THE WORD OF GOD THE WORD OF GOD

IN THE HISTORY IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCHOF THE CHURCH(Historical Struggles (Historical Struggles

of the Sacred of the Sacred Scriptures)Scriptures)

Spiritual Formation YearImmaculate Conception School of

TheologyPantay Daya, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

28 September 2009

I. A READING: Hebrews 4:12I. A READING: Hebrews 4:12

Indeed, Indeed, the word of God the word of God is living and is living and effectiveeffective, , sharper than any two-edged sharper than any two-edged swordsword, , penetrating even between soul and penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the discern reflections and thoughts of the heartheart..

II. REFLECTIONS on the II. REFLECTIONS on the WORDWORD

DYADS/TRIADSDYADS/TRIADS• The ROLE of the WORD in our LIVES;The ROLE of the WORD in our LIVES;• The ROLE of the WORD in our FORMATION;The ROLE of the WORD in our FORMATION;• The ROLE of the WORD in our MISSION.The ROLE of the WORD in our MISSION.

BIG GROUPBIG GROUP• Why are we indifferent with the WORD?Why are we indifferent with the WORD?

III. God’s Word III. God’s Word Throughout the CenturiesThroughout the Centuries

1616thth Century: Century: Time of Reformation Time of Reformation when early Protestants separated when early Protestants separated from the Catholic Churchfrom the Catholic Church

Martin Luther and other reformers Martin Luther and other reformers emphasized the Bible (emphasized the Bible (sola scripturasola scriptura))

The Roman Catholic Church emphasized The Roman Catholic Church emphasized the sacramentsthe sacraments

Situation:Situation: Reading of the Bible Reading of the Bible

for Catholics was believed for Catholics was believed not good for the laity not good for the laity for fear of misinterpretation.for fear of misinterpretation.

Protestant vernacular translations Protestant vernacular translations then were deemed not good then were deemed not good for the Catholic laity because for the Catholic laity because they were suspected as they were suspected as containing heretical teachingscontaining heretical teachings (in some instances it was true)(in some instances it was true)

Result: Result: Most people were illiterate.Most people were illiterate. The Bishops felt it safest to leave The Bishops felt it safest to leave

the Bible to the the Bible to the Clergy and the Clergy and the monksmonks. . The Bible, however, was given to the The Bible, however, was given to the

lay people through other forms like:lay people through other forms like:• Paintings, pictures, preaching of prayers Paintings, pictures, preaching of prayers

like Rosarylike Rosary

In Monasteries, the monks In Monasteries, the monks preserved, copied, translated, preserved, copied, translated, studied and made commentariesstudied and made commentaries on the Bible; they also prayed the on the Bible; they also prayed the Psalms.Psalms.

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background 1546:1546: Catholic translation of the Greek to Latin Catholic translation of the Greek to Latin

by St. Jerome called the by St. Jerome called the VULGATE VULGATE became the became the official Bible (Council of Trent,1545-1563)official Bible (Council of Trent,1545-1563)

1564:1564: Pope Pius IV ruled out that Catholics had Pope Pius IV ruled out that Catholics had to obtain permission from their Bishops before to obtain permission from their Bishops before reading the vernacular translation of the Bible. reading the vernacular translation of the Bible.

1582:1582: Douay Version of the BibleDouay Version of the Bible – a Catholic – a Catholic translation (from the Latin Vulgate)translation (from the Latin Vulgate) New Testament – 1582New Testament – 1582 Old Testament - 1609Old Testament - 1609

Note:Note: Even when the first Even when the first

complete Catholic complete Catholic translation of the Bible into translation of the Bible into English was publish in English was publish in 1582 and in 1609-1620, 1582 and in 1609-1620, the editors took pains to the editors took pains to state that state that Catholics did Catholics did not really need a Bible in not really need a Bible in English, except to English, except to expose the falsehoods of expose the falsehoods of the Protestant version.the Protestant version.

1750:1750: A complete revised English A complete revised English translation of the Bible was published, it translation of the Bible was published, it quietly went through six editions.quietly went through six editions.

1836:1836: The Church formally The Church formally removed all removed all restrictions on lay use of the Biblerestrictions on lay use of the Bible, so , so long as an approved Catholic translation long as an approved Catholic translation was used. was used.

1893-1898:1893-1898: Pope Leo XIII Pope Leo XIII encouraged the rebirth of encouraged the rebirth of Catholic Catholic Scripture scholarship and popular Scripture scholarship and popular devotion to the written word of devotion to the written word of GodGod and granting indulgence for and granting indulgence for daily Scripture reading. daily Scripture reading.

1919thth Century: Century: Under Pope Pius X (1903- Under Pope Pius X (1903-1914) , the 1914) , the Pontifical Biblical Pontifical Biblical Commission was establishedCommission was established for the for the promotion of Biblical Studies and their promotion of Biblical Studies and their protection from error. protection from error.

