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Pope to Biblical Commission:
'Inspiration and Truth are constitutive
characteristics of the Scriptures'
April 20, 2012
The following is the text of a message sent by the Holy Father to Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, ex-officio President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission attached to the CDF, on the occasion of the Commission's annual plenary assembly which was held at the Vatican from April 16-20.
Here is a translation of the message from the original Italian:
To my Venerated Brother
Cardinal William Levada
President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission
I am pleased to send you, Venerated Brother, to Cardinal Prosper Grech, OSA, to the Secretary and all the members of the Pontifical Biblical Commission on the occasion of your annual Plenary Assembly on the important theme of "Inspiration and Truth in the Bible".
As we know, this theme is fundamental for a correct hermeneutic of the Biblical message. It is precisely the idea of inspiration as an act of God that makes it possible for human words to express the Word of God.
Consequently, the theme of inspiration is decisive for an adequate approach to Sacred Scriptures. In fact, an interpretation of their sacred texts which ignores or forgets their inspiration does not take into account their more important and precious characteristic - their origin in God.
In my Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini, I also recalled that "the Synodal Fathers brought to light how the theme of inspiration is also linked to the theme of truth in Scriptures. That is why, a deeper analysis of the dynamic of inspiration will undoubtedly lead to a better understanding of the truth contained in the sacred books" (No. 19).
For the charism of inspiration, the books of Sacred Scripture have the power of direct and concrete appeal. But the Word of God does not remain confined to the written word. Indeed, if the act of Revelation ended with the death of the last Apostle, the revealed Word has continued to be announced and interpreted in the living Tradition of the Church.
For this reason, the Word of God as found in the sacred texts is not an inert deposit within the Church but is the supreme rule of her faith and potency of life.
Tradition which begins with the Apostles progresses with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and grows with the reflection and study of believers, with personal experience of spiritual life and the preaching of bishops (cfr Dei Verbum, 8. 21).
In studying the idea of "Inspiration and Truth in the Bible", the Pontifical Biblical Commission is called to offer its specific and expert contribution to this necessary study in depth.
It is, in fact, essential and fundamental for the life and mission of the Church that the sacred texts are interpreted according to their nature: Inspiration and Truth are constitutive characteristics of their nature. That is why your work will be truly useful to the life and mission of the Church.
With my best wishes to each of you for a fruitful session, I wish finally to express my great appreciation for the activity carried out by the Biblical Commission, which is committed to promoting knowledge, study and acceptance of the Word of God in the world.
With these sentiments, I commend each of you to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary, who with all the Church we invoke as Sedes Sapientiae - Seat of Wisdom - and from the heart, I impart to you, Venerated Brother, and to all the members of the Pontifical Biblical Commission a special Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican
April 18, 2012
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 21/04/2012 11:28] |
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