How does the CC interpret the bible?

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ALLFORHIM

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Hi,

I was wondering if the CC intreprets the bible literally or figuratively or both?

Thanks

AFH
 
It uses whichever one is called for. As a rule, it utilizes the same source to determine which is called for: the apostolic teaching, the Tradition of the Church, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, as was promised by Christ.

Jeremy
 
This might help:

Q: A friend of mine said that his church takes the Bible literally, but that the Catholic Church doesn’t…is that true?

A: Click here

Also looking at these Bible Studies from a Catholic Prospective, might help you see how Catholics few the bible. Click here for a Catholic Bible Study

Finally this Radio Program is a program on the Bible form a Catholic Prospective. This might help you, also, see how Catholics Few the Bible. Click here for Deep in Scripture’s web page. Deep in Scripture is a calling radio show regarding Scripture.
 
ALLFORHIM said:
Hi,

I was wondering if the CC intreprets the bible literally or figuratively or both?

Thanks

AFH
Click to expand...
An excellent resouce describing the Catholic interpretation is the Vatican II document, Dei Verbum.
 
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

The senses of Scripture:

115 According to an ancient tradition, one can distinguish between two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual, the latter being subdivided into the allegorical, moral and anagogical senses. The profound concordance of the four senses guarantees all its richness to the living reading of Scripture in the Church.

116 The literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation: "All other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal."83

117 The spiritual sense. Thanks to the unity of God’s plan, not only the text of Scripture but also the realities and events about which it speaks can be signs.
  1. The allegorical sense. We can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ; thus the crossing of the Red Sea is a sign or type of Christ’s victory and also of Christian Baptism.84
  2. The moral sense. The events reported in Scripture ought to lead us to act justly. As St. Paul says, they were written “for our instruction”.85
  3. The anagogical sense (Greek: anagoge, “leading”). We can view realities and events in terms of their eternal significance, leading us toward our true homeland: thus the Church on earth is a sign of the heavenly Jerusalem.86
118 A medieval couplet summarizes the significance of the four senses:
The Letter speaks of deeds; Allegory to faith;
The Moral how to act; Anagogy our destiny.87

119 "It is the task of exegetes to work, according to these rules, towards a better understanding and explanation of the meaning of Sacred Scripture in order that their research may help the Church to form a firmer judgment. For, of course, all that has been said about the manner of interpreting Scripture is ultimately subject to the judgment of the Church which exercises the divinely conferred commission and ministry of watching over and interpreting the Word of God."88

But I would not believe in the Gospel, had not the authority of the Catholic Church already moved me.89
 
These web links might also help:

THE INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE IN THE CHURCH

CATHOLICS AND THE BIBLE
The book: Catholicism for Dummies page 50:
Since the time of the Reformation, opinion on the interpretation of the scared text has differed significantly. Some Christians hold for a literal interpretation of every word and phrase of Scripture; other Christians hold for a faithful interpretation, which sometimes literal and sometimes not. Catholic Christianity along with all Christians consider God to be the Author of Sacred Scripture and therefore the Bible is indeed the Word of God, but as mention before, Catholicism sees the Bible as the written word and considers Sacred Tradition as the unwritten or spoken Word of God. Catholicism uses the second half of the equation in her interpretation of the biblical texts. Catholics regard the Bible as inspired and revealed word of God, but it also sees as a collection of sacred literature. Rather then just looking at the Bible as one big book, Catholicism treats the Bible as a collection of smaller books under one cover. The Word of God written by men yet inspired by God.

It (the Bible) contains poetry, prose, history, theology, imagery, metaphor, analogy, irony, hyperbole, and so on. Because it’s not exclusively one form of literature, as you would have in a science book, one need to know and appreciate the various literary forms in the Bible in order to interpret it as the author intended……

Example: Mark 9:43 – figure of Speech
Example: John 6:55- literal

…Because individuals can disagree on what should be interpreted literally and what isn’t, Catholicism resorts to one finial authority to definitively interpret for all Catholics what the biblical text means for the Catholic faith. That ultimate authority is called the Magisterium.
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There is also the difference of reading literally vs. in a literalist manner. To read a passage literally means to read it to understand the message it was meant to convey. A literalist manner means that one would understand exactly what is written. The common example is the phrase “It’s raining cats and dogs outside” (which last night, it definately was!)

