"The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church"

Presented by the Pontifical Biblical Commission
to Pope John Paul II on April 23, 1993
(as published in Origins, January 6, 1994)
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OUTLINE / CONTENTS
PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

A. The State of the Question Today
B. Purpose of This Document
I.  METHODS  AND  APPROACHES  FOR  INTERPRETATION
    A. Historical-Critical Method
    1. History of the Method
    2. Principles
    3. Description
    4. Evaluation
    B. New Methods of Literary Analysis
    1. Rhetorical Analysis
    2. Narrative Analysis
    3. Semiotic Analysis
    C. Approaches Based on Tradition
    1. Canonical Approach
    2. Approach through Recourse to Jewish Traditions of Interpretation
    3. Approach by the History of the Influence of the Text (Wirkungsgeschichte)
    D. Approaches That Use the Human Sciences
    1. Sociological Approach
    2. The Approach through Cultural Anthropology
    3. Psychological and Psychoanalytical Approaches
    E. Contextual Approaches
    1. The Liberationist Approach
    2. The Feminist Approach
    F. Fundamentalist Interpretation
II.  HERMENEUTICAL  QUESTIONS
    A. Philosophical Hermeneutics
    1. Modern Perspectives
    2. Usefulness for Exegesis
    B. The Meaning of Inspired Scripture
    1. The Literal Sense
    2. The Spiritual Sense
    3. The Fuller Sense
III.  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  CATHOLIC  INTERPRETATION
    A. Interpretation in the Biblical Tradition
    1. Rereadings (Relectures)
    2. Relationships Between the Old Testament and the New
    3. Some Conclusions
    B. Interpretation in the Tradition of the Church
    1. Formation of the Canon
    2. Patristic Exegesis
    3. Roles of Various Members of the Church in Interpretation
    C. The Task of the Exegete
    1. Principal Guidelines
    2. Research
    3. Teaching
    4. Publications
    D. Relationship with Other Theological Disciplines
    1. Theology and Presuppositions Regarding Biblical Texts
    2. Exegesis and Systematic Theology
    3. Exegesis and Moral Theology
    4. Differing Points of View and Necessary Interaction
IV.  INTERPRETATION  OF  THE  BIBLE  IN  THE  LIFE  OF  THE  CHURCH
    A. Actualization
    1. Principles
    2. Methods
    3. Limits
    B. Inculturation
    C. Use of the Bible
    1. In the Liturgy
    2. Lectio Divina
    3. In Pastoral Ministry
    4. In Ecumenism
CONCLUSION

ENDNOTES

This Electronic Version formatted by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.
Last updated and corrected on  October 3, 2006

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