One
The investigation of Scripture must be conducted by a redeemed mind.


Two
There must be a conviction
about the unique and supernatural nature of Scripture.


Three
There must be a commitment to study.


Four
Prayer must precede exegesis and interpretation.


Five
There must be a conscious reliance upon the Holy Spirit.


Six
There must be a commitment to the unity of Scripture.


Seven
There must be an acceptance of the spiritual dimension of Scripture.


Eight
There must be an awareness of the progressive character of Scripture.


Nine
There must be a knowledge of the culture where the Scriptures were given.


Ten
Accept the natural reading of Scripture.


Eleven
The believer needs to practice theological interpretation.


Twelve
There must be a sympathetic appreciation
for the historic testimony of the Church.


Thirteen
Consider the possibility of a deeper or fuller sense
in addition to the natural or literal meaning of a passage.


Fourteen
Any treatise must continually be evaluated by the Scriptures
and must faithfully represent them.

Te totum appplica ad textum:
Rem totam applica ad te.

Your whole self apply to the text;
The whole thing apply to yourself.

(J. A. Bengel, Preface to his Edition of the Greek New Testament, 1734)