Inspiration, Inerrancy, Sacred Tradition and Interpretation The Bible: Inspiration, Inerrancy, Sacred Tradition and Interpretation

I. Divine Inspirationv A. from Latin inspirare- “to breathe into”

B. Refers to divine assistance the Holy Spirit gave human authors of Biblical books, enabling them to write in human words the salvific message G-d wanted to communicate. Glossary of Theological Terms, Rev. John T. Ford, CSC, STD St. Mary’s Press, Winona, MN 2006

1. Bible is not just another piece of literature, but is G-d’s DIVINE REVELATIONv.

2. G-d is the source of ALL inspiration!

C. G-d is the author of Scripture. (CCC 105) D. G-d inspired the human authors of the sacred books….. ”[they] made full use of their own faculties.” (CCC 106) Do you know who this is?

II. Biblical Inerrancyv A. All that is taught and proclaimed in the Sacred Scriptures is inerrant in matters of: 1. faith 2. Revelation 3. salvation TM The Bible: The Living Word of G-d p30

B. “….faithfully and firmly, without error, teach that truth, for sake of our salvation, G-d wished…..” (CCC 107) Michelangelo

III. Biblical Interpretation A. The task of interpreting the Word of G-d authentically……. ….is entrusted solely to the Magisteriumv…… that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him. (CCC 100)

B. Magisteriumv 1. (from Latin to teach) official teaching voice of the Church; 2. Pope and Bishops in communion

C. Sacred Traditionv 1.Catholics believe G-d reveals himself through BOTH Scripture AND Tradition. SCRIPTURE + TRADITION = the Deposit of Faithv

2. Sacred Tradition teaches the fullness of Divine Revelation and began with preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles. TM The Bible: The Living Word of G-d p30

3. Sacred Tradition is interpreted by the Magisterium under the What is this called? miter under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

4. All that is part of Sacred Tradition was revealed through the Paschal Mysteryv of Jesus.

5. What the Church teaches never contradicts the truth of Jesus Christ. Christ Teaching Apostles about the Last Things, Alexander Master, 1430 TM The Bible: The Living Word of G-d p31

IV. Two Ways to Interpret the Bible

A. Fundamentalism: 1. Belief that every part of the Bible must be absolutely true in every way: historically, geographically, scientifically, etc. (Catholic Faith Handbook p28)

2. Fundamentalism is a form of extreme literalism, taking the words on the page literally, that is the word for word value.

Literal or not?

Literal or not? She had a cow!

If I don’t pass this class, my parents will kill me. Literal or not? If I don’t pass this class, my parents will kill me.

Literal or not? It rained cats and dogs.

I’m soooo hungry, I could eat a horse. Literal or not? I’m soooo hungry, I could eat a horse.

Literal or not? Ducks Devour Sharks Buccaneers Flatten Patriots Lakers Terrorize Mavericks Dons Trample Saints

B. Catholics are not Biblical fundamentalists or literalists.

C. Catholics read the Bible as contextualists.

D. Comparing fundamentalism with contextualism Literalists or Fundamentalists Contextualists Look at the text AND the CONTEXT Look at the TEXT ONLY Context = time it was written, cultural and historical background, type of writing, etc. Interpret the Bible WORD for WORD at face value Use many tools to help interpret the text.

So what Bible interpretation method do Catholics use? Are we… LITERALISTS? CONTEXTUALISTS? NO YES

E. Catholic contextualists study the Bible by using exegesis.

V. Exegesis A. Greek- “explain” or “interpret” B. The critical or scholarly explanation of a Bible passage

C. the process a scholar (exegetev) uses to explain what the passage meant in its original context ( its time and place of composition). What did John 3:16 mean WHEN it was WRITTEN?

VI. Contextual Method also called Historical-Critical Method

A. Historical-Critical Method Elements 1. Time/culture of author 2. Ancient literary genres 3. Modes of feeling, speaking and narrating current at that time CCC 110

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B. Catholics read the Bible to learn about God and find religious/spiritual truth.

C. Catholics do not read the Bible for scientific or historical truth.

Not at odds with each other D. The Church teaches that faith, science and history can coexist and help inform one another. Not at odds with each other TM The Bible p32

VII. Central to Roman Catholic interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures is the concept of “the fuller sense.”

A. “Fuller sense” means that. events/narratives in the OT A. “Fuller sense” means that events/narratives in the OT foreshadow events of the NT. B. The meanings of the former events (OT) are fully revealed/understood only in the life of Jesus Christ and the Church.

Example #1 of “fuller sense”

“fuller sense” Example #2

VIII. Concluding Thoughts A. No matter which texts being considered, all books in Bible refer to G-d as the starting point and center of human history.

B. There is no reading of the Bible without interpretation. Introduction to the Bible New Collegeville Bible Commentary P34-35

G-d’s divine word has been revealed in human words and is an artifact of human culture containing signs needing interpreting. Introduction to the Bible New Collegeville Bible Commentary P34-35