The Sacred Occupation
Pieper – “Holy Scripture,” in Christian Dogmatics, vol. 1, 364-65.
Exegesis, in its double function of the enarratio of the Scriptural content and of the removal of obscurities by means of the clear passages, is a most serious and sacred occupation. The Scriptures are the Word of God, and adding to them or subtracting from them is strictly forbidden to everyone (Dt. 4:2). Whoever attempts to shed more light on dark passages of Scripture than Scripture itself offers in its clear passages is adding to God’s Word. And whoever obscures clear passages by bringing in obscure passages is taking away from God’s Word. Let the exegete particularly study the words ‘If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God’ (1 Pet. 4:11). If he is not certain that he is speaking God’s Word, he should say so and – following Luther’s advice – leave the passage unexplained. If the exegete wishes to hold the right course and keep the fountain of the Christian doctrine clear, he must ever bear in mind the divine truth (Ps. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:19) that ‘the Scriptures are a light in themselves,” that Scriptura sua radiat luce. He must reject every interpretation which is based on something outside Scripture.
Proverbs 30:
5 Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
or else he will rebuke you, and you will be found a liar.7 Two things I ask of you;
do not deny them to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that I need,
9 or I shall be full, and deny you,
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
or I shall be poor, and steal,
and profane the name of my God.