The Bible (Sacred Scripture)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Sacred Scripture

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) provides a comprehensive understanding of Sacred Scripture, emphasizing its divine inspiration, role in the life of the Church, and its place in the broader framework of divine revelation. Sacred Scripture is presented as a cornerstone of faith, intimately connected with Tradition and essential for understanding God’s revelation.

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1. Sacred Scripture as the Word of God

The Catechism affirms that Sacred Scripture is the Word of God (CCC 81), written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It teaches that God is the principal author of Scripture, and human authors, inspired by the Spirit, wrote everything that God intended to convey.

“God is the author of Sacred Scripture” (CCC 105).

The Catechism highlights that Scripture is "inerrant" in matters pertaining to salvation, meaning it teaches truth without error about what is necessary for faith and moral living.

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2. Relationship with Divine Revelation

The CCC explains that Sacred Scripture is a critical component of divine revelation, which also includes Sacred Tradition (CCC 80-82). Together, they form a single "deposit of faith" entrusted to the Church.

• Sacred Scripture and Tradition work harmoniously, with Tradition preserving and transmitting the teachings of Christ.
• The Magisterium (the Church’s teaching authority) has the responsibility of authentically interpreting both Scripture and Tradition (CCC 85).

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3. The Role of Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church

Sacred Scripture holds a central place in the life of the Church (CCC 131). It serves as:

• Nourishment for the Faithful: Scripture is vital for deepening the faith of individuals and the community. The Church encourages frequent reading and meditation on the Word of God, particularly through practices like Lectio Divina.
• Source of Prayer: Many prayers, including the liturgy and the Psalms, are drawn directly from Scripture (CCC 2653-2654).
• Foundation of Teaching: All Church teachings and catechesis are deeply rooted in Sacred Scripture (CCC 132).

The Church insists that all faithful should have access to Scripture, fostering devotion and understanding of the divine message.

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4. Proper Interpretation of Sacred Scripture

The Catechism outlines principles for interpreting Scripture (CCC 109-119):

• Divine Inspiration and Human Authorship: Recognizing the dual authorship of God and human writers.
• Literal and Spiritual Senses: Scripture has multiple layers of meaning:
  • Literal sense: The direct meaning of the text.
  • Spiritual sense: Further broken into allegorical, moral, and anagogical meanings.
• Unity of Scripture: Scripture must be interpreted within the context of the whole Bible.
• Analogy of Faith: Interpretations must align with the truths of the faith.

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5. The Canon of Sacred Scripture

The CCC explains that the Church determined the canon of Scripture, identifying the books inspired by God (CCC 120). These include:

• Old Testament: 46 books.
• New Testament: 27 books.

The Catechism emphasizes that these texts are fully inspired and contain everything necessary for salvation.

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6. The Centrality of Christ in Scripture

The Catechism asserts that Jesus Christ is the center and fulfillment of all Scripture (CCC 128-129). The Old Testament prepares for His coming, and the New Testament reveals His life, death, and resurrection as the culmination of God’s plan of salvation.

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Encouragement to Engage with Scripture

The Catechism strongly encourages the faithful to immerse themselves in Sacred Scripture:

“Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” (CCC 133, quoting St. Jerome)

The faithful are called to read Scripture regularly and integrate it into their lives, guided by the Church’s teaching.

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Conclusion

The Catechism of the Catholic Church presents Sacred Scripture as the divinely inspired Word of God, essential for faith and salvation. It highlights the interplay between Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium, ensuring the proper interpretation and application of God’s Word in the Church and the lives of the faithful. Sacred Scripture is more than a text—it is the living voice of God calling His people to faith, hope, and love. Read the Catechism here.