A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture ~ EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Dom Bernard Orchard M A (Cantab ) General Edxtor and New Testament Editor Rev. Edmund F, Sutchffe § J, M.A. (Oxon.), LSS Old Testament Editor Rev Reginald C Fuller D.D., LSS Secretary of the Catholic Biblical Assoctation Dom Ralph Russell DD , M A. (Oxon ) Hon, Secretary and Treasurer ee eee ee THE CARDINAL ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER adws mp wnadymay ‘The word of our God endureth for ever Isaras 40 8 Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd London Edinburgh Pans Melbourne Johannesburg Toronto and New YorkACKNOWLEDGMENT of the copy of the Catholtc Commentary presented to Pope Pius XIL SEGRETERIA DI STATO DI SUA SANTITA No 308185, Dal Vaticano, ht January 29, 1954 Dear Dom Orchard I have the honour to acknowledge, at the august direction of the Holy Father, the copy of A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture which you in the name of the Editonal Commuttee presented to Him in the Audience of August 26th last, and also the specially bound copy of the same volume which was subsequently received by His Holmess ‘The Sovereign Pontiff would have me convey to you and to all those associated with you in the preparation and publication of this volume, His sentiments of paternal graufica- tion In the accomplishment of the difficult task of editing a scientific commentary, in small compass, on the entire Bible, you have succeeded in producing a most uscful work for all English-spealang countries It 1s to be presumed that scholarly research and the zeal for accuracy of the Editonal Committee will further enhance this usefulness by the mcorporation of necessary or opportune improvements in the future editions of so valuable a publication With the prayer that ths Commentary may serve through its diffusion among English- speaking Catholics as an aid towards an increased hnowledge and love of the Sacred Scriptures, the Sovereign Pontiff imparts to you, to the mer _ of the Editonal Com- muttee, and to all your associates, His special Apostolic Blessuigz ‘With sentiments of esteem, I remaim, Devotedly yours n Chnst, J B Monrmr Prosecr The Reverend Dom Bernard Orchard, OSB Ealing Priory London W 5FOREWORD HEN shortly after my appointment as Archbishop of Westmunster at the end of 1943 I learned that some members of the Catholic Bibhcal Association were contemplating the preparation in one volume of a Cathohc Commentary on Holy Scripture, I readily gave this ambitious venture my full approval and blessing I was well aware of the need of such a work, and I was confident that those who proposed setting about this task were encouraged to do so largely by what our Holy Father, Pope Pius XII, had wnitten earher that year im his encychcal Drvino AFFLANTE SprriTu After dealing with the umproved conditions for biblical study, His Holiness had wnitten * Now, therefore, that textual criticism has attained such a high level of perfection, biblical scholars have the honourable though not always easy duty of using every endeavour to procure that, as soon as it 15 possible and opportune, editions of the Sacred Books and the ancient versions shall be prepared by Catholics in conformity with these critical standards , editions, that 1s, in which a scrupulous observance of all the laws of criticism shall be combined with the deepest reverence for the sacred text’ The editoral commuttee have laboured hard for nine years to produce this commentary ‘They have realized that their efforts will not produce a ‘ popular’ work, but all serious readers of the Bible will appreciate the 1mmense value of this commentary With new translations of Holy Scmpture and with the improved presentation of texts which have come about by the devoted interest of publishers, more and more people are reading the Scriptures There 1s a need for guidance in this matter and the appearance of this work 1s most opportune In his encychcal the Holy Father referred particularly to the serious obligation incumbent