Transcript Dei Verbum
Divine Revelation
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Recap on Vatican II Council:
Vatican II did not define any new dogmas but had
authority and ability to define doctrine
Bishops are authentic teachers of the faith; under light &
guidance of the Holy Spirit
When something is divine revealed assent of faith is
required
4 constitutions of Councils; others given name of decrees
Important to approach Vatican II documents with principle
of looking at whole context (content and unity) of texts as
teaching of the Council; and in light of tradition of the
Church
Don’t take texts in isolation but in context of unity
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
What is Source of Church’s Authority?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Pope?
Bishops?
Scripture?
Council?
Magisterium?
Tradition?
Answer
Divine Revelation!
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Dei Verbum
The Word of God is NOT just Sacred Scripture; but also Sacred
Tradition
Revelation is a free gift of God out of his love, in order to invite and
receive us into His company
God reveals Himself by both by word & deeds; word of God
proclaimed the works & the deeds show forth the reality of the words
Climax of this, though revelation begins by creation and prophets, is
reached in Jesus Christ
No new revelation is expected & all other understandings is a
developing & deeper understanding of revelation
Sacred Scripture (Word) + Sacred Tradition (Works)
Dei Verbum
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Dei Verbum – The Word of God
Divine Revelation
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
How does Revelation Occur?
Place of natural revelation through reason (nature) God in world
occurs through witness to “deeds” (signs)
Some revelation is divine revelation such as the Trinity – not
possible to discover through reason
Response of revelation is faith as man commits himself to God;
Obedience of faith (submission of will) to revelation DV5
Recognize revelation through the power of Holy Spirit implies so
revelation is more profoundly understood
Divine revelation does not exclude natural revelation (reason)
The response to revelation is faith
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
What is the Source of Divine Revelation?
Vatican II Dei Verbum takes different approach to Scripture
than Trent or Vatican I
Vatican II gives deeper insight and fuller revelation to what
is taught in Trent and Vatican I
Trent holds two sources of Revelation for Catholics
Scripture and Tradition, in response to Protestant Scripture
only
Dei Verbum speaks not of two sources but One source,
God
God communicates in Scripture and Tradition
Word of God is not just Sacred Scripture but Sacred
Tradition as well
Dei Verbum – The Word of God
Role of Church in Divine Revelation
The teaching office of Church is tasked to give
authentic teaching which is exercised in name of Jesus
Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
The Church teaches what has been entrusted to it; not
superior & does not make proposals for belief, rather
draws on Deposit of Faith
The teaching authority of the Church is not burden
but gift give to Church by Christ
God’s Truth is presented in fullness only when three
are present – Sacred Scripture; Sacred Tradition &
Magisterium
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Sacred Tradition as a
Source of Divine
Revelation
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
What is Sacred Tradition?
Sacred Scripture is part of Sacred Tradition as it is
revealed word of God & as Catholics we base our belief
on Divine Revelation which Sacred Scripture is part of
Catholics value Scripture and understand that Sacred
Tradition protects the authentic understanding of
Scripture
Sacred Tradition is also the Church’s lived tradition;
morals, liturgy & how Scripture is interpreted down of
the ages
Dogma & doctrine are part of Sacred Tradition
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Role of Sacred Tradition in Divine Revelation
Tradition is something that is handed on includes what is
written and whole way of life of Church that serves to make
people of God live in holiness;
Tradition is all that Church is and believes – God’s revelation
is not just God’s Word, but God’s deeds as well
Our growth in Tradition occurs through developing
understanding of Divine Revelation under guidance of Holy
Spirit; known as development of doctrine as the Light of faith
allows growth and insight into faith
As time goes by the Church develops & moves closer to the Truth
There is ongoing work of deepening knowledge of the Deposit
of Faith
Deposit of Faith is what God revealed to us
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Distinguish between Sacred Tradition and tradition
Gift of Sacred Tradition is part of Divine Revelation and cannot
change, as it is unchangeable truth
traditions (note small t) of Church that can be changed, such as
regulations and ways of liturgy as they have changed throughout
time
Role of Magisterium as the living teaching office of Church able
to distinguish between Sacred Tradition and traditions; guide by
the Holy Spirit
Vatican II implemented & made changes but not to Sacred
Tradition – does not have authority
Magisterium cannot teach against Sacred Scripture or Sacred
Tradition; in other words, cannot teach against Divine
Revelation!
As Council is faith event guided by the Holy Spirit; role of
Bishops is to discern, govern and teach & response of laity is
assent of faith
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Sacred Scripture as a Source
of Divine Revelation
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Sacred Scripture as a Source of Divine Revelation
Sacred Scripture all texts are written under guidance of Holy
Spirit therefore given sure word of Truth
Who is author? Answer is God and man - God is true author but
God acted through talents of human author; it is Word of God in
human words; reflects nature of Incarnation
Vatican Council does not use word “dictation” as it can give
misleading emphasis that God is whispering into author’s ear and
not use of human faculties and powers – would imply no human
freedom; reject “Theory of Dictation”!
