I. Divine Revelation

Divine Revelation A. Divine Revelation- revealedof Himselfhis plansalvation What God has revealed to us of Himself & his plan, for our salvation.

Revelation B.There are two senses of Revelation. Content of Revelation 1. Content of Revelation- “What” is handed on Essential Revelation a. Essential Revelation- unchangeable teachings (Doctrine/Dogma)** Non- essential Revelation b. Non- essential Revelation- changeable teachings (Discipline/Practice)

Sacred Scripture b. Sacred Scripture (Written Tradition-) »Def- Divine Revelation put down in writing, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. C. Magisterium- The official teaching authority of the Church. It guards the Divine Revelation(Deposit of faith) to ensure it is kept pure & true. It is exercised through the Pope & the Bishops with the Pope »Def- Divine Revelation handed on, by the spoken word to the Apostles, by Christ & the Holy Spirit. (It is handed on today, to the Bishops[the Apostles successors]) Sacred Tradition a. Sacred Tradition- (mostly Oral Tradition) Process of Revelation 2. Process of Revelation- “How” revelation is handed on

The relationship between Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, & the Magisterium is like a 3 legged stool. Each leg depends on the other to stand. Scripture and Tradition are both God’s Revelation and the Magisterium keeps them pure & whole.

II. Inspiration

A. Inspiration enlightenment assistanceHoly Spirit A. Inspiration Def- The enlightenment & assistance of the Holy Spirit on the biblical writers, so that they wrote what God intended to be written.

1. God is the Primary Author of Scripture- a. Because God inspires the writers to write what he wanted, then he is called the primary author. Quote : Dei Verbum #11- "... the Old and New Testaments in their entirety,... are sacred and canonical because written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God as their author..." 2. The human writers are also true authors a. They are also true authors because God used all of their individual & unique powers, abilities, talents, skills & knowledge limitations in the writing process. b. Therefore we can identify differences in the writing styles, modes of expression, etc. even though all the books were inspired by God. Quote : Dei Verbum #11- "In composing the sacred books, God chose men and while employed by Him they made use of their powers and abilities, so that with Him acting in them and through them, they, as true authors, consigned to writing everything and only those things which he wanted."

III. Inerrancy A. If Scripture is Inspired, then it is Inerrant in all it intends to teach. 1. Inerrant- without error 2. "In all it intends to teach"- the Scriptures are only inerrant in something it intends to teach. (not necessarily provable fact like science, history, etc.) Quote : On the Study of Scripture (II D 3 a) "For all the books... are written... at the dictation of the Holy Spirit; and...inspiration not only is essentially incompatible with error, but excludes and rejects it... as it is impossible that God Himself, the supreme Truth, can utter that which is not true." Quote : Dei Verbum #11-"Therefore since everything asserted by the inspired authors... must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into the sacred writings for the sake of our salvation."

IV. Interpreting the Scriptures A. Look at the whole picture, not just at the individual Scripture passage. 1. Interpret Scripture in view of all the books of the bible. 2. Interpret Scripture in view of Sacred Tradition also 3. Remember its the Magisterium's job to guard Divine Revelation B. Avoid Biblical Literalism- the idea that everything in the bible must be literally true. 1. The Scriptures were written in different "literary forms", which can't always be interpreted literally. (Genesis creation account, Book of Revelation). These forms may not be trying to teach scientific or historical fact 2. The Scriptures were written in a different culture, language, & time. We have to properly interpret cultural clichés, idioms, manners of speech, etc., which may not be literal.

C. Avoid Biblical Historicism- is the idea that everything in the bible must be literally & chronologically historical. 1. Authors only chose events which were appropriate to their specific audience. (Jewish audience- Jewish relevant events) 2. They often placed the events in the most appropriate order for their audience. (facts in the Gospels) (Historic vs. Historical) 3. The authors were not primarily historians, but teachers of the faith. (organizing principle is religious truth) 4. See John 21:25- St. John says that all of Jesus' words & deeds were not recorded, but only some of them (Sacred Tradition & Sacred Scripture both exist) 5. See 2 Thess. 2:15- St. Paul says to obey what was given to us both in word & letters. (Sacred Tradition & Sacred Scripture both exist)

The New Testament is hidden in the Old & the Old is made manifest in the New (Dei Verbum # 16)