Discouraged by Daniel

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Mijoy2

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Tonight I read the Book of Daniel. It was a fascinating read of course. Prior to reading the book for myself I have heard and read a great deal about the 70 week prophecy. However in my reading tonight I was first exposed to the content of Daniel 8 and other chapters.

Upon reading through Daniel I found myself getting more and more curious and excited as to the meaning of all these prophecies. When I finished I got online and attempted to research interpretation of these prophecies. Well I find myself now quite disheartened. Which brings me to the reason for the post.

Virtually the only interpretations I could find online are from vehiment anti-Catholic sites who have varying interpretations pointing to the end-times. This I can deal with. What I find disturbing is the lack of Catholic reference to Daniel (particularily Daniel 8). I even searched such credible sites as EWTN’s documant libraries and Catholic Encylopedia and found practically nothing. Anything I did find basically admits to no firm understanding of the text.

Discouraged I ask the following questions:

What good is prophecy without interpretation or meaning?

Why does the CC have virtually nothing to say about a book in the Bible?

Frankly what good is inspired text if it is not understood?

Why would God want to confuse us with His word (apparently)?

What about this am I not understanding?

Discouraged! 😦
 
Just because you haven’t found Catholic material on Daniel on-line doesn’t mean the Church has no views on it. Perhaps by limiting yourself to online sources, you’re not looking in the right (or most reliable) place. You may have to break down and actually buy some reputable commentaries and books. 🙂

I have three recommendations for you. The first is the most scholarly, while still being readable to us average Catholics. It is the Navarre Bible Commentary on the Major Prophets. This commentary also treats Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch and Ezekiel, so it is not a small (or cheap) book. Believe me, however, it is the best Catholic commentary of it’s kind on the market today and worth every dime.

If you are more interested in only the prophetical aspect of Daniel (it’s proper Catholic interpretation as opposed to the “Left Behind” type garbage you mostly find on-line) I highly recommend David Curie’s “Rapture: The End Times Error that Leaves the Truth Behind.” It is also a big book, but not too expensive. A major portion of the book contains an examination of Daniel and the 70 weeks question from a proper Catholic perspective.
sophiainstitute.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SIP&Product_Code=72-5&Category_Code=Current

Finally, Steve Wood has a CD series called “Introduction To Prophecy” which also takes an exhaustive look at Daniel and the 70 weeks. This is an excellent series and is available at:
familylifecenter.net/cart/product_detail.cfm?ID=613

If you’re going to study such a complex topic, there’s no substitute for quality material. Garbage in, garbage out doesn’t just apply to computers. 🙂
 
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Fidelis:
Just because you haven’t found Catholic material on Daniel on-line doesn’t mean the Church has no views on it. Perhaps by limiting yourself to online sources, you’re not looking in the right (or most reliable) place. You may have to break down and actually buy some reputable commentaries and books. 🙂

I have three recommendations for you. The first is the most scholarly, while still being readable to us average Catholics. It is the Navarre Bible Commentary on the Major Prophets. This commentary also treats Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch and Ezekiel, so it is not a small (or cheap) book. Believe me, however, it is the best Catholic commentary of it’s kind on the market today and worth every dime.

If you are more interested in only the prophetical aspect of Daniel (it’s proper Catholic interpretation as opposed to the “Left Behind” type garbage you mostly find on-line) I highly recommend David Curie’s “Rapture: The End Times Error that Leaves the Truth Behind.” It is also a big book, but not too expensive. A major portion of the book contains an examination of Daniel and the 70 weeks question from a proper Catholic perspective.
sophiainstitute.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SIP&Product_Code=72-5&Category_Code=Current

Finally, Steve Wood has a CD series called “Introduction To Prophecy” which also takes an exhaustive look at Daniel and the 70 weeks. This is an excellent series and is available at:
familylifecenter.net/cart/product_detail.cfm?ID=613

If you’re going to study such a complex topic, there’s no substitute for quality material. Garbage in, garbage out doesn’t just apply to computers. 🙂
Click to expand...
good advice. I’l look into these resources.
 
I also just finished reading the Book of Daniel. I hope to rad the recommendations soon and hopefully understand more of the Old Testament.
 