on the faithful to make use of the Scriptures and of the distilled wisdom of those who have endeavoured with great labour to interpret Holy Wnt, for, writes the Pope, ‘ God did not grant the Sacred Books to men to satisfy their curiosity or to provide them with an object of study and research , these divine oracles were bestowed as the Apostle tells us in order that they might “instruct to salvation by the Faith which 1s in Christ Jesus” and “‘ that the man of God may be perfect, furmshed to every good work ”’ ‘There is no dearth of Catholic scriptural scholars and the committee has been fortunate in having so wide a field from which to select its commentators Indeed, they are drawn from throughout the English-speaking world, from the secular clergy and the religious orders alike I am confident that for many years the value of this commentary will be deeply appreciated by all Enghsh-speaking Cathohcs I thank the Cathohe Bibhcal Association and, m particular, the editorial committee for all they have done in so worthy a cause Thar work has borne great frut, and I am confident that in welcoming the appearance of this commentary I am speaking for thousands who will appreciate 1ts immense value and scholarship ‘© Berwarp CarpinaL Grirrin Archbishop of Westminster 30 Apnl 1952PREFACE CATHOLIC COMMENTARY ON HOLY SCRIPTURE 1s the result of nine ears’ work by a group of scholars, who beheve that bibheal learmng must be integrated with traditional Christianity if it 1s to bear any spiritual message or fruit for modern society Their endeavour has been to sum up the results of anternational scholarship during the last fifty years, and put them at the disposal not only of Catholics but also of all those who respect and would be glad to know more of the Catholic Church’s teaching on Scripture and of the way in which her members interpret 1 The Commentary thus fills a gap mn Enghsh theological hterature by providing a critical survey of modern biblical knowledge from the standpomt of all those, Catholic and non-Catholic ahke, who accept the full doctrine of bibhcal inspiration Those who deny in greater or lesser degree the objective truthfulness and the divine mspiration of the Bible have had ample opportunites for stating their views It 1s desirable, bearing in mind the recent advances m biblical science, that there should be a more widespread knowledge and appreciation of the viewpoint of the religious body which gave us the Bible and claims it for her very own Thus we venture to hope that the Commentary will help to restore the Bible to its true place in the culture and worship of the Enghsh~ speaking nations The idea of a one-volume Commentary on Holy Senpture was first put forward at the 1942 meeting of the Catholic Bibhcal Association at Cambridge Later on, in December 1943, a small group discussed the project in detail and decided to accept responsibility for it as the Editorial Committee Archbishop (now Cardinal) Griffin gave his full approval By a happy coincidence, when the scheme was taking shape, His Holness Pope Brus XI published (30 September 1943) hus encyclical Divino arrLante Spiriru, in which he gave further encouragement to undertakings of this nd The Committee was fortunate in securing the collaboration of Cathohe scholars from Great Britain, Australia, Canada, Eire, Malta and the Umted States of America, as well as two from Austna and Germany ‘The work 1s based on the full acceptance @ of the divine Inspiration of Holy Scripture and of the teaching and discipline of the Catholic Church as a chvine insutution owing 1ts origin to Christ himself, and (2) of the assured findings of modern research, in the con- viction that there can be no clash between the Word of God and scientific truth We claim that orthodoxy and freedom of spirit can and ought to go hand im hand to produce a satisfying synthesis It should be added that this attempt to assess the present state of biblical knowledge from the Catholic standpomt 1s quite unofficial , the official teaching of the Church on Holy Scripture 1s found in the