Theology of Sacred Scripture : Understanding the Bible and It’s Message

Theology of Sacred Theology of Sacred ScriptureScripture::

Understanding the BibleUnderstanding the Bibleand It’s Messageand It’s Message

Chapter 1:Chapter 1:Preparing for the Preparing for the

JourneyJourney

HomeworkHomework(due Weds., 9 /5) (due Weds., 9 /5) •Print out “Text”, Chapter 1Print out “Text”, Chapter 1•Write out your 3 most Write out your 3 most important questions about the important questions about the BibleBible•Read & highlight pp. 14-17; Read & highlight pp. 14-17; RQs, p.17 (in notebook)RQs, p.17 (in notebook)

HomeworkHomework(due Fri., 9 /7)(due Fri., 9 /7) •Write out 3 arguments for and 3 Write out 3 arguments for and 3 against the existence of God; against the existence of God; prepare to debate.prepare to debate.

(due Mon., 9/10)(due Mon., 9/10)•Read/annotate article on Read/annotate article on existence of God, acc. to your existence of God, acc. to your opinions: opinions: http://www.existence-of-god.com/existence-of-god.html

http://www.existence-of-god.com/existence-of-god.html

http://www.existence-of-god.com/existence-of-god.html

HomeworkHomework(due Weds., 9/12)(due Weds., 9/12)•Final preps for “God” trial, acc. Final preps for “God” trial, acc. to your roleto your role

(due Thurs., 9/13)(due Thurs., 9/13) •R&H (read and highlight) pp. R&H (read and highlight) pp. 17-21; RQs p. 2117-21; RQs p. 21

HomeworkHomework(due Mon., 9/17)(due Mon., 9/17)•R&H pp. 22-29; RQs pp. 26 & 29R&H pp. 22-29; RQs pp. 26 & 29

(due Weds., 9/19)(due Weds., 9/19) •R&H article on R&H article on Lectio DivinaLectio Divina•Choose 1 of the passages at end of Choose 1 of the passages at end of article article oror from “Life and Faith from “Life and Faith Issues” (last page) and practice Issues” (last page) and practice steps of steps of lectio divinalectio divina; write your ; write your reflection in notebook.reflection in notebook.

HomeworkHomework(due Thurs., 9/20)(due Thurs., 9/20)•Study for Test Review on:Study for Test Review on:

– Ch. 1 handoutCh. 1 handout– PPt notesPPt notes– Articles/handouts (God, Articles/handouts (God, Lectio Lectio

DivinaDivina))

(due Mon., 9/24)(due Mon., 9/24) •TEST on above (ACHTUNG! TEST on above (ACHTUNG! Ravens play Sunday night!!)Ravens play Sunday night!!)

Bible DefinedBible Defined

All books of OT & NT approved All books of OT & NT approved by authority of Churchby authority of Church

““Bible” = “the Books” ( ta Bible” = “the Books” ( ta biblia,in Gk.)biblia,in Gk.)

Bible= God’s Word revealed in Bible= God’s Word revealed in human wordshuman words

““Testament”?Testament”?

= pact, agreement, covenant= pact, agreement, covenant

OT made thru Moses > JewsOT made thru Moses > Jews

NT “ “ Jesus > All NT “ “ Jesus > All PeoplesPeoples

Canon of the BibleCanon of the Bible

Canon= official list of inspired Canon= official list of inspired books of the Biblebooks of the Bible

Canonicity= issue of how Canonicity= issue of how books are determined as books are determined as canonicalcanonical


When? 393 A.D. Council of When? 393 A.D. Council of Hippo (other Councils affirmed Hippo (other Councils affirmed same)same)

Which? Which? OT= 46OT= 46

NT= 27NT= 27

Bible= 73Bible= 73


Who ? Who ? Church authority, given by Christ, Church authority, given by Christ, inspired by H.Sp.inspired by H.Sp.

Why?Why?1.1.Apostolic originApostolic origin

2.2.Widespread acceptanceWidespread acceptance

3.3.Conformity to the “rule of faith”Conformity to the “rule of faith”

Deutero-canonical Deutero-canonical booksbooks

Deutero-canonical Books = 7 Books Deutero-canonical Books = 7 Books accepted by Catholic Church…Why?accepted by Catholic Church…Why?

from Alexandrian Canonfrom Alexandrian Canon

The AC based on The AC based on Septuagint,Septuagint, Greek OT Greek OT

Jesus & apostles knew, read & Jesus & apostles knew, read & accepted accepted SeptuagintSeptuagint..

