Vatican II and ScriptureWhat changed & why

Where Do Bibles Come From?Septuagint (LXX) Greek translation of the

original Hebrew & Aramaic; in Alexandria around 250 BCE; more complete than existing Hebrew texts

Vulgate Latin translation of the LXX and Greek New Testament by St. Jerome (Between 384-405)

Where Do Bibles Come From?Papyrus (Reeds sliced, laid crosswise &

pressed)Parchment or VellumSewn together into scrollsStacked and attached into a book called a

codex.Oldest extant copy of the Bible probably is

the Codex Vaticanus (4th century)

ManuscriptsHandwritten as opposed to printed

(Gutenberg 1456)Greek uncial (Block letters, like all capitals in

English) or miniuscule (Small, connected letters, like cursive)

About 3,000 manuscripts of the Greek N.T. (in whole or in part, dating from the 2nd -17th centuries) have been preserved

Textual FamiliesAlexandrian: 2nd century onward. Careful

copying & a sophisticated understanding of Greek led to spare, short readings.

Western: N. Africa, Italy & Gaul. Longer readings as if words are added for explanation. Acts = 10% longer.

Caesarian: Major library 3rd & 4th centuries. This text is between Alexandrian & Western. Spread east.

Byzantine: Some go back to Antioch ca. 300. Harmonizes differences. Underlays Textus Receptus.

Where Bibles Come FromText breaks (if any) correspond to liturgical

readingsChapter division: 13th century, Stephen

LangdonVerses: Printed version by Robert Stephanus

1551

So What Changed? Our understanding of ScienceOur understanding of LanguagesOur understanding of History & CultureOur Experience

What Changed in ScienceNicholas Copernicus 1473-1543 (Earth is a sphere, revolves

around the Sun)

Galileo: 1610 The Starry Messenger.Objection: Contradicts all known laws of

science (It did. Newton, b 1642, rewrote them.)

Objection: No Stellar Displacements (First observed in 1843.)

Objection: Contradicts Scripture: Joshua 10:12-13, Psalm 104:5, Ecclesiastes 1:5.

Galileo condemned 1633.

What Changed in LanguageNapoleon conquers Egypt, 1798; brings

scientists.Rosetta Stone 1799;

Hieroglyphic/Demotic/GreekCuneiform deciphered 1830’s.Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Sumer, Akkad

Understanding Ancient CulturesHistoryLegal Customs (Covenants & Suzerainty

Treaties)Social CustomsCreation StoriesFlood Stories

Biblical Criticism (Historical-Critical Method)

“What did the evangelist know and when did he know it?”

Textual (Accuracy of translation?)Historical (What setting?) Form (Literary form: Poetry? Historical?

Prophecy?)Protestant scholarsFour-sources for O.T. / Julius Wellhausen

1870’s.“The Fundamentals” 1910

Providentissimus Deus (Leo XIII 1893)Recognizes contributions made by “scientific

methods”Points out the Biblical authors (who shared

the scientific views of their times) do not teach answers to problems raised by the “natural sciences.”

Establishes a Pontifical Biblical Commission

Divino Afflante Spiritu (Pius XII 1943)Response to booklet declaring the study of

Scripture in the original languages was a grave danger to souls.

Pius encourages knowledge & mastery of original languages.

Encourages use of textual criticism & literary analysis.

Biblical (the Vulgate’s) “authenticity is therefore more properly called ‘juridical’ than ‘critical.’”

Vatican Council II (1962-65)Called by John XXIII in January 19591959-62: Work by Preparatory Commissions

dominated by Curia; other opinions excludedOpens October 11, 1962

Gaudet Mater EcclesiaJohn XXIII’s Opening Speech: “Mother Church

Rejoices”Church is to bring herself up to date, organize

mutual cooperation.Rejects “prophets of doom” who seek return to a

non-existent golden age.Our duty is not to guard a precious treasure, but to

share it.Substance of doctrine is one thing; how it’s

presented is another.Prefers the medicine of mercy to the arm of severity.

The Debate over “Two Sources”De Fontibus Revelationes: Scripture & TraditionComplete revelation is not contained in

Scripture alone but in Scripture and in TraditionDon’t dare to consider Tradition to be of inferior

worthGod is the author of every book in the Old and

New TestamentsIt is utterly forbidden to say the sacred author

himself has erred; all Scripture in infallibly free from error

The Debate over “Two Sources”Criticized for being a list of condemnations

and non-ecumenical.Alternative versions circulated. (Including

one by Rahner & Ratzinger.)Vote to end debate: 1,368 (1,473 required) to

822.Pope John decides schema to be withdrawn.Mixed commission to re-write.

New Instruction

Pontifical Biblical Commission The

Historicity of the Gospels 1964

Development of the Gospels0 – 33 Jesus of Nazareth lives & dies; The

Resurrection33-60 Oral Proclamation in the light of

faith60-100 Written Gospels

Development of the GospelsJesus is Lord & Messiah at the Resurrection

Paul. See Romans 1:3Jesus is Lord & Messiah when Public Life

BeginsMark

Jesus is Lord & Messiah at his BirthLuke, Matthew

Jesus is Lord & Messiah from before time John

Dei Verbum (1965)The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine RevelationGod is revealing Himself, not just a list of rulesGeneral Revelation: God speaking to all

humans, calling them to loveSpecial Revelation: God’s choice to reveal

Himself to specific groups of human beings, Jews and Christians

The Christian revelation (Jesus & the sending of the Spirit) is the high point of revelation, in that it is God’s personal self-communication

Dei Verbum (1965)What Jesus reveals to his disciples is called the

Deposit of Faith.Scripture (Writings inspired by the Holy Spirit)

and Tradition (Our common experience of trying to live what Jesus taught, guided by the Holy Spirit) arise out of the Deposit of Faith.

“The task of authentically interpreting the Word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church.” (DV 10) This is called Magisterium.

Dei Verbum (1965)“This teaching office is not above the Word of

God, but serves it.” (DV 10)Sacred tradition, sacred Scripture & the

teaching authority of the Church “are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others.” (DV 10)

Scripture “teaches firmly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into the sacred writings for the sake of our salvation.” (DV 11)

Dei Verbum (1965)“Since God speaks through sacred Scripture

through men in human fashion, the interpreter of sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by the means of their words.” (DV 12)

“Due attention must be paid to the customary and characteristic styles of perceiving, speaking and narrating which prevailed at the time of the sacred writer.” (DV 12)

Dei Verbum (1965)Easy access to Sacred Scripture should be

provided for all the Christian faithful (22)All the preaching of the Church must be

nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture (21)

Catholics should gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text, itself... (through the liturgy or devotional reading) or through instructions suitable to the purpose and other aids.

Dei Verbum (1965)“Just as the life of the Church is strengthened

through more frequent celebration of the Eucharistic mystery, similarly we may hope for a new stimulus for the life of the Spirit from a growing reverence for the word of God, which ‘lasts forever.’” (26)