decrees of the various Councils, and in the declarations made from time to time by the Holy See There as no ‘ offiaal’ view on any but a mmute handful of biblical texts, and there 1s ample room for diversity of interpretation within the bounds of orthodoxy How wide those bounds are, and how effectvely faith and learning combine to solve the problems which arise, will be shown, we thmk, by an unpreyudiced reading of this work, We do not claim that all biblical problems are solved here, or solved correctly, but we claim that in pnnciple we have the correct approach to them It should not be for- gotten that all scholars approach the Bible with certam preconceptions Some of these are dangerous and the more so if unrecogmzed Those critics, for example, who refuse to admit the possibility of miracles, automatically modify their interpretation of the teats and fail to account for all the facts As long as they hold such presuppositions they cannot be expected to assent to the conclusions of this Commentary Our work will be as unsatis- factory to them as theirs 1s tous Yet we who interpret the Bible as children of the Church which possesses the hving voice of Christ, have tried to ensure that our work 1s fully in accord with scientific investigation and nght thinking It has been well said that if Christiamty 1s true, orthodoa caegesis has all the advantages Contnbutors have freely stated their own views on thew own responstbihty The Commuttee, however, has occasionally made a correction in a matter of fact and has offered many comments and suggestions, which for the most part have been adopted by the contnbutor Any mdependent insertions of the editors have been inttialled © WherePREFACE v] d acceptable interpretation of a teat, whether propose: theres more than one eis the alernauves have been stated, though the scope and by Cathohe og r well as considerations of space have preclude ly character of the Commentary as dynees in Old ‘Testament and osition of some of the more recently eapressed vi i ‘eee New Testasent critiasm Dascussion of the mam unorthodox positions has — re ee B the most part to the introductory articles The preferences of nee ca oe oe have naturally reited i GNETENCS o” Fa Poe Sts authostup ithe ition of some 7 Pe Catouch ie perce eel ‘and eschatology Views not accepted by the contributor have been recorded with the respect required by the Holy Father in Dieta afflante Speritu Attention 1s drawn to the following points (1) The chief object of the Commentary 1s to open to the reader ie oe aa a doctrinal import on as far as may be, the spiritual value and marvellous beauty Word of God : ull in Version of the Bible has been tahen as basis , it is the version si a erin one Catholics But the aim of every commentator has been to control it throughout by reference to the orginal teat, and all important Mana cue noted The Commentary assumes that the reader has a copy of this Version at Ly |, bu it can easily be used in. conjunction with the Authonzed or Revised Version, or wit more recent translations, such as the Westminster Version or Monsignor Knov’s, to which many are made 2ahnn the ee on mdividual Books a special endeavour 1s made to give adequate treatment to the doctrinal and spiritual content ~Wherever possible the comment as so worded as to provide answers to current unorthodox views (4) The mtroductory articles, while preserving as far as possible the direct exposition of Cathohce teaching, also take into consideration widely held unorthodox posiions 5 (5) Selected bubographies are given for each Book and arncle ‘The mention o non-Cathohe works in the eee. and elsewhere is not itself an indication that they a Saaeee to the Catholic public in general, ut means that scientific studv must take account of them (6) The maps make full use of the modern Palestine Survey and of the researches of the Domumecan School in Jerusalem (7) Each contnbutor has been responsible for checking his own references Acknowledgements The grateful thanks of the Editonal Committee are duc in the first lace to His Eminence