Fifth, interpretation should be proper and literal.
Fifth, interpretation should be proper and literal.
§ 535. (V) All interpretation of Scripture should be proper and should not depart from the letter in articles of faith, unless Scripture itself reveals the impropriety and explains it. This rule is deduced from the perfection and perspicuity of Scripture, which we proved earlier. You see, if Holy Scripture explains in clear and perspicuous words the articles of faith that all people must know for their salvation, then surely we must also not depart from the literal and proper meaning of the words in the articles of faith. Otherwise we would make all of Scripture doubtful and uncertain, and we would not be able to discover from it any constant meaning concerning the articles of faith, if everyone were allowed to depart from the proper, literal meaning in the articles of faith. The sense that the Holy Spirit undoubtedly intended is that which one immediately gathers from the words taken in their proper and natural meaning. Therefore because according to Jerome,85 Epistle ad Dardan.: “The truth of the account is the foundation of spiritual understanding” (vol. 4, f. 29), Lyra concludes correctly and usefully from this that “just as a building that tilts on its foundation is inclined to ruin, so also a mystical interpretation that departs from the literal sense must be considered improper and unsuitable” (Prolog. bibl.). Luther, De captiv. Babylon., f. 277: “Neither man nor angel has the power to create from the divine words. Rather, as much as is possible, we must preserve these words in their simplest meaning. Unless manifest circumstances compel us, we must not take them out of their grammatical setting, lest we give our opponents the opportunity to make sport of all Scripture.”