03 Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium (Transmission of Revelation)

Prepared by Yoniz Beley, OMI

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The sacred scriptures, “written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit…have God as their author, and have been handed on as suc h to the Church itself” (DV 11; CCC 105).
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By means of sacred tradition, “the Church, in its doctrine, life and worship, perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that it itself is, all that it believes” (DV 8).
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“Sacred tradition and sacred scripture…are abound closely together, and communicate one with the other. Flowing from the same divine well -spring, both of them
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merge…and move towards the same goal” (DV 9). Though distinct, the “make up a single sacred deposit of the word of God, which is entrusted to the Church” (DV 10; CCC
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80-81, 87). And the “task of giving an authentic interpretation of the word of God…has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. This magisterium is
“not superior to the word of God, but it rather its servant” (DV 10).
Questions Thesis Exposition Sources
1
What is sacred The sacred Scripture, not merely text in sense, as it shapes and preserves identity, norms common life, in its wholeness and
scriptures? scriptures, canonicity, and its use as the book of the Church. Recognizable as sacred only through the Church, if read in the eyes of
“written under faith; otherwise, merely literary text.
the inspiration Content: divinely revealed realities. Objectives: source of all saving truth and moral discipline (DV 7) DV 7
of the Holy Composition: God arranged that the NT be hidden in the OT and the OT made manifest in the new. CCC 120-30
Spirit…have Unity: proceeds from the unity of God’s plan and his revelation from OT to NT; and the foundation of the Church
God as their  OT. 46 books. Preparation for the plan of salvation for all men.
author, and o Context: God, in preparing the salvation of the whole human race, chose a people to whom he would
have been entrust his promises: first, he entered into a covenant with Abraham, then with the people of Israel through
handed on as Moses, then spoke to them through prophets.
such to the o Content: the plan of salvation foretold is found in these books, containing Israel’s experience of the ways of
Church itself” God with men
(DV 11; CCC o Principal purpose: of the plan of the old covenant was directed to prepare for the coming of Christ, to
105). announce the coming by prophecy and indicate its meaning through various types
o Validity: written under divine inspiration, remain permanently valuable. It should be received with
reverence.
 NT. 27 books. Fulfills the promise of God in the OT: fulfills and perfects the old covenant
o Stands as a perpetual and divine witness to the mystery of God’s plan fulfilled in Christ
o Gospels: holds special pre-eminence as the principal witness for the life and teaching of the incarnate Word.
Of apostolic origin, they are historical and hand on what Christ, while living among men, really did and
taught for salvation. (DV 18)
o Writing the gospels: the sacred authors selected some things from the many which had been handed on by
word of mouth or in writing, reducing them to summaries, explaining some things in view of the situation of
their churches, and preserving the form of proclamation but always in such fashion that they told us the
honest truth about Jesus (DV 19)
o Epistles and other apostolic writings: confirming matters which concern Christ, more fully stating his
teaching, his saving power preached, and the story told of the beginnings of the Church. (DV 20)
 Canonicity. (“rule”, ascribed “wholeness” or integrity) 46 OT, 27 NT
th
o Present canon: drawn up by Council of Trent (16 c) based on consistent use in liturgy, preaching
o Criteria NT: inspired, connection to apostles, conforming to Church’s faith, valuation by apostol ic churches