Cardinal Griffin for lus patronage and warm support, to the Raght Reverend Abbot R S Trafford and the Very Reverend F Mangan, SJ, then Jeswat Provincial, for the support and encouragement which made possible the inception of the project , to the Abbot of Downside, the Pnor of Ealing, the Rectors of Heythrop Gollege and the President of St Edmund’s College, Ware, for ther hospitality to the Committee on many occasions, to Mr Peter Mornson, the Managing Director of Messrs Thomas Nelson and Sons, for Ins belief in the enter mse, and for his unfaikng atience, understanding and friendship, and to his Editorsal Staff, to Mr B C Widdowson, for supplying the materials for the maps, and to the Rev H’ Richards for helping to complete the topography , to the Rev E Power, SJ for hus advice on topographical guestions and for his unfailng support at all umes, to Mr Kenneth Thompson, for his levoted work im the compilation of the Index and for the valuable assistance he has rendered to the Editors in prepanng the teat for publication , to the many fnends, umposstble to name, who have helped us from time to time » and, certainly not Jeast, to all our contributors, whose labours, often involving great sacrifice, have now borne fruit am a common work which we hope will stand the test of time We cannot conclude without asking our readers’ rayers for the two contnbutors who did not hive to see the completion of this work, the hicEe Hugh Pope, OP, one of the oncers of modern Catholic Biblical scholarship in this country, whose own contnbution as since been expanded and revised by Fr Seb: astian Bullough, OP , and the lat Rev E G Messenger, PhD, who died last year after Tne oe oe oe a long illness ss Orcnarp, OSB Eaunc Priory, W 5 R “G Fonse cure, S J 30 September 1952 Rapx Russert, OSBLIST OF CONTRIBUTORS BARTON, Right Rev Mgr J M T, DD, LSS, FSA, Uonsultor of the Pontifical Biblical Commussion, sometime Professor of Sacred Scnipture, St Edmund’s College, Ware, President (1952) of the Society for Old Testament Study BEVENOT, Rev M, SJ, MA, Professor of Fundamental Theology at Heythrop College, Oxon BIRD, Rught Rev Mgr T E,DD, PhD, sometime Professor of Sacred Scripture, Oscott College BULLOUGH, Rev S, OP, MA, STLect & Lic, Scnpture Master, Blackfriars School, Laxton BUTLER, Right Rev Dom B Chnistopher, OSB, MA, Abbot of Downside CORBISHLEY, Rev T,S J, MA, Master of Campion Hall, Oxford CREHAN, Rev Joseph H, SJ, MA, Professor of Fundamental Theology, Heythrop College, Oxon DESSAIN, Rev C Stephen, MA DeVINE, Rev Charles F, CSSR, LSS, Professor of Sacred Scripture and Hebrew at St Alphonsus Seminary, Woodstock, Ontario DYSON, Rev R A,SJ,STD, LSS, Professor of Old Testament Exegesis at the Pontifical Bibhical Institute, Rome FOSTER, Rev R J.,STL,LSS, Professor of Sacred Scripture, Oscott College FULLER, Rev R C,DD,LSS, sometime Professor of Sacred Scnpture, St Edmund’s lege, Ware. GINNS, Rev R, OP, STM, LSS, sometime Professor of Sacred Scripture, Lector Primanius at the Dommican House of Philosophy, Hawkesyard Priory GRAF, Rev Dom E,, sometime Lecturer in Sacred Scripture, St Mary’s Abbey, Buckfast GRAHAM, Very Rev Dom A, STL, sometime Professor of Dogmatic Theology, ‘Ampleforth Abbey GUTWENGER, Rev E,SJ,DD, PhD, Professor at Innsbruck, sometime Professor of Fundamental Theology at Heythrop College HODOUS, Rev E J, SJ, MA, STL, LSS, Professor of New Testament, West Baden College, Indiana, USA JONES, Rev A, STL, LSS, Professor of Sacred Scripture and Hebrew, Upholland College, Wigan KEARNS, Rev GC J, OP, DSS, Professor of Sacred Scrpture, Dominican House of Studies, St Mary’s, Tallaght, Co Dubhn +LATTEY, Rev C,SJ, M.A, sometime Professor of Sacred Scnpture, Heythrop College, President (1947) of the Society for Old Testament Study LEAHY, Rev D J, DD, PhD, LSS, Professor of Sacred Scmpture, St John’s Seminary, Wonersh LEAHY, Rev M, STL, LSS, Old Testament Professor, St Patnick’s College, ‘Maynooth LEONARD, Rev W, DD, PhD, DSS, sometime Professor of Sacred Scripture at St Patrick’s Semmary, Manly, Sydney, NS W McKAY, Rev Hugh, OF M, DD, Professor