Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
3.2 - Interpretation of the Bible (A source of guiding and teaching (The…
3.2 - Interpretation of the Bible
Essential info
Some take it literally, others interpret it more liberally.
Catholics believe the Bible is God's message in human words.
The Bible is interpreted in different ways by different Christians.
Three different ways to interpret the Bible
The literal Word of God
There are no mistakes, and it must be taken literally.
If there is a contradiction, this is deliberate and there is a reason for it.
Some Christians believe the Bible is true, word for word.
If there is a contradiction with science, science must be wrong.
The liberal view
Some Christians believe the Bibles was written by humans who were inspired like any other writers.
The Bible contains spiritual, not literal truths.
The Bible invites closeness with God by sharing human experience.
There is much symbolism and poetry in the Bible, resulting in a range of beliefs.
Some parts of the Bible are outdated and irrelevant to modern life.
The Inspired Word of God
'All scripture is inspired by God' (2 Timothy)
God is the primary author, as human authors were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
This is the Catholic view, the Bible is the inspired Word of God, written down by human writers.
There is truth in the message of the Bible, e.g. God created the world, spoke through the prophets, came to earth as Jesus.
A source of guiding and teaching
The tradition and teaching of the Church guide Catholics in how to interpret the Bible.
The lectionary provides approved readings for use in worship and liturgy.
It is meant to be read and understood as a whole text, with no part taken out of context.
Catholics are encouraged to read and study outside of Mass, and the Bible has many uses in the home: family prayers, readings after meals, children's books.
Catholic do not read the Bible like any other book: reading is often a prayerful activity.
It is a source of guidance and comfort in times of need.
The implications for Catholics today
Faith in the Bible comes second to faith in Jesus.
Most Catholics are not literalists and accept the teachings of science without rejecting the spiritual truths of Genesis.
When interpreting the Bible, Catholics must consider the time and culture, the literary genres, and the different ways of communicating that are found in the Bible, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit (CCC 110)