Thesis 3 Transmission of Revelation 1

 Inspiration. All SS is divinely inspired: because they were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. DV 11
 Inspired by the Holy Spirit (focus on text as inspired): every passage of Hebrew scriptures, their salvific purpose, and
their usefulness for instruction (2 Tim 3:16)
 Moved by the Spirit (focus on authors). (2 Pet 1:19-21). Prophetic model of inspiration: God as efficient cause.
Human authors, as instrumental cause, are those through whom God speaks, dictates, and played the role of God’s
messengers in the phrasing of the God’s messenger in human language.
 God wills and creates the SS; its inspiration is based on God’s founding of the Church, as her constitutive element
 SS is inspired not because God dictated to the human authors, but because SS finds its origin from God;
Authorship. Divine and Human. DV 7, 13
 God himself as the author
 But God chose and employed men, making use of their abilities. Reason: so that the words of God be made in
human discourse, just as the word, when made flesh, was in every way like men
 The apostles and apostoli c men, inspired by the Holy Spirit, put the message of salvation in writing
 They are true authors who wrote everything and only those things which God wanted.
Authority and Inerrancy. By virtue of its authorship therefore, the books of SS teach solidly, faithfully and without error DV 11
(about our salvation) what God wanted put into sacred writings. If read outside the light of faith, sciences could present
problematic errors about it, e.g., if Creation story read literally and scientifically. Inerrancy in relation to intent meaning
Transmission to the Church. DV 7, 21
 After the ascension, the apostles, by oral preaching and example, handed on what they received: From the lips of
Christ, from living with him, from what he did, or what they had learned through the Holy Spirit.
 After they were written, the Church receives and offers life to the faithful both from the Scriptures and the body of
Christ in the liturgy. All the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by SS, “for the word of God is
living and efficient” and is “able to build up and give the inheritance among all the sanctified.” (DV 21)
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What is sacred By means of Sacred Tradition: the living apostolic transmission of faith; the very life and teachings of the Chruch DV 8
tradition? sacred  Theologically, the handing of of Christian kerygma Jn 16:13
tradition, “the  Active tradition: activity of handing on; the Word of God is made present among the faithful
Church, in its  Passive/Objective trad: “that which is handed on”; refers to Christ who is present in and thru the active tradition
doctrine, life  Transcendent Subject: the Holy Spirit who preserves, interiorizes, activates the word of God in the Church ; in 3
and worship, directions: backwards (memory of Jesus), inward (interiorization of the Word), forward (renewal and salvation)
perpetuates  Historical-ministerial subject: the whole Church in communion
and transmits  Paradigmatic subjects: the Saints. Their lives are living out the message of living Tradition (witnessing).
to every Means of Transmission. DV 7
generation all  Orally: “by the apostles who handed on by preaching, example, by the institutions they established”
that it itself is,  Writing: “by those apostles and other men associated with them, who committed the message in writing”
all that it  Continued in apostolic succession: in apostolic preaching of the bishops, successors of the apos tles
believes” (DV
Perpetuation. CCC 78
8).
 The apostolic preaching, which is expressed in a special way in the inspired books, was to be preserved by a
continuous succession of preachers until the end of time.
 Through: the Church’s doctrine, liturgy and worship, writings and saying of the holy Fathers