of Sacred Scnpture and Hebrew in the Enghsh Franciscan ProvinceLIST OF CONTRIBUTORS Testament Exegesis McKENZIE, Rev John L, SJ, MA, STD, Professor of Old . and Hebrew, west Baden College, Indiana, US A MACKENZIE, Rev R A F, SJ, MA, STL, LSS, Professor of Old Testament Exegesis, Jesuit Semmmary, Toronto, Canada MARTINDALE, Rev C C,SJ,MA } MESSENGER, Rev E CG, PhD, sometime Professor of Philosophy, St Edmunds College, Ware MORRIS, Rev P J, DD, LSS, Professor of Sacred Scripture at St Joseph’s College, Mill Hull O'FLYNN, Rev John A, LSS, New Testament Professor, St Patrich’s College, Maynooth , Lecturer in Biblical Theology, University College, Dublin O’'HERLIHY, Rev D J, PhD, DD, LSS, Vice-Rector of the Insh College, Rome , sometime Professor of Sacred Scripture, All Hallows College, Dubhn ORCHARD, Rev Dom Bernard, M A, sometime Lecturer in Sacred Scripture, Downside “Abbey POPE, Rev H, OP, STM, DSS, sometime Professor of Sacred Scnipture in the Enghsh Dominican Province + POWER, Rev E,S J, Doct Ling Or , Professor of Sacred Scmpture at Milltown Park, Dubhn, sometime Professor of Biblical Archaeology and Geography, Arabic and Synac at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome REES, Rev W, MA, BLutt RUSSELL, Rev Dom R, MA, DD, Professor of Dogmatic Theology, Downside Abbey RYAN, Rev C, DD, LSS, Professor of Sacred Scripture, St Patrich’s College, Thurles SAYDON, Very Rev Mgr P P, DD, LSS, Professor of Sacred Scripture at the Royal Unversity, Valletta, Malta : a - SHEARER, Rev S, GP, sometime Lecturer in Sacred Scmpture, St Anne’s Retreat, Sutton, St Helens a ee SJ, MA, PhD, Professor of Fundamental Theology, Milltown SUTCLIFFE, Rev E F,SJ, MA, LSS, Prof Hebrew Hest Cote uA » Professor of Old Testament Exegesis and THEISSEN, Rev A, DD, tome Pj Durham A Profeatys of Ba ae 1 Professor of Sacred Scnpture, Ushaw College, ripture, Priesterseminar, Cologne WILLMERING, Rev H, S MA,L a College, St Mave a S4y one SS, New Testament Professor, St Marv’sCONTENTS ARTICLES OF GENERAL INTRODUCTION The Place of the Bible in the Church W Leonard and B Orchard ‘The Formation and History of the Canon (OT and NT) R > Foster ‘The Languages, Texts and Versions of the Bible E Power The History of the Rherms-Douay Version H Pope and S Bullough The Literaty Charactenstics of the Bible D F Leahy ‘The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Holy Scnpture F Crehan The Interpretation of Holy Sempture RG Fuller Higher Cnticism of the Bible R A Dysonand R A F MacKenzie The Rephes of the Biblical Commussion, with Introductory Note E F Sutchffe The Physical Geography of the Holy Land E Graf The Political Geography of the Holy Land E Power The History of Israel to 130 BG E Power The History of Israel, 130 BC-AD 70 T Corbishley Archaeology and the Bible E Power Measures, Weights, Money and Time E. Power Our Lady in the Scriptures E.G. Messenger The Miraculous Element in the Bible E.G Messenger The Apocrypha—OT and NT R J. Foster ARTICLES OF INTRODUCTION TO THE OT The Meaning of the OT E F Sutchfe The Rehgion of Israel E F Sutclife The Gentile Neighbours E Power The Chronology of the OT E F Sutchfe COMMENTARIES Sections Introduction to the Pentateuch (with a 1 & 2 Kings H McKay section, Some Recent Catholic View- 3 & 4 Kings EK Smyth points, R A Dyson) E F Sutchffe 126 1&2 Parahpomenon E F Sutcliffe Genesis E F Sutcliffe 136 Esdras-Nehemias R A Dyson Exodus E Power 162 Tobias C F DeVine Leviticus P P Saydon 182 Judith M Leahy Numbers P P Saydon 196 Esther C Ryan Deuteronomy R A F MacKenzie 210 The Poetical and ‘The Historical Books E Power 223 Wisdom Literature R A Dyson Josue E Power 227 Job E F Sutchge Judges E Power 238 Psalms T E Bud Ruth W Leonard 246 Proverbs R A Dyson ‘Sections $9 104 116 123, Sections 248 265 282 288 300 308 gto 313 317 334 364CONTENTS Sections : een Bcclesastes M Leaky 378 Joel a Canticle of Canticles PP Saydn 382 Amos oe Wisdom C Lattey 388 — Abdias S Bullough 530 Beclestasticus G F Keams 398 Jonas fe The Prophetical Micheas K Smyth 533 Literature E F Sutff 409 Nahum S Bullough 537 Tsaras E