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Mijoy2:
Tonight I read the Book of Daniel. It was a fascinating read of course. Prior to reading the book for myself I have heard and read a great deal about the 70 week prophecy. However in my reading tonight I was first exposed to the content of Daniel 8 and other chapters.

Upon reading through Daniel I found myself getting more and more curious and excited as to the meaning of all these prophecies. When I finished I got online and attempted to research interpretation of these prophecies. Well I find myself now quite disheartened. Which brings me to the reason for the post.

Virtually the only interpretations I could find online are from vehiment anti-Catholic sites who have varying interpretations pointing to the end-times. This I can deal with. What I find disturbing is the lack of Catholic reference to Daniel (particularily Daniel 8). I even searched such credible sites as EWTN’s documant libraries and Catholic Encylopedia and found practically nothing. Anything I did find basically admits to no firm understanding of the text.
Click to expand...

What have you in mind with that last sentence ?​

Discouraged I ask the following questions:

What good is prophecy without interpretation or meaning?

Why does the CC have virtually nothing to say about a book in the Bible?

Frankly what good is inspired text if it is not understood?

Why would God want to confuse us with His word (apparently)?

What about this am I not understanding?

Discouraged! 😦
Click to expand...

The CCC is a catechism, not a commentary on the Bible. These are very different kinds of book. The CCC is not a lot of things - if you want a commentary on the 1983 Code of Code Law, the CCC is not the place to look - Father James Coriden’s commentary is what one would go to. The CCC isn’t about Church history, or Church music, the Liturgy, or Church anything else - except what its title suggests: doctrine and some things immediately connected there with. It’s not even a book on the study of theology; it isn’t intended to be 🙂​

Two commentaries I have found helpful are in this group:
  • Baldwin, Joyce G. Daniel. TOTC. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1978. Helpful with attention to background, textual, and theological issues. Evangelical.
  • *Collins, John J. Daniel. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1993. Best available critical study of the text with full interaction with intertestamental literature.
  • *Goldingay, John. Daniel. WBC. Waco: Word Books, 1989. Detailed comments with comparisons with biblical and non-biblical parallels. Defends a late date. Evangelical.
  • Hartman, Louis F. and Alexander A. DiLella. Daniel. AB. Garden City: Doubleday, 1978. Places comments against a late reconstruction of background. Roman Catholic.
  • Longman III, Tremper. Daniel. NIVAC. Zondervan, 1999. Helpful exposition and thoughtful theological reflections and applications from a Reformed perspective. Evangelical.
  • Montgomery, J.A. Daniel. ICC. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1927. Though now dated in many ways, this critical commentary is still a benchmark in terms of textual data and philology.
  • Porteous, N. Daniel. OTL. Second edition. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1979. An important critical commentary of a generation ago. The second edition has a Supplement to update original 1962 commentary.
  • Young, Edward J. The Prophecy of Daniel. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1949. A classical commentary of earlier decades. Much attention given to millennial debates. Evangelical.
Collins is especially good; the * = best in its class.

I hope you find what you are looking for ##
 
I understand your feelings, the book of Daniel, or should I say, Pseudo-scholars who taught about the book of Daniel caused me to really question the book and even my faith. Everything from the anti-catholicism to saying that Daniel did not write it (Even though Jesus Himself said He did in the Gospels) have left me to really search for the Truth! But as always, everytime I put the Faith to the test God does lead me to a more than satisfactory conclusion.

But anyway, my best suggestion is to search the Fathers of the Church. St. Jerome wrote a commentary on the Book of Daniel, here it is tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_daniel_01_intro.htm

I have studied the commentary Jerome wrote on Daniel and it is top notch! And in the section where he talks about the 70 weeks, it is done just the way I would have done it, and that is that he gives the interpretations of the Church Fathers that preceeded him.

Good luck! I hope this helps!
 
I originally wrote started this thread some 3 months ago. It laid dorment and was revisited. I happened across it again accidentally. I wonder if there is a solution to this problem such as maybe an automated private message when an original posters thread gets revisited after a certain period of inactivity. I almost missed the thoughtfull and welcomed replies.

Thank you all I will investigate all your suggested reading.
 
Haydock’s 1859 Catholic Bible commentary on Daniel is now available online, here. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
 
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