Sources of wisdom and authority Bible

What’s revealed theology

Claims human knowledge of god comes from special revalations such as the Bible. Derive knowledge of god from contact with god himself.

What’s revealed theology

Aquinas said it provides “saving knowledge” that will result in salvation. Derive knowledge of god with natural human reason, evidence and the world. Roots in natural moral law.

The role of the Holy Spirit in revelation

• Helper: guides to the correct interp

• Catholics and Protestants agree the Bible is set apart due to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The HS is central to revelation.

• HS allows for moments of mysticism to experience the wholly other.

The compilation of the Bible

• Canonical books are those which meat the standards for the early church

• The apocrypha/deuterocanonical are seven books that Protestants done accept as canon

• The Ghnossic gospels may have been excluded as they supported female leadership which didn’t fit with the status quo.

Literal interpretation

Looks at the plain meaning and ask what the author must have meant

Moral interpretation

Attempts to draw ethical lessons from various parts of the Bible

Allegorical interpretation

Elements of a story have a deeper or hidden meaning

Anagogical interpretation

Seeks to explain biblical events as they relate to or prefigure the life to come

Strengths and weaknesses of literal interpretation

Strengths:

• straightforward

• Won’t find meaning that isn’t there

• Most people will agree

Weaknesses:

• may miss deeper meaning

• Does this help Christian’s in the modern world?

Strengths and weaknesses of moral

Strengths:

• Bible should influence conduct

• Passages always give moral guidance eg commandments

Weaknesses:

• Still work in modern context?

• Can’t live up to ideals

• Disagreement over how to apply shit like love thy neighbor

Strengths and weaknesses of allegorical

Strengths:

• Can interpret passages that are contradictory

• Helps reconcile the old and new testaments

Weaknesses:

• Did the author intend that?

• Simple message of the story is lost

Strengths and weaknesses of anagogical

Strengths:

• Coherent with an omniscient god who will have knowledge of end times

• Coheres with Jesus teachings that our decisions now have eternal consequences

Weaknesses:

• Did the author mean that?

• Passages talk about death anyway so why are we looking for a deeper meaning?

Literary criticism

Looks at who wrote it when and for who

Form criticism

What is it? A parable or saying etc. these oral traditions are determined by the preaching and teaching of early Christian’s.

Redaction criticism

Looks at the way the gospels were selected

Historical criticism

Compares with other texts of the time

Ghnossic gospels

Excluded for supporting female leadership which went añadirse the status quo