These books not found in versions These books not found in versions of Bible based on older Hebrew of Bible based on older Hebrew canoncanon

Deutero-canonical Deutero-canonical booksbooks

1.1. TobitTobit2.2. JudithJudith3.3. WisdomWisdom4.4. SirachSirach5.5. BaruchBaruch6.6. 1 Maccabees1 Maccabees7.7. 2 Maccabees2 Maccabees

(also parts of Esther & Daniel)(also parts of Esther & Daniel)

Coming to Know GodComing to Know God

““The desire for God is written in The desire for God is written in the human heart because man the human heart because man is created by God and for is created by God and for God.”God.”--CCC,27CCC,27

We can know God We can know God through…through…

1.1. Human reasonHuman reason• Our discovery Our discovery

of Godof God

2.2. Divine Divine RevelationRevelation• God God

manifesting manifesting (showing) (showing) Himself to usHimself to us

Proofs for God?Proofs for God?

• ““Proofs” Proofs” =tests=tests– Probare Probare

(Latin)= to (Latin)= to test, probetest, probe

– Evidence to be Evidence to be put to the put to the test… of test… of reasonreason

1. Cosmological 1. Cosmological ArgumentArgument

• God = God = “Unmoved “Unmoved Mover” or Mover” or “First Cause” “First Cause” of everythingof everything

• There must be There must be a source from a source from which all else which all else existsexists

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNAUR7NQCLA

2. Ontological 2. Ontological ArgumentArgument

• God = God = Ultimate Ultimate Perfect BeingPerfect Being

• There There must bemust be “that than “that than which nothing which nothing greater can be greater can be thought,” thought,” a.k.a. “God”a.k.a. “God”

3. Teleological 3. Teleological ArgumentArgument

• ““Argument Argument from design”from design”

• The universe The universe has an order has an order or design; or design; there must be there must be a designer, a designer, a.k.a. Goda.k.a. God

4. Moral Argument4. Moral Argument• Morality exists Morality exists

objectivelyobjectively, ie. , ie. apart from our apart from our opinionsopinions

• Where did we Where did we get this sense of get this sense of right & wrong?right & wrong?

• God = Creator of God = Creator of the Moral Lawthe Moral Law

We can know God We can know God through…through…

1.1. Human reasonHuman reason• Our discovery Our discovery

of Godof God

2.2. Divine Divine RevelationRevelation• God God

manifesting manifesting (showing) (showing) Himself to usHimself to us

Divine RevelationDivine Revelation

• God is known by human reason, but…God is known by human reason, but…• God took first step/initiative in God took first step/initiative in

revealing Himself to man… so…revealing Himself to man… so…• God makes Himself known and we God makes Himself known and we

are able to know Himare able to know Him

Divine Rev.: Why Divine Rev.: Why Necessary?Necessary?

• Need for God to Need for God to show what show what reason can’t reason can’t arrive at on its arrive at on its own (eg. own (eg. Miracles)Miracles)

• Need for God to Need for God to give certitude give certitude about things about things reason can arrive reason can arrive at (eg. that at (eg. that killing is wrong)killing is wrong)

Divine Rev.: What is it?Divine Rev.: What is it?• God communicates God communicates

Himself to man, Himself to man, making known His making known His planplan

• Story of it (in Story of it (in Scripture)= Scripture)= Salvation HistorySalvation History

• Fullness of it = Fullness of it = Jesus ChristJesus Christ, God , God Himself revealed Himself revealed in the fleshin the flesh

Magisterium Magisterium interprets…interprets…• Depositum Fidei Depositum Fidei

(“Deposit of (“Deposit of Faith”)= 2 places Faith”)= 2 places where God’s where God’s revelation (what revelation (what He has done & He has done & said) is said) is “deposited”:“deposited”:

1.1. Sacred Tradition Sacred Tradition ((traditio= traditio= pass on)pass on)

2.2. Sacred Scripture Sacred Scripture (Bible)(Bible)

The two “senses” of The two “senses” of ScriptureScripture• Literal sense:Literal sense:

– Actual meaning Actual meaning of wordsof words

• Spiritual sense:Spiritual sense:– Deeper meaning:Deeper meaning:

• AllegoricalAllegorical• MoralMoral• AnagogicalAnagogical

Biblical Inspiration Biblical Inspiration defined:defined:

Principle Author= God (Holy Principle Author= God (Holy Spirit)Spirit)

H. Sp. guided human authors H. Sp. guided human authors to write, in their own style, to write, in their own style, words, etc. the truth He was words, etc. the truth He was revealing to themrevealing to them

How?How?