Power 419 Habacuc S Bullough 539 Jeremas C Lattey 452 Sophonias S Bullough 541 Lamentations | M Leahy 469 Aggeus S Bullough 543 Baruch P P Saydon 472 Zacharias S Bullough 545 Ezechiel E Power 477 Malachias E F Sutcliffe 555 Damel P P Saydon 494 1 & 2 Maccabees T Corbishley 559 Osee P P Saydon 534 ARTICLES OF INTRODUCTION TO THE NT or ‘The Textual Criticism of the NT 3 MT Barton 581 The Jewsh World in NT Times FL McKenze 584 The Pagan World in NT Times W Rees 597 ‘The Gospels and Non-Catholic Higher Criticism E Gutwenger 604 The Synoptic Problem BC Butler 610 The Person and Teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ A Graham 616 Chnistianity in Apostolic Tunes M Béevenot and R Russell 629 The Epistles of the NT B Orchard 661 ‘The Lafe of St Paul D F O'Herthy 663 The NT Teaching on the Second Commg E F Hodous 670 ‘The ‘Brethren of the Lord” S Shearer 672 ‘The Chronology of NT Times T. Corbeshley 674. COMMENTARIES Sections f St Matthew A Fones 677 1 & 2 Thessalonians B ofa aed St Mark J 4 O'Flynn 724 The Pastoral Epistles St Luke R Ginns 744 (1 & 2 Trmothy, Titus) R F Foster 18 St John W Leonard 778 Philemon S Shearer 926 Acts CS Dessan 814 Hebrews W Leonard 927 Romans A Thessen 844 St James H Willmering 945 1 & 2 Connthans W Rees 864 1 St Peter H Willmenng 949 Sonu B Orchard 893 2 St Peter H. Willmerng 952 one: nae x 995 St Jude H Willmenng 960 ‘aky 909 Apocalypse C C Martindale g62 ire oe Kenneth @ Thompson M A, bs ‘aps (with Index of Place Names) based on ic BA,FROS, completed by H hekeeas STE eee, e Pun ae eeNOTES FOR THE READER ‘The Commentary 1s based on the current Douay Version of the Bible, but may be used with any other translation, such as the Westminster Version or Monsignor Knox’s Version The Douay Version 1s quoted between inverted commas and suggested emendations are printed im italics Round brackets ( ) indicate omission to be made in the Douay Version Wherever possible, the commentary has been arranged according to the sense divisions of the text Each such division has been given a brief heading indicating the subject-matter. Division of verses are indicated by one of the first letters of the alphabet Psalms are quoted according to the Vulgate enumeration, but that of the Revised Version as often added in brackets Cross-references and index references are given by section number and letter (and not by page numbers) Cross-references are not intended to take the place of the index, which 1s very full and will also be found a valuable guide to biblical theology A hst of abbreviations and transliterations will be found on pages x1v—xv1 The brbhiographws are selective The names of non-Catholic writers are marked with an asterisk Their inclusion does not necessarily imply that they are recommended for general use Index figures above dates in the bibliographies indicate the number of the edition Spelling of proper names ~The Douay Version has been followed for names of persons except where some other form 1s universally accepted, as in the case of Assyrian kangs Similarly geographical names have been adapted as far as possible to conform to current usage Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy But ‘ humanum est errare’, and the Commuttee would welcome notification of errors or misprints as well as suggestions for amprovements All such comments and suggestions should be forwarded to the General Edbtor, or to the Old Testament editor in matters concerning the Old Testament.ABBREVIATIONS * BOOKS OF THE BIBLE Old Testament Gen Ex Lev Num Deut Jos Jg Ru Kg Eccl Cant Wis Ecclus Is Jer Lam Bar Ez Dan Os Jl Zach Mal Mac Par Esd Neh Tob Jdt Est Job Ps Prov Am Abd Jon Mic Nah Hab Soph Agg New Testament Mt Mk Lh Jn Ac Rom Cor Gal Eph Phil Col Thess Tim Tit Phm Heb Jas Pet Jn Jude Apoc OTHER WORKS AND WRITERS In all references to periodicals the number of the volume, the year of its publication and the page number are given in this form . RB 48 (1939) 181-206, which stands for Revue Bibhque, volume 48, published in 1939, pages 181~206 Serial modern editions of ancient works and works in