Now, a literal interpretation of that is “It was raining really hard outside.” In other words, what the author meant to convey by the statement was a figure of speech describing how hard it was raining outside. However, a literalist interpretation would mean that one would expect to look outside and see dogs and cats falling from the sky!

The Catholic Church takes a literal interpretation of the Bible - meaning that she seeks to understand what the authors meant to convey in their texts at the time, instead of a literalist interpretation of believing exactly what the words themselves say. I hope that helps. 🙂
 
Men ope this book, their favourite creed in mind;
Each seeks his own, and each his own doth find.

Matt 19:24
**19:24. And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. **

Here is an example for you AFH. Jesus was speaking in parable. But he is not just speaking of a rich man. He is speaking of everyman. Jesus is saying the more worldy attachments you have here on Earth, the harder it will be for you get closer to Christ. The rich man is a good example because he has many worldy possesions. These “attachments” can be material and emotional so a poor man can have them too. The visual of the Camel passing through the eye of a needle is quite stunning but it speaks on many levels.

Now the reason this relates to your topic is that this was my preist’s homily (sermon) last weekend. And of course I am Catholic so I figured I would give you a “visual” of how Scriptural exegesis is used during Mass. 🙂

God bless,
Jon
 
ALLFORHIM said:
Hi,

I was wondering if the CC intreprets the bible literally or figuratively or both?

Thanks

AFH
Click to expand...
A Catholic Exegesis of Sared Scripture has for 2,000 years been based on four rules in the Exegisis of
Scripture fully defined Established by Pope Leo XIII in Providentissimus Deus (1893) seconded and confirmed by Pope Benedict XV in Spiritus Paraclitus (1920) and by Pope Pius XII in Divino Afflante Spiritu (1943) Pope Pius XII declared in Divino… that Leo’s encyclical Providentisisimus for interpreting the bible to** “the supreme guide in Biblical studies”**
Four rules for interpreting the Bible for the Catholic Church
  1. Always pay attention to the Magisterium the authority of the Church
  2. Be guided by what the early fathers had to say about a particular passage.
  3. Always to be guided by what the **Bible has to say as a whole **(not key phrases here and there for defining ones theology and ignoring passages which do not fit one’s theology, see opening quote) One must take all scripture into account which deals with a given doctrinal interpretation.
  4. Always take the Bible Literally unless it is reasonably unattenable
Most outside of the Catholic Church would ignore rule number one. But all Christians outside of the Catholic church ought to pay attentions to the last three rules particulary rule number “2” and “3”. Rule “2” states to always be guided by what the early church fathers had to say. Why? First we were not there to hear and see everything and can easily be fooled into reading something not there into Scripture or reading something out of Scripture. The First Fathers were trained by the Apostles and the preceding Fathers are closer to the time frame allowing for less corruption of the teachings to occur. We are 2,000 years removed from the original source. Second and Most Important is that Scripture is clear on this and is repeated often by Paul that we are to pay attention to both the Sacred Oral word as well as the Sacred Written word passed down.

2 Thessalonians 2:15, “So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold teachings that you have learned whether by word (Sacred oral teaching) or by letter of ours.”

2 Thesalonians 3:6 6* Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us ( Sacred oral teachings)

Malachi 2:7; “The lips of the priest shall keep knowledge, and they shall seek the law at this mouth. (Sacred Oral teaching)”

2 Timothy 2::2, “and the things that thou hast heard from me through many witnesses, commend to trust-worthy men who shall be competent in turn to teach others.”

1 Corinthians 11:2, “Now I praise you, brethren, because in all things you are mindful of me and hold fast my precepts as I gave them to you.”

We are told that first Christian “were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles” (Acts 2, 42) which was the oral teaching that was given long before the New Testament was written.
1Cor 11:2 and hold fast my precepts (oral teaching)
2Tim 1: 13 Hold to the form of sound teaching which thous has heard from me.
Titus 1:3 manifested his word through the preaching committed to my trust by the Command of God
1Thes 2:13 …you heard and received from us the word of God

1Cor 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached (Oral teaching) unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Furthermore John tells us that everything has not been written down.

