Summary Statement of the Interpretive Position of the Elders
of Fox Valley Bible Church

We regard scripture as the special revelation of God to man, entirely inspired by the Holy Spirit, and therefore sacred and precious. The proper understanding of what scripture says is critical to one’s relationship with and knowledge of God. Accordingly, we view the issue of scriptural interpretation as being of great consequence.

We observe that there are numerous interpretations of many portions of scripture. We note as well that differences in interpretation often reflect the differing presuppositions of the imperfect people who expound them. Therefore we want as much as possible to align our presuppositions and interpretive principles to God’s perfect word. In approaching the interpretation of the Old Testament, we look to see how Jesus Christ and the New Testament writers approached those scriptures. We consider their way instructive for us.

We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ and New Testament writers themselves showed us that the goal, the interpretive aim, is Jesus Christ. All of Old Testament scripture points to him and his work. So we do not speak of Christ fulfilling only certain Old Testament verses, as if only parts of Genesis through Malachi apply to him. We do not say that every verse, even in the New Testament, refers directly to Jesus Christ, but we should seek to understand any passage’s meaning in relation to Christ, his person and his work.

In addition to the interpretive goal, we believe the following also to be true. A passage is best understood when it is studied in the context of all of scripture. The meaning of later passages can more fully develop and/or fulfill the meaning of earlier passages. The meaning an author intended for the earlier text is not rendered invalid, because there is an organic relationship between the original meaning and the more developed meaning, found in Jesus Christ.

We view scripture as containing real history. God has revealed himself and his purposes progressively in history. History is linear, and our sovereign God, who has a plan in mind, directs its course. The meaning of history can be understood only through God’s word, both written and incarnate.

Typology is important in Bible interpretation. We see types and shadows in many cases as being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Indeed, our understanding of the Old Testament must reflect the fact that types and shadows there point to realities beyond themselves. This means that the fulfillments of Old Testament promises do not always bear the close resemblance to the promises themselves that one might expect, though there is still the organic relationship. It also means that, once fulfilled, a type or shadow loses its function, having been replaced by the fulfillment.

New Testament scripture indicates that Old Testament scripture was written for the instruction of the church. Even the Old Testament, written centuries before the New Testament writers lived, is for us, at least in application, if not in meaning. So all of God’s revelation is for those who live between the first and second comings of Jesus Christ. 4N780 Randall Road – Saint Charles, Illinois – 630.584.2611 – 630.584.2732 fax – www.fvbc.org

Implications

The identification of a biblically-based interpretive aim does not answer all of our interpretive or exegetical or theological questions, but it does help us identify incorrect teaching. What follows are implications of our interpretive position as well as the identification of some hermeneutical/theological positions that are not consistent with the principles we have already discussed.