</strong>trol interpretati<strong>on</strong>, forbidding us to discountanything that Scripture proves to affirm, so interpretati<strong>on</strong>must clarify the scope and significance of that inerrancyby determining what affirmati<strong>on</strong>s Scripture actuallymakes.The Communi<strong>on</strong> between God and MankindGod has made mankind in his own image, pers<strong>on</strong>aland rati<strong>on</strong>al, for eternal loving fellowship with himself in. a communi<strong>on</strong>that rests <strong>on</strong> two-waycommunicati<strong>on</strong>:God addressing to us words of revelati<strong>on</strong> and weanswering him in words of prayer and praise. God's giftof language was given us partly to make possible theseinterchanges and partly also that we might share ourunderstanding of God with others.In testifying to the historical process from Adam toChrist whereby God re-established fellowship with ourfallen raGe,SGripturedepiGt8him a8 GOn8tantlyu8inghi8own gift of language to send men messages about whathe would do and what they should do. The God of theBible uses many forms of speech: he narrates, informs,instructs, warns, reas<strong>on</strong>s, promises, commands,explains, exclaims, entreats and encourages. The Godwho saves is also the God who speaks in all these ways.<strong>Biblical</strong> writers, historians, prophets, poets andteachers alike, cite Scripture as God's word of addressto all its readers and hearers. To regard Scripture as theCreator's present pers<strong>on</strong>al invitati<strong>on</strong> to fellowship,setting standards for faith and godliness not <strong>on</strong>ly for itsown time but for all time, is integral to biblical faith.Though God is revealed in the natural order, in thecourse of history and in the deliverances of c<strong>on</strong>science,sin makes mankind impervious and unresp<strong>on</strong>siveto thisgeneral revelati<strong>on</strong>. And general revelati<strong>on</strong> is in any case<strong>on</strong>ly a disclosure of the Creator as the world's good Lordand just Judge; it does not tell of salvati<strong>on</strong> throughJesusChrist. To know about the Christ of Scripture is thus anecessity for that knowledge of God and communi<strong>on</strong>with him to which he calls sinners today. As the biblicalmessage is hear9, read, preached and taught, the HolySpirit works with and through it to open the eyes of thespiritually blind and to instill this knowledge.God has caused Scripture so to be written, and theSpirit so ministers with it, that all who read it, humblyseeking God's help, will be able to understand its savingmessage. The Spirit's ministry does not make needlessthe discipline of pers<strong>on</strong>al study but rather makes. iteffective.To deny the rati<strong>on</strong>al, verbal, cognitive character ofGod's communicati<strong>on</strong> to us, to posit an ,antithesis assome do between revelati<strong>on</strong> as pers<strong>on</strong>al and aspropositi<strong>on</strong>al, and to doubt the adequacy of languageaswe have it to bring us God's authentic message arefundamental mistakes. The humble verbal form ofbiblical language no more invalidates it as revelati<strong>on</strong> ofGod's mind than the humble servant-form of the Wordmade flesh invalidates the claim that Jesus truly revealsthe Father.To deny that God has made plain in Scripture asmuch as each human being needs to know for his or herspiritual welfare would be a further mistake. Anyobscurities we find in Scripture are not intrinsic to it butreflect our own limitati<strong>on</strong>s of informati<strong>on</strong> and insight.Scripture is clear and sufficient both as a source ofdoctrine, binding the c<strong>on</strong>science, and as a guide toeternal life and godliness, shaping our worship andservice of the God who creates, loves and saves.The Authority of ScriptureHoly Scripture is the self-revelati<strong>on</strong> of God in andthrough the words of men. It is both their witness to Godand God's witness to himself. As the divine-humanrecord and interpretati<strong>on</strong> of God's redemptive work inhi8tory, it i8 Gognitive revelati<strong>on</strong>, truth addres8edto ourIIThe original document is located in the <strong>Dallas</strong> <strong>Theological</strong> Seminary Archives.
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