Theories of InspirationTheories of Inspiration

Divine DictationDivine Dictation Writer = robotWriter = robot

Negative AssistanceNegative Assistance Spirit = Spirit = watchdogwatchdog

Positive AssistancePositive Assistance Spirit & Spirit & writer =teamwriter =team

Extent of InspirationExtent of Inspiration

Pope Leo XIII in Pope Leo XIII in P.D.P.D.: Bible : Bible in all in all its partsits parts is inspired is inspired (not just “faith & (not just “faith & morals”)morals”)

Whole Bible= Word Whole Bible= Word of God… but…of God… but…

Inspired truth not= Inspired truth not= literalliteral truth truth

““Inerrancy” of Inerrancy” of ScriptureScripture

Scientific Scientific errors?errors?

Creation/Creation/evolutionevolution

• Historical Historical errors?errors?– DatesDates

Since it is inspired, the Bible is free from error in matters of salvation, that is, our eternal relationship with God

Interpreting the BibleInterpreting the Bible• 3 Rules of Catholic 3 Rules of Catholic

interpretation:interpretation:1.1.Content & unity of Content & unity of

wholewhole Scripture Scripture2.2.w/in living w/in living

Tradition of ChurchTradition of Church3.3.Attention to Attention to

“analogy of faith,” “analogy of faith,” ie. how truths of ie. how truths of faith fit together as faith fit together as a wholea whole

Dead Sea ScrollsDead Sea Scrolls

What was found? 800 documents—mostly fragments; 200 biblical

When were they found?

Between 1947 and 1956

Where were they found?

11 caves at Qumran (near the Dead Sea)

Why are they important?

Closer to originals by 1,000 yrs., giving clearer picture of biblical times

Bible divided into:Bible divided into:


Old TestamentOld Testament


Old TestamentOld Testament

New TestamentNew Testament

O.T. divided into:O.T. divided into:

NT (27)

OT


NT (27)

Torah(5)

OT


NT (27)

Torah(5)

OTHistorica

l(18)


NT (27)

Torah(5)

OTHistorica

l(18)

Prophetic(16)


NT (27)

Torah(5)

OTHistorica

l(18)

(46)Prophetic

(16)

Wisdom(7)

N.T. divided into:N.T. divided into:

NT

OT


Gospels(4)

NT

OT


Gospels(4)

Acts(1)

NT

OT


Gospels(4)

Acts(1)

NT

Letters(21)

OT


Gospels(4)

Acts(1)

NT

Letters(21)

(27)

Revelation

(1)

OT

Complete Structure of Complete Structure of BibleBible

Gospels(4)

Acts(1)

NT

Letters(21)

(27)

Revelation

(1)

Torah(5)

OTHistorica

l(18)

(46)Prophetic

(16)

Wisdom(7)

Interpreting the BibleInterpreting the Bible• Critical reading: Critical reading:

– Context of the text?Context of the text?•HistoryHistory•CultureCulture• LanguageLanguage• Literary form/styleLiterary form/style

• Lectio Divina:Lectio Divina:– ““sacred reading”sacred reading”– Deep, personalDeep, personal– ““Praying the Praying the

Scriptures”Scriptures”

Lectio DivinaLectio Divina• Lectio Lectio (slow, (slow,

attentive readingattentive reading• MeditatioMeditatio (thinking, (thinking,

reflecting on textreflecting on text• OratioOratio ( thoughts > ( thoughts >

conversation w/ conversation w/ God)God)

• Contemplatio Contemplatio ( words> silence… )( words> silence… )

• [Resolution: decide [Resolution: decide to to actact on your on your lectiolectio]]

Theology of Sacred Scripture : Understanding the Bible and It’s Message

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