The Gift of Scripture - a new teaching document from the Bishops of England, Wales and Scotland
Forty years ago the Second Vatican Council came to an end. Among its
finest documents is Dei Verbum (the Word of God), which considers the
fundamental themes of Revelation, Scripture and Tradition, and the
place of Scripture in the life of the Church. It is significant and
timely that our bishops have just brought out a new teaching document
on the Bible.
The Gift of Scripture explains the teaching of Dei Verbum as well as that of subsequent documents on the Bible issued in recent years by the Pontifical Biblical Commission under the leadership of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI. There are quotations too from the teaching of Pope John Paul II.
Catholic teaching on the Bible places the insights of scholarship, both ancient and modern, in the context of the living tradition of the Church. Christian scholars have from the early centuries emphasised that the word of God comes to us in human language. The Scriptures are revered as God's word, but God's willingness to communicate with us means that they come in human form. We revere the word because it comes from God and at the same time we take seriously its human qualities. In this way we avoid the fundamentalism which misinterprets the biblical text. In the present world situation it is crucial that we read our sacred texts in a way which is both reverential and informed.
The Gift of Scripture is deeply ecumenical. There are quotations from ecumenical statements, particularly on the relationship of the Scriptures to the tradition of the Church. The Gift of Scripture will be welcomed by other Christians and will contribute to ecumenical dialogue. It provides a clear statement of the way the Catholic Church understands the Bible today. The document praises the work of biblical scholars, both Jewish and Christian. It encourages the ecumenical use of the Bible.
Questions frequently arise in our reading, hearing and praying the Bible. The Gift of Scripture, while obviously unable to cover all the issues, provides concise and useful guidance on numerous points of interpretation: how to interpret the creation stories of Genesis, the relevance for Christians of the Exodus and the laws of Judaism, the notion of the promised land, the nature of prophecy and fulfilment, reading the four gospels, Paul's teaching about marriage and the role of women, how to read the Book of Revelation. The document also explains why the later apocryphal accounts about Jesus were never admitted into the Bible. (Readers of Dan Brown please note.)
It is in the liturgy and particularly at Mass that we are fed from the 'table of the word'. The Gift of Scripture encourages a deeper appreciation and love of the Scriptures above all in our liturgy and prayer. Bible reading is encouraged in groups and in private. Significant work is going on in our countries to produce further resources for a truly Catholic reading of Scripture, both for children and adults.
The Christian history of the British Isles is long and remarkable. The bishops recall the early evangelisation of Britain by great missionaries, and the work of saints such as Boniface who brought the gospel of Christ to large parts of continental Europe. Rediscovery of the Scriptures is rediscovery of Christ, who is the complete Word of God for us. Rediscovery of the Scriptures in our own times will provide a new sense of direction and much needed guidance in facing the problems of today in Europe and beyond. The Gift of Scripture constantly draws connections between the words of Scripture and the situation of today's world.
The bishops' document was recently presented in Rome at the Congress to celebrate the forty years of Dei Verbum, and to Pope Benedict. The delegates to that Congress, gathered from every continent, will ensure widespread distribution of The Gift of Scripture. The document deserves the same wide distribution in our own countries.
In their foreword Cardinals Cormac Murphy-O'Connor and Keith O'Brien refer to the search for meaning in the lives of so many of our contemporaries. We are called to be witnesses in a world that 'unknowingly is searching for the hope that only Christ can give'. The Gift of Scripture will be of great assistance in deepening our understanding of our faith and strengthening our witness to Christ.
The Gift of Scripture is available from the CTS at £3.95.
Greg Watts
Useful URL : http://www.cts-online.org.uk
The Gift of Scripture explains the teaching of Dei Verbum as well as that of subsequent documents on the Bible issued in recent years by the Pontifical Biblical Commission under the leadership of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI. There are quotations too from the teaching of Pope John Paul II.
Catholic teaching on the Bible places the insights of scholarship, both ancient and modern, in the context of the living tradition of the Church. Christian scholars have from the early centuries emphasised that the word of God comes to us in human language. The Scriptures are revered as God's word, but God's willingness to communicate with us means that they come in human form. We revere the word because it comes from God and at the same time we take seriously its human qualities. In this way we avoid the fundamentalism which misinterprets the biblical text. In the present world situation it is crucial that we read our sacred texts in a way which is both reverential and informed.
The Gift of Scripture is deeply ecumenical. There are quotations from ecumenical statements, particularly on the relationship of the Scriptures to the tradition of the Church. The Gift of Scripture will be welcomed by other Christians and will contribute to ecumenical dialogue. It provides a clear statement of the way the Catholic Church understands the Bible today. The document praises the work of biblical scholars, both Jewish and Christian. It encourages the ecumenical use of the Bible.
Questions frequently arise in our reading, hearing and praying the Bible. The Gift of Scripture, while obviously unable to cover all the issues, provides concise and useful guidance on numerous points of interpretation: how to interpret the creation stories of Genesis, the relevance for Christians of the Exodus and the laws of Judaism, the notion of the promised land, the nature of prophecy and fulfilment, reading the four gospels, Paul's teaching about marriage and the role of women, how to read the Book of Revelation. The document also explains why the later apocryphal accounts about Jesus were never admitted into the Bible. (Readers of Dan Brown please note.)
It is in the liturgy and particularly at Mass that we are fed from the 'table of the word'. The Gift of Scripture encourages a deeper appreciation and love of the Scriptures above all in our liturgy and prayer. Bible reading is encouraged in groups and in private. Significant work is going on in our countries to produce further resources for a truly Catholic reading of Scripture, both for children and adults.
The Christian history of the British Isles is long and remarkable. The bishops recall the early evangelisation of Britain by great missionaries, and the work of saints such as Boniface who brought the gospel of Christ to large parts of continental Europe. Rediscovery of the Scriptures is rediscovery of Christ, who is the complete Word of God for us. Rediscovery of the Scriptures in our own times will provide a new sense of direction and much needed guidance in facing the problems of today in Europe and beyond. The Gift of Scripture constantly draws connections between the words of Scripture and the situation of today's world.
The bishops' document was recently presented in Rome at the Congress to celebrate the forty years of Dei Verbum, and to Pope Benedict. The delegates to that Congress, gathered from every continent, will ensure widespread distribution of The Gift of Scripture. The document deserves the same wide distribution in our own countries.
In their foreword Cardinals Cormac Murphy-O'Connor and Keith O'Brien refer to the search for meaning in the lives of so many of our contemporaries. We are called to be witnesses in a world that 'unknowingly is searching for the hope that only Christ can give'. The Gift of Scripture will be of great assistance in deepening our understanding of our faith and strengthening our witness to Christ.
The Gift of Scripture is available from the CTS at £3.95.
Greg Watts
Useful URL : http://www.cts-online.org.uk
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