Thesis 3 Transmission of Revelation 2

 Types of Tradition CCC 83
 TRADITION: constitutive; refers to the content - revelation of God in Christ, the Gospel, the mystery of Christ
 traditions: expressions and manifestations under differerent historical forms e.g., teachings, devotions, organization
Hierarchy
 Apostolic traditions: apostles as origins, guided by the HS; more important and permanent constitutive of the Church
 Ecclesial/Particular/Local traditions: originating subject is the Church in its historical life; various theological,
disciplinary, liturgical, devotional traditions, adapted to different contexts, in which the ST is expressed. In the light
of ST, these can be retained, modified, or even abandoned under the guidance of the magisterium.
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What is the “Sacred One common source: God and his inspired plan of salvation for a ll men in all generations CCC 80
relationship tradition and  Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ, who promised to remain with his own
between sacred sacred “always, to the close of age.”
tradition and scripture…are Yet two distinct modes of transmission DV 9
scripture? abound closely  SS is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit
together, and  ST transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the
communicate Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that they may faithfully preserve, expound, and spread
one with the it abroad by their preaching
other. Yet both are to be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence. The Church does not derive DV 9
her certainty about all revealed truths from the SS alone.
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What is their Flowing from  Salvation. God has seen to it that what he had revealed for salvation would abide in its full integrity and … DV 7, 8
common goal? the same  Perpetuation: be handed on to all generations.
divine well-  To keep the gospel alive forever, the content including everything which contributes:
spring, both of o Toward the holiness of life (moral life),
them o increase in faith of the people of God,
merge…and o in faithful preservation, exposition, and spread of faith to all peoples
move towards
the same goal”
(DV 9).
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How do they Though Depositum fidei: the heritage of faith, contained in SS and ST, entrusted to the whole of the Church CCC 84
make up a distinct, they  by adhering to this heritage the entire holy people remains always faithful to the teachings of the apostles, to the
single sacred “make up a brotherhood, and to the liturgy and worship.
deposit of the single sacred
word of God? deposit of the
word of God,
which is
entrusted to
the Church”
(DV 10; CCC
80-81, 87).
What is the And the “task  Necessity. Since God speaks in SS through men in human fashion (human authorship), the interpreter in order to see DV 12
task given to of giving an clearly what God wanted to communicate to us should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really CCC 85
the Church in authentic intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words.
Thesis 3 Transmission of Revelation 3
the interpretation  Process: to search out the intention of the sacred writers (criteria for interpretation):
interpretation of the word of o Attention must be paid to literary forms and customs of expression at the time of writing
of the God…has been o The content and unity of the whole of SS must be considered
scripture? entrusted to o The living tradition of the whole Church must be taken into account,
the living o Be attentive of analogy of faith: the harmony which exists between elements of faith and revelation
teaching office  Judgment. All of what has been said about the interpretation of SS is subject to the j udgment of the Church.
of the Church  Composition of magisterium: the (college of) bishops in communion with the Pope
alone.  Authoritative teachers: authoritative means “authentic” taken from the authority of Christ himself.
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What is the role This  Basis: all that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from the single depo sit of faith (SS, ST) DV 10
of the magisterium is  Extent of authority: over the interpretation of the SS, not over all other areas of life LG 20, 21
magisterium in “not superior  Source of authority: at the divine command, not primarily from human expertise but from the gift of the Holy Spirit
relation to the to the word of  Authority as service they cannot preach a new Gospel or a new revelation; it is limited to what has been handed on
Word of God? God, but it  3-Fold activities:
rather its o listens to the Word of God through prayer, study, theology, SS, ST, people of God;
servant” (DV o guards with dedication: conservative function (not to dilute, c orrupt), judicial (decide on controversies)
10). o expounds it faithfully: explanatory function, particularly within the context and challenges of local Church
Magisterial teachings: gradations CCC 88
 Dogmas: definitive teaching on divinely revealed truths that is obliging and irrevocable.
o Defined: pope speaking ex cathedra, calls for response of faith
o Undefined: ordinary and universal magisterium; calls for response of faith
 Definitive doctrine: pope speaking ex cathedra or council (subjects) about truth which is not divinely revealed, but
which is necessary for the safeguarding and explanation of revelation; calls for response of full acceptance
 Authoritative, non-definitive doctrine: by local/groups/college of bishops, pope; teachings on faith and morals
which the Church is not yet ready to declare as divinely revealed (clear connection to divine revelation is un -
established), because of the possibility of reversibility. It calls for some level of assent.
In relation to the faithful LG 12
 Supernatural sense of faith: all the faithful share in understanding and handing on revealed truth. CCC 92
 Sensus fidei (sense of faith): whole body of the faithful cannot err in matters of belief. A supernatural appreciation
of faith when from the bishops to the last of the faithful, they manifest a universal consent in faith and morals
 Sensus fidelium (sense of the faithful): the Catholic spirit, the mind of Christ; a gift of the Spirit that allows the
faithful to perceive the Word of God behind human words, adhere to, understand, actualize faith and morals
Relationship:  In the supremely wise arrangement of God (hence, will of God), these are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand
Scripture, without the others. Working together, each in its own way, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls
Tradition,  SS in its composition and canonization is a product of Tradition: composition (crystallization, objectification of ST); canonization
Magisterium (recognized, ratified, approved by the Church, and makes it the norm and basis of her life)
 SS can only be authentically interpreted in the light of the ST; in the same way that after its canonization, the Church plac ed herself in
a position of subordination to the SS, which holds primacy in norming and forming the Church
 Hence, ST and the Church are subordinate to the SS. All truths held by ST and magisterium are contained in the SS
 Magisterium: servant of both SS and ST
 Against Protestantism: Sola Scriptura (sole norm and judge of all religious doctrine and practice)