1920:1920: Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922) Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922) wrote the encyclical entitled wrote the encyclical entitled “Spiritus “Spiritus Paracletus”Paracletus” (Holy Spirit Comforter) (Holy Spirit Comforter)

1943:1943: Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) came Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) came up with the encyclical up with the encyclical “Divino Afflante “Divino Afflante Spiritu”Spiritu” (Inspired by the Divine Spirit) (Inspired by the Divine Spirit)

1962-1965:1962-1965: VATICAN II VATICAN II Church Documents on Bible:Church Documents on Bible:

Dei VerbumDei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation)Revelation)• Magna Carta of the Biblical ApostolateMagna Carta of the Biblical Apostolate

Positively encouraged the laity to read and Positively encouraged the laity to read and study the Scripturesstudy the Scriptures

January 2001January 2001:: JPII JPII wrote wrote “Novo Milleneo “Novo Milleneo Inuente” Inuente” ““Every family Every family should have a should have a Bible.”Bible.”

January 2002:January 2002: Bible Bible Week Celebration theme Week Celebration theme – – “The Bible Builds up “The Bible Builds up the Family”the Family”

Biblical Encyclicals Biblical Encyclicals 1. Providentissimus Deus1. Providentissimus Deus

- “- “God of all ProvidenceGod of all Providence””

- issued by Leo XIII on Nov. 18, 1893- issued by Leo XIII on Nov. 18, 1893

- Leo XIII presents a plan in biblical studies - Leo XIII presents a plan in biblical studies suitable and well-trained professors should first teach in suitable and well-trained professors should first teach in biblical introduction and then proceed to train their biblical introduction and then proceed to train their students in a students in a “definite and ascertained method of “definite and ascertained method of interpretation.”interpretation.”

• Urges the study of Oriental language and of the art of Urges the study of Oriental language and of the art of criticismcriticism

• Calls attention the dangers of contemporary “higher Calls attention the dangers of contemporary “higher criticism”criticism”

2. Spiritus Paraclitus2. Spiritus Paraclitus ““Holy Spirit ComforterHoly Spirit Comforter””

Issued by Benedict XV on the 15Issued by Benedict XV on the 15thth Centenary of St. Jerome’s death (Sept. 20, Centenary of St. Jerome’s death (Sept. 20, 1920)1920)

He briefly commends those who use He briefly commends those who use modern critical methods in their biblical modern critical methods in their biblical studiesstudies

The goal of biblical studies is to learn The goal of biblical studies is to learn spiritual perfection, to arm oneself to spiritual perfection, to arm oneself to defend the faith and to preach the word of defend the faith and to preach the word of God fruitfully.God fruitfully.

3. Divino Afflante Spiritu3. Divino Afflante Spiritu ““Inspired by the Divine Spirit”Inspired by the Divine Spirit”

Issued by Pius XII on Sept. 30, 1943 Issued by Pius XII on Sept. 30, 1943 (the 50(the 50thth anniversary of the publication anniversary of the publication of of Providentissimus Deus.Providentissimus Deus.

Practical counsels:Practical counsels:• Appeal to lay scholars to cooperateAppeal to lay scholars to cooperate• Attitude towards problemsAttitude towards problems• Freedom of research within the Freedom of research within the

ChurchChurch

RECENT RECENT DEVELOPMENTSDEVELOPMENTS

2008 Synod of Bishops on the WORD2008 Synod of Bishops on the WORD• 5-26 October 2008, Rome, Italy5-26 October 2008, Rome, Italy• Theme: “The WORD of GOD in (is) the Life Theme: “The WORD of GOD in (is) the Life

and Mission of the Churchand Mission of the Church 2009 Centennial of the ILOCANO BIBLE2009 Centennial of the ILOCANO BIBLE• September 2009: Seminars on the WORDSeptember 2009: Seminars on the WORD• 17 October 2009: SLU Baguio17 October 2009: SLU Baguio

RECENT RECENT DEVELOPMENTSDEVELOPMENTS

MTBO (May The Be One) CampaignMTBO (May The Be One) Campaign• 5 Million Bibles for 5 Million Families5 Million Bibles for 5 Million Families• 5 Year Program (2008-2013)5 Year Program (2008-2013)

JP1BC (John Paul I Biblical Center)JP1BC (John Paul I Biblical Center)• @ the Service of Northern Luzon@ the Service of Northern Luzon• Right here in our CampusRight here in our Campus

CHALLENGE/CHALLENGE/REFLECTIONREFLECTION

Are we HUNGRY for the WORD?Are we HUNGRY for the WORD? Is the WORD part of our LIFE and MISSION?Is the WORD part of our LIFE and MISSION? Can the WORD be REAL (INCARNATE) NOW?Can the WORD be REAL (INCARNATE) NOW?

LUKE 17:1-10LUKE 17:1-10

Four Priorities in Biblical SpiritualityFour Priorities in Biblical Spirituality1.1. Spiritual Truth Spiritual Truth (Luke 17:1-3a)(Luke 17:1-3a)

2.2. CommunityCommunity (Luke 17:3b-4) (Luke 17:3b-4)

3.3. FaithFaith (Luke 17:5-6) (Luke 17:5-6)

4.4. HumilityHumility (Luke 17:7-10) (Luke 17:7-10)

In summary:In summary: That there have been historical struggles That there have been historical struggles

of the Word of God…of the Word of God…

From “limited readers” to “everybody”From “limited readers” to “everybody”

Thank Thank you!you!