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

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

3. 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

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

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

6. 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?

7. 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

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

9. 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)

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

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

12. 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

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

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

15. 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

16. IV. Two Ways to
Interpret
the
Bible

17. 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)

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

19. Literal or not?

20. Literal or not?
She
had
a cow!

21. 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.

22. Literal or not?
It rained cats and dogs.

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

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

25. B. Catholics are not Biblical fundamentalists or literalists.

26. C. Catholics read the Bible as contextualists.

27. 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.

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

29. E. Catholic contextualists study the Bible by using exegesis.

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

31. 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?

32. VI. Contextual Method also called Historical-Critical Method

33. 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

34. What info do these provide?
(089)
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35. B. Catholics read the Bible
to learn about God
and find religious/spiritual truth.

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

37. 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

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

39. 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.

40. Example #1 of “fuller sense”

41. “fuller sense” Example #2

42. 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.

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

44. 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