Dei Verbum speaks of authors write in context of their
enviornment to express God’s Word reaffirming that human
authors remain true authors
God’s word in human form reflects the Mystery of the
Incarnation – Jesus is both fully human & fully divine
Scripture is both human & divine
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Sacred Scripture Sacred Scripture as a Source of Divine Revelation
What God saying through authors is affirmed in Dei Verbum 11 to be without
error to extent it involved salvation
Holy Spirit communicates Truth of God for sake of our salvation
Scripture is Book of Faith, so not necessarily is historically, scientifically or
factually accurate
Council dropped term “saving truths” as could mislead as some parts of
Scripture not saving but reality is that ALL Scripture is about the saving truth
Council fathers did not want to restrict Scripture to dogma & morals
which allows greater use of Scripture e.g. personal prayer
Shift of focus with Vatican II & Dei Verbum with recognition of modern
approaches & Scripture cannot be restrict to faith and morals
Necessary to use various approaches for clearer interpretation of Scripture
Clearer Understanding of Scripture = Clearer understand & awareness of
what God is revealing & communicating to us
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Some Theories Regarding Authorship
Theory of Divine Assistance – human authors write with
divine assistance; rejected as creates dual authority – what parts
of Scripture are divine & what parts human!
Theory is Partial Inspiration - based on literature aspect of
scripture with evidence of person subjective contribution &
other part is called “science” dealing with eternal realities
Theory of Negative Assistance – humans sole authors & God
does not intervene unless about to make a mistake
All Rejected as reject Principle of Incarnation
Theory of Instrumental - Holy Spirit employs instruments and
so moves them to assist authors and inspires them t0 write;
theory recognizes Nature & Grace DV11
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Dei Verbum 14 regarding the Old Testament (OT)
Jesus is the fullness & complete revelation of God (Deposit of
Faith) – no further revelation expected; Church now develops
more understanding & knowledge of Revelation
OT written before Jesus though imperfect (not fullness of
revelation) show matters of divine teaching & gives expression to
presence of God with treasure of prayer
Old Testament matters are imperfect as not God’s final word
(Jesus is) but preparing people of God to receive the Messiah
Main approach to the Old Testament is to approach it in light of
the New Testament - the NT is hidden in the OT & the OT is
revealed in the NT
Old Testament retains its literally independence; not
either/or – the OT is not only understood in light of NT; but also
can be approached in its own context – particular author writing
at a particular time, place, topic, event
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Dei Verbum 17 regarding New Testament
Three Stages
1.
2.
3.
Jesus
The Apostles
4 Gospels
There is a historical character to New Testament &
Gospels faithful to historical facts – Church hold
events in Gospels did occur
Authors did have freedom in writing what elements
contained in written world
NT presents us with the Truth about Christ
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Sacred Scripture as a source of Divine Revelation
Biblical exegesis is the study the study of Sacred Scripture
seeking to understand more the Word of God/Divine Revelation
Church making it clear that modern elements of biblical
criticism are important to understand text and author, there is a
valid and important place for biblical exegesis, as it helps us gain
insight into intention of author and what God is saying
Biblical exegesis is not a carte blanche – methods used in study
of Scripture are a tool to be used for a good purpose & using valid
methods can come to invalid criticism & undermined faith such
as Jesus resurrection and the miracles
Interpretation needs to be in context and unity of Scripture
within living Tradition of the Church and analogy of faith; as
Church guided by the Holy Spirit Principle of Totality DV12
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Guidelines in understanding Sacred Scripture
Principle of Unity/Totality DV 2 – meaning one piece of Scripture
must be view within whole context of Scripture
Dogma of Inerrancy – Scripture is without error or deceit in regards
to faith; this does not include historical or scientific facts
Revelation is Christo-centric – Divine Revelation reaches its
summit/climax in Christ who reveals fully & completely who God is
Senses of Scripture or methods of how to understand Scripture divided
into Literal & Spiritual;
Literal refers to factual texts, words, events, history – danger of
Fundamentalism in extreme approaches
Spiritual refers to understanding Scripture in such ways as allegory
Divine revelation calls for “obedience of faith” – to encounter God
evokes a response of faith
Scripture contains and communicates what it signifies, we do not
encounter facts or historical events but we encounter the God
who communicates
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
“The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church” presented by the
Pontifical Biblical Commission to Pope John Paul II in 1993
Document covers Catholic approach & understanding regarding Sacred
Scripture
Deals with various approaches, many of which can cause
misunderstand & misrepresentation of Catholic understand of
Scripture
Document available on-line & topics accessible with opening page of
contents
Different approach to Scripture(literal & spiritual) have positive
possibilities & hidden dangers
Document gives bearings to Catholic exegesis on methods of Scripture
study such as “Historical-Critical Method” “Fundamentalist Approach”
“Patristic Reading” & “Philosophical Hermeneutics”
“The Study of the Bible is the soul of theology”
Theology – the study of Word of God
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Dei Verbum Today
Sacred Scripture is heart of life of Church
Church has always honor Scripture though many Catholics did not
have knowledge of Scripture viewing it as something Protestant
Catholics are called to immerse themselves into scripture especially
those involved in pastoral ministry
Prayer should accompany Scripture – invoking the Holy Sprit
Profound understanding that we are listening to God when we
read – not just learning information or reading about God, but we
are actually encountering God in the Living Word/Scripture
Dei Verbum compares Word to Eucharist & faithful are feed from
the one table of both Word and Eucharist & recognizes Christ is
present in the Word as he is in the Eucharist DV 21
Word = Eucharist
Dei Verbum – Divine Revelation
Recap:
Dei Verbum concerned with Divine Revelation
Divine Revelation is God’s self communication to us for our
salvation
Divine Revelation is composed of Sacred Tradition &
Sacred Scripture
The Incarnation is the full & complete Divine Revelation
Church entrusted to communicate Divine Revelation
(Deposit of Faith) throughout history; does not have
authority to change or alert Faith, only how it
communicates it
Sacred Scripture brings human/divine together & equal to
Eucharist