Thesis 3 Transmission of Revelation 4

Development  There exists an order or hierarchy of truths, since they vary in their relation to the foundation of the Christian faith (UR 11) CCC 88
of Doctrine  Dogmas may not be directly revealed in SS but in historico-linguistic experience of relating with God. Development in stages:
o Experience
o Understanding
o Judgment
Question of  Mutual connections between dogmas can be found in the whole of the Revelation of the mystery of Christ (Vat I, DS 3016)
eternal truths  Are truths changing? Tradition as a living dynamic process involves change-in-continuity.
formulated in o Developments in tradition as growth in insight, in understanding, but does not involve new revelation (cf. DV 8)
historically- o As pilgrim change, continual reformation is needed. Change happens because of inculturation: ongoing actualization of the
conditioned Gospel in history and culture, to make her understood in different times and circ umstances
dogmas  Dogmas are subject to limitations and do not mean absolute completeness or comprehensiveness. Remaining as human statements
which are historically and culturally conditioned, their language may change in expressing the same divinely revealed truths.
 There is always historical (arises from a historical question that arises in history; heresy) and cultural (articulated withi n a culture with
particular worldviews, philosophies, literary forms).
 Contemporary reformulation: same teaching can be re-expressed in new language to make it meaningful and relevant
The exercise of  Infallibility: only God is absolutely infallible. In the context of magisterium, it is a “participated” infallibility by participation in God’s, Pastor
the teaching referring to the gift that guarantees immunity from error, but does not necessarily mean best/completeness of teaching. It do es not Aeternus
authority refer to a person. It refers primarily to an exercise of teaching, a “how” something is taught (participative to God’s will) ND 818
 Extraordinary magisterium: an exercise of teaching authority by which the entire college of bishops in an ecumenical council, or the
pope as head of the college, defines a matter of faith and morals, and declared with solemn definition (puts an end to a discussion).
 Ordinary magisterium: all other exercises of teaching which do not involve solemn definition. An ordinary universal magisterium is
different in weight from acts simply of the ordinary magisterium
 Infallibility of the pope: when teaching ex cathera, the pope possesses the infallibility with which God willed his church to be
endowed in defining the doctrine concerning faith or moral; such teachings are irreformable or themselves
o What it is not: not personal (not a habitual gift), not absolute (limited by conditions), not separate (from Church infallibility)
o Ex cathedra teaching: (subject) acting as supreme pastor and teacher of the Church, (object: what is taught) defines doctrines
of faith and morals constitutive in revelation, (act: how is it taught) to be held by the universal Church
o Times the pope taught infallibly: Immaculate Conception (1854), Assumption (1950)
 Infallibility of ecumenical councils (college of bishops convened in communion with pope (LG 25): (subject) ecumenical council;
(object) teachings on faith and morals; (act) binding on all Christians. Ex: Nicea 35: divinity of Jesus; Constantinople 384: divinity of the
Holy Spirit; Ephesus 431: Mary as theotokos; Vatican I 1870: infallibility of pope in defining dogmas
 Infallibility of ordinary and universal magisterium: ordinary (no solemn definition is involved) and universal (the entire college of
bishops is in agreement even though dispersed): they must teach actively, teaching something that is to be held definitively by all,
teach in agreement even though in different places. Ex: what is in the Apostle’s Creed (communion of saints, resurrection of the body,
Mary ever-virgin, etc) have been taught infallibly even without solemn definition. Why? Because definition usually takes place when
an established belief of the Church is attacked.
 Authoritative, non-definitive teaching: everything else not covered by infallible teaching taught by magisterium. It claims a certain
assent and yet it is not guaranteed of immunity from error. Ex: before defined as dogma, the doctrine o f Immaculate Conception

Thesis 3 Transmission of Revelation 5