The lecture was addressed to members and friends of a newly founded Society for the Study of the Bible in the Middle Ages (SSBMA). It first reviews the development of the surge of interest in the history of biblical interpretation since 1955, then warns of three misconceptions and finally emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between “principles” and “rules” in any endeavor to trace the history of a particular biblical verse or passage through the early and medieval centuries of church history. The need for competence in a wide range of subjects is great but the scholarly reward can be significant.