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)
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