John 21:25, “There are, however, many other things that Jesus did; but if every one of these would be written not even the world itself, I think, could hold the books that would have to be written.” (Not everything concerning Christ is in the Scripture per John)

John 20:30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book.

1 Timothy 3:15, “The church is the pillar and foundation of truth.”
 
Hi,
Thank you for all of your responses. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I asked one of my ministers how we interpret the Scriptures and this is what he sent me.

Doctrine of the Scriptures: Inspiration

Definition: Inspiration is God’s superintending of human authors so that, using their own individual personalities, they composed and recorded without error his revelation to man in the original writings.

Proof of Verbal, Plenary Inspiration.

2 Tim. 3:16. Theopneustos, God-breathed. Affirms that God is author of Scripture and that Scripture is the product of His creative breath.

2 Peter 1:21 The “how” of inspiration—men “borne along” by the Spirit.

Specific commands to write the word of the Lord (Ex. 17:14: Jer. 30:2)

The use of quotation (Matt. 15:4; Acts 28:25).

Jesus’ use of Scripture (Matt. 5:17; John 10:35).

NT asserts that other parts of the NT are Scripture (1 Tim. 5:17; 2 Pet. 3:16).
Code: 
  7.   Writers were conscious of writing God’s word (1 Cor. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:11-12).
Proofs of Inerrancy.
  1. Code: 
     The trustworthiness of God’s character (John 17:3; Rom. 3:4).
  2. Code: 
     The teaching of Christ (Matt. 5:17; John 10:35).
  3. Code: 
     Arguments based on a word or form of a word (Gal. 3:16, “seed”; Matt. 22:31-32,  “am”).
Doctrine of the Scriptures: Interpretation

Principles of Interpretation.
  1. Code: 
     Interpret grammatically and historically.
  2. Code: 
     Interpret according to the immediate and wider contexts.
  3. Code: 
     Interpret in harmony with the whole Bible by comparing Scripture with Scripture.
👍
 
ALLFORHIM said:
Proof of Verbal, Plenary Inspiration.

2 Tim. 3:16. Theopneustos, God-breathed. Affirms that God is author of Scripture and that Scripture is the product of His creative breath.
Click to expand...
How do you know that 2 Tim 3:16 is Scripture?
 
ALLFORHIM said:
Hi,
I have faith that what is in the bible is true and that it is from God. Just like you.😃
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I think you missed my question. 😛 I am asking how you know that (any NT verse) is a part of Scripture, not why you believe it.
 
ALLFORHIM said:
Hi,

I was wondering if the CC intreprets the bible literally or figuratively or both?
Click to expand...
She interprets it in ways which bring it into harmony with, and which further illuminates, the deposit of faith she has possessed even before the bible was written. She does not seek to discover the faith in the bible, but to deepen the faith which she was “born” with.
 
Drifting off topic slightly . . . you’re all aware of the controversy in the Episcopal church re:homosexuality. At the recent General Convention (I believe) someone introduced a motion to reaffirm one of the articles of faith adopted by the church two centuries ago; that one passage of scripture cannot be used to contradict another. This is because the gay lobby in the EC uses biblical passages which advocate tolerance to contradict passages which forbid homosexual acts.
 
Both. As a Catholic, I believe that the Bible needs to be considered in terms of the social, cultural and literary terms of the times in which it was written, but also that it transcends society, culture, and times. It is inerrant, in other words, nothing in the
Bible contradicts anything else in the Bible. Also, nothing in the Bible contradicts the tradition of the Catholic Church. That is one of the reasons why I am a Catholic, because there is proof that the Bible is true and is the Revelation of God! :dancing:
 
E.E.N.S said:
I think you missed my question. 😛 I am asking how you know that (any NT verse) is a part of Scripture, not why you believe it.
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Hi,
Probably I do that alot. 😉 The Scriptures are the Scriptures because God tells me so. I dont think I can give you a better answer then that. I dont need proof or a concrete answer(maybe that is what you are looking for). God inspired men to write down His words or you can say what he wanted us to know. If you are baiting me to say that the CC gave us the bible, I would disagree. God gave us the Scriptures and the church is the discoverer of the canon but not its creator. God made it so the canons were accurately recognized as Scripture. Ok is that a better answer. 😃 I hope so because it is all I got.😃

BTW if I dont answer you it is because Im going away and will be back over the weekend.👍
 
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