Interpretation Principle: Ad Fontes
Ad Fontes
As a result of the Islamic conquest, specifically of Constantinople in A.D. 1453, there were scholars who fled West, bringing with them Greek and other manuscripts. This influx of manuscripts primed the Italian Renaissance. The Latin expression ad fontes means "to the source." In the Renaissance, the phrase epitomized the interest in the study of ancient knowledge from the original sources; which might have been Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, etc. The scholar Erasmus, who established the Textus Receptus edition/tradition of the Greek New Testament, used the phrase to indicate the nature of his critical editions.
Primary material is more important than secondary material, even though much can be learned and understood from secondary sources.
The principle of Ad fontes is at play with Biblical Interpretation.
One important expression of this principle is understanding how Scriptural knowledge is comprehended, understood, and applied. The images below help to illustrate how the process of Bible study takes information from the Scriptures and then understands it, and then applies it.
The 'Spiral of Understanding' illustration shows how our knowledge and comprehension of the Bible is a process that goes through multiple stages. These stages can inform their neighboring stages, often helping the process of interpretation. For instance, Trinitarian Interpretation is based upon the canonical conclusion of the Trinity. However, when doing Exegesis and Synchronic Theology, Trinitarian Interpretation can give insightful understanding of the Authorial Intent (For example: Ephesians Chapter One). A specific type of Trinitarian interpretation is called Prosopological exegesis.
Priority of Original Languages
Another application of Ad Fontes is the priority of the Original Languages.
This application states that the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew, Greek, and a small bit of Aramaic) have priority over the other languages into which the Scriptures have been translated. (Note that interpreting the Septuagint is complex, c.f. Karen Jobes and Moises Silva's Invitation to the Septuagint)
Consulting tools and the original language of a passage to find first hand what is said. Translators have labored diligently to accurately reflect the Scriptures into other languages. However when interpreting, it is important to understand the original can take precedence if there is a divergence in meaning.
Martin Luther's 95 theses were pivotal for the Reformation. In his expanded explanation of the 95 theses, his very first point is that the Greek word metanoeite (repent) could be better translated.