ST LAWRENCE MARTYR CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

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ST LAWRENCE MARTYR CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FAITH
ENRICHMENT SERIES 2007-2008 INTRODUCTION TO
THE BIBLE A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE Juanita
Meller, Ph.D. Fr. Kevin Schindler-McGraw, OFM
Conv. Session 2 Sat., 25 Oct. 2008
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 CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH Luke 168-79 (Morning
Prayer The Benedictus)     Blessed be the
Lord, the God of Israel he has come to his
people and set them free.   He has raised up for
us a mighty savior, born of the house of his
servant David.   Through his holy prophets he
promised of old that he would save us from our
enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.
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  He promised to show mercy to our ancestors and
to remember his holy covenant.   This was the
oath he swore to our father Abraham to set us
free from the hands of our enemies, free to
worship him without fear, holy and righteous in
his sight all the days of our life. You, my
child, shall be called the prophet of the Most
High for you will go before the Lord to prepare
his way, to give his people knowledge of
salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.
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In the tender compassion of our God the dawn
from on high shall break upon us, to shine on
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of
death, and to guide our feet into the way of
peace.   Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Spirit,   As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
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Session 1 Biblical AUTHORITY Biblical
CRITICISM (Critique) Session 2 Biblical
CANON Biblical TEXT(S)
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Development will CONTINUE! God Revelation ?
ongoing / process
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Key Elements of Catholic Approach Inspiration
/ Inerrancy Gods role as author human
instrument w/ limitations Inerrancy as
such downplayed FOCUS ? TRUTH
presented/communicated Revelation
Salvation history History of
salvation Salvation IN History Gods being
action our reception interpretation SS
record of that inspired by H.S. in ongoing
way in the community of faith
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Canonicity canon Gk. kanon Heb. qaneh
(reed) measuring stick / ruler for Early
Church rule of truth in SS
Tradition canonical belongs to list of
sacred books inspired by God
have regulating (rule) value for faith
morals Rom. Cath. Church Protestant
Churches protocanonical
? no doubt ?
canonical deuterocanonical ?
some discussion ? apocryphal
apocryphal ?
outside canon, ?
pseudepigraphical
but noteworthy
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ACTUALIZATION (Bringing to the present moment/day)

• PRINCIPLES
• Wealth of meaning of biblical texts gives it
  value for all times and cultures.
• 2) Although of lasting value, often
  time-conditioned in expression needs analysis
  to determine essential message (what saying to
  present, actual situation)
• 3) Must respect unity and complex relationship
  between 2 Testaments of Bible (NT not only
  fulfills OT - often surpasses (complements
  fills it out)
• 4) Living tradition of faith community stimulates
  actualization (protects against deviant
  interpretations and ensures transmission of
  original teaching and dynamism)

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ACTUALIZATION (Bringing to the present moment/day)

• METHODS
• Use of Jewish exegetical techniques
• 2) By typology and allegory
• 3) Interpretation of Scripture by Scripture
  (relecture)
• 4) By modern philosophical hermeneutics
  (contemporary methods)
• listen to Word from within concrete situation
• identify aspects illumined or questioned by
  text
• draw upon fullness of text that might affect
  situation gt consonant
• with Gods will

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ACTUALIZATION (Bringing to the present moment/day)

• LIMITS
• Tendentious interpretations (serving narrow
  ideological purposes)
• 2) Theoretical principles inconsistent with basic
  orientation of Bible, e.g. rationalism
  materialism
• 3) Interpretations contrary to evangelical
  justice charity, e.g. supporting racism,
  anti-Semitism, sexism

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St. Jerome Ignorance of the Scriptures is
ignorance of Christ Vatican II
The Bible is the privileged place where we
encounter the communication of God with us
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Bible ? a book a COLLECTION of
books gt various types of literature from various
sources Vatican II
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Some principle types of literary forms
History - court history (e.g., Sam., Kgs.,
Chron.) - epic history (e.g., Exodus story) -
folk history (e.g., stories about Samson)
Poetry - lyric poetry (e.g., Psalms, Song of
Songs) - didactic poetry (wisdom, e.g., Job,
Proverbs, Sirach) - epic poetry (e.g., Song of
Moses in Exod. 15 OLD!) Prophecy
Didactic Fiction (story of Jonah)
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Myth (e.g., story of Creation Fall)
Gospel (euaggelion / euaggelion gt good
message) N.B., ONE gospel 4 canonical gospel
ACCOUNTS! Letters (epistles) Apocalyptic
literature (e.g., in Daniel Revelation)
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Development of the OT oral traditions written
pieces new material to form book
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722 BCE Assyrian exile 597/586 BCE Babylonian
exile destruction of Temple Jeremiah (in
exile) / mid-500s Deuteronomistic
History (Josh. / Judges / Sam. / Kings) Ezra
(return from exile) / ca. 450s Pentateuch /
Torah mid-2nd cent. (Sirach ca. 132 BCE) Law
/ Prophets / other books of fathers
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T-N-K Tanak
ybwtk Ktuvim Writings
yaybn Nviim Prophets
hrwt Torah Instruction (more than Law )
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Rom. Cath. Church Protestant
Churches protocanonical ? no
doubt ? canonical
deuterocanonical ? some discussion ?
apocryphal apocryphal ?
outside canon, ? pseudepigraphical
but noteworthy
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LXX (Septuagint) Greek translation of Hebrew
scriptures gt earliest extant texts 4th cent.
CE Hebrew scriptures gt earliest extant texts
10th cent. CE
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Development of the NT oral traditions death
of 1st generation / destruction of Temple (90
CE) gt write it down!
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Beginning of 2nd cent. CE Pauls letters 160
CE / Tatian (Diatesseron) gospel accounts end of
2nd cent. authoritative form of 4 gospel
accounts by the end of 4th cent. remainder of
NT material clearly defined
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TEXTS Materials papyrus gt vellum Forms
scroll gt codex Text types papyri gt uncials gt
minuscules gtgt Chapters / Verses development gt
mid-16th cent. (1551 / publisher Robert
Estienne (Stephanus) / Lyon gt Paris
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