Views of scripture

Revelation

How does God reveal Godself?

How do we get a Bible from that?

Different views of biblical inspiration:

• Every word was dictated by God exactly as it appears in the Bible today
• God acts in history, humans tell stories in own words
• God inspired some parts, not secondary material
• God guided the complete process through many humans leading to end result –Catholic view

Does revelation still happen?

Inerrancy

Lack of error

Word for word?

• Catholic view: “The Word of God, expressed in the words of men”

Science? History?

• Catholic view: faith and morals necessary for salvation
• Reason

Scripture and Tradition

Protestant view: Sola Scriptura… clear and sufficient by itself

Catholic view: Scripture and Tradition are inseparable

What is meant by tradition?

• The Church
• Ideas worth passing down
• Community

Further reading: Daniel Harrington, “The Bible in Catholic Life” (PDF)