22. Is it true the SDA Church endorses the Proof-Text method of scriptural interpretation?

No. The SDA Church rejects the Proof-Text method and instead endorses the Literal-Historical method of scriptural interpretation, used by most ‘mainstream’ Protestant Churches.

The Proof-Text (or Quote-Mining) method involves taking the Bible absolutely literally, without any real consideration for the historical, cultural and linguistic context of the author.  Bible texts are often also taken in isolation or read together to produce unusual and even absurd results.  This method is often used by many ‘Fundamentalist’ Christian groups. The SDA Church does not endorse this method.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_text

Another method of interpreting the Bible includes Higher Criticism, which usually involves secularising the scriptures by denying the possibility of miracles, other supernatural events, and even the literal virgin birth, death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a favoured method amongst many academics and theologians, especially from ‘High-Church’ or ‘mainstream’ denominations. The SDA Church also does not endorse this method.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_criticism

A third method involves rejecting sola scriptura (the Bible alone) and subordinating the scriptures to the place of Sacred Tradition.  This method is generally favoured by Roman Catholic, Anglican/Episcopalian, Eastern Orthodox and other ‘High-Churches’.  The SDA Church also does not endorse this method.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Tradition

Finally, the method the SDA Church does endorse is the Literal-Historical method. The starting point is to take the Bible at face value, unless the passage is clearly poetic, symbolic, prophetic or figurative (i.e. to interpret scripture by scripture).  However, the Bible must still be read within the historical, cultural and linguistic context of the writer’s time.  

As noted on the SDA Church’s official theological website:

“While Christ is honored as head of the church, what we know of Him and His truth is found principally in the Scriptures, to which Adventists turn for guidance in pursuit of faith and practice. The Word is interpreted by means of a hermeneutic that, aside from obvious poetic and symbolic sections, treats the text quite literally, taking into account the historical, cultural and linguistic elements involved. Its method relates more closely to the historic Antiochian school of interpretation than the Alexandrian and reflects adjustments in method encouraged by the sixteenth-century reformers.” (emphasis added)

See: www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/adventist%20beliefs.htm