more than one volume are quoted by volume and column (or page, if the columns are not numbered), thus PL 35, 420—which stands for Patres Latim (Migne), vol 35, col 420, and DBV(S) 3 (1936) 318-524 which stands for volume 3 of the Supplement to Vigourown’s Dicttonnatte de la Bible, published in 1936, columns 318-524. AAS Acta Apostolicae Secis Bi Blackfriars AASOR Anual ofthe Amencan Schools of Onental —BGDW Bauer, Grechuchdeckes Mdrterbuch, Bes i AER Atmenican Ecclesiastical Renew Bi Bielica AJSLL Amencan Journal ofSemiue Languages and JP ‘Bonsurven, L judelime Palestine, 2 vols Amb St Ambrose BIRL Bul AOT H Grasmann, Alonentalucke Texte, Beclin Be Bi te om a gan RLSPER, 1000 BS Biblche Studien ‘AgML AbbouSmuthy Manual Lest of the Grek — fexo Testament CAH Cambridge Ancient Hi re | Ige Anctent Histo A a a CAP Gharles, eye and Pseudepigrapha, 2 vols, Gresmann, Alonentaliche Teste zum CB ; Ht rpus Berclinense (Die griechischen chinst= Aa a a Berl und Leipzig, 19267 hichen Schnifisteller der ersten drei Jahrhun- Avg St Augustine cB, saan eee a a oe €8Q_ Catholic Biblical Quarterly BASOR Bullet of the Amencan School of Onental = GRC gamba See rae excard eda BB_ Bonn Bible Senes cue” Ghat Chngettom BBSAJ Bullenn of the Btsh School of Archacology, CIS. Gaeta its Canonscs aoe CES Ou Jnsenpuonum Semticaram BDB “Hebrew and Engluh Lexan, ed Brown, Driver GM caanait gate and Boggs, Oolaed ae GM, Gomely-Merh, Compenduim Intrduztons Bayo Etmaitn; Le Enna de Jean Commentary on'the NT (CBA of Amenca, wep Heaven, L'Eamge d Pu, ros Goll Brug ~ ‘Collationes Brugenses : BEREP Bouurven, Buje Rabie et Evlgise GSan Sag Renew Imuenne, 1939 tlic Student's Ards to the Bible, revised ed 1926-37, by Rey H Pope, O P aABBREVIATIONS CSEL Corpus Scnptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latn orum, Vindobonae CSS Cursus Scnpturae Sacrae, Pans, 1890~ CSSL_ Cambridge Summer School Lectures Cyr Alex St Cyril of Alexandna DAG Dutionnaire d’Archéologie Chrét et de Leturgre (Cabrol), 1907- DAFG Dictionnaire ‘Apologétique de la For Catholique DAS Encychcal, Dino afflante Spiritu (1943) DbR Dublin Renew DBV Dictionnaire. de la Bible (Vigouroux) , ‘S) = Supplement DHPH jesnoyers, Histowre du peuple hebrew Dict. Spur Ductionnarre de Sprrtualité DR Downside Review DIC —_Dictionnarre de Théologre Catholique Dz Denzinger-Banawart, Enchiridion Symbolorum EB Enchiridion Brblicum EBCB — Encyclopaedia Biblica, ed Cheyne and Black EcR Ecclesiastical Review Edershem Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, 2 vols EE Estudios Eclesiasticos BHAT — Exegetesches Handbuch zum Alten Testament ER Etudes Rehgieuses (Paris, 1856-_) EREH Enovelopaedia of Relrgion and Ethics, ed Hastings, 1908-21 ERS Lagrange, Etudes sur les Religions stmliques, Pans, 1905? Er Expoatory Times ETL __ Ephemenides Theologicae Lovanienses Bus HE Eusebius, Heclestastical History Exp Expositor FSAG W F Albnght, From the Stone Age to Ghristianity, Balumore, 1940 Ges Gesensus? Hebrew Dictionary GK —— Gesentus’ Hebrew Grammar, ed E Kautzsch Eng ed revised by A E Cowley St Gregory the Great , also = Cregorianum GT Gressmann, Altorientalische Texte zum Alten Testament, Berlin und Leipzig, 1926" HAT — Handhommentar zum Alten Testament HDB Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible HDT — Lebreton, History of the Dogma of the Trmly HE —-Histona Ecclesiastica (Eusebtus) H-G — Hépfl-Gut, Compendium Introductions, Romae Hier St Jerome HJ Fubbert Journal Holz Hust U Holzmesster, SJ, Historia Actatis Nov Testaments, Romae, 1932 Holz Chron Holzmaster, Chronologia Vilee Christ, Romae, 19; HPR_ American ‘Homiletic and Pastoral Review HRGS~ Hatch and Redpath, Concordance to the Septuagint, 1897-1906 farvard ‘Theological Review ICQ —_ International Critcal Commentary TER _Insh Ecclestastical Record Ign Ant. St Ignatnss of Antioch TQ. Insh Theological Quarterly JAOS Journal of the Amencan Onental Society JBI journal of Biblical Laterature (New York) ey fewnsh Encyclopedia Jer St Jerome [NES Journal of New Eastern Studies jos Ant Josephus, Antigutties fos BJ ‘Josephus, De