Theology Midterm: Unit 3: Intro to Scripture

Concepts & Vocab

Inerrancy

The belief that Scripture is without error and teaches only truth.

Canon

“Measure” in Hebrew. The official list of inspired books in the Bible, made up of the Old and New Testament.

Deuterocanonical

Refers to the seven books found only in the Catholic Canon.

Septuagint

The Greek translation of the Old Testament from the 3rd century BC.

Exegesis

The process used by scholars to discover the literal meaning of the biblical text.

Inspiration

Derived from the Latin 'inspirare', meaning 'to breathe into'; and “spirit which also comes from the Latin word “breath.” To influence, move, or guide through the divine power.

Vulgate

The Latin translation of both the Old and New Testaments.

How should one read the Bible?

We must consider the intentions of the human author and what God reveals through their words.

1. Read within the Tradition and the teaching of the Church.

-Authentic interpretation is the responsibility of the Magisterium. 

2. Give attention to:

-What the human authors intended to say (literal sense). 

-What God reveals to us by their words (spiritual sense). 

3. Take into account:

-Conditions of the time it was written.

-Culture where it was written.

-(Historical context, cultural norms.)

4. Read and interpret Scripture in the light of the same Holy Spirit by whom it was written.

5. Read and interpret each part of the Bible with an awareness and understanding of the unity of the content and teaching of the entire Bible.

-Scripture shows us the unity of God’s plan.

-Jesus Christ is at the center of it all.

6. Be attentive to the analogy of faith. 

-Analogy of Faith: the unity that exists in all Church teaching. 

-We must explain Scripture in a way that is not contrary to what Tradition teaches.

What is the analogy of faith?

The unity that exists in all Church teaching.

Dual authorship of Scripture

God and human authors. Scripture has 100% divine authorship by God and 100% human authorship by human authors. Since God is the author, Scripture is without error.

Major differences between Old and New Testament

Old Testament has 46 books, was written in Hebrew and Aramaic and was written before Jesus. Includes the Torah/Law/Pentateuch, historical books, wisdom books, and prophetic books.

New Testament has 27 books and was written in Greek, and was written after Jesus. Includes the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Letters, and Revelation.

Literal sense of Scripture

Interpreting what the author intended to convey.

Allegorical sense of Scripture

How a passage relates to Jesus.

• A metaphor or sustained comparison where the story conveys more than one level of meaning

• What the words mean in the larger context of salvation history. 

• Asks the question: How does this relate to Jesus? 

Moral sense of Scripture

How Scripture teaches us to live our lives.

-How Scripture teaches and encourages us to act justly. 

-Asks the question: In the light of this passage, how should we live our lives? 

Anagorical sense of Scripture

How a passage points to eternity and our journey to heaven.

-Seeing earthly events in the context of our journey to heaven.

-Teaches you where you are going: helping you build the virtue of hope while leading you to heaven.

Literal interpretation of Scripture

Finding the intended message through the text, considering divine inspiration.

Divine inspiration

-100% human and 100% God authorship: What message did they have? 

-Finding the message through the words that were written

Literalistic interpretation of Scripture

Reading the text at face value without context, as if dictated word for word by God.

-Dictation

-God tells humans “word for word”

-Apply interpretation “word for word”

-Out of context

-Reads text at face value

Form criticism

Identifies the literary genre of biblical texts. (history, prophecy, genealogy, parable, etc.)

Historical criticism

Determines the historical context of a biblical text.

Source criticism

Discovers where the material came from that is used by biblical authors.

Redaction criticism

Examines how editors put together and arranged biblical sources.

Religious truths in Scripture

The truths communicated through Scripture that pertain to faith and moral principles.

Scripture citation structure

The title of the book, followed by chapter and verse numbers; a dash indicates reading through, a comma indicates specified verses.

-The first word tells you the title of the book

-A number in front of the book means there multiple books

-The number right before the colon is always the chapter

-The number after the colon is the verse

-A dash means read through

-A comma means only read verses listed

How was Scripture written?

Through human authors, who were instruments of God's message.

CCC 108

"not a written and mute word, but the Word which is incarnate and living”

Who is the Word of God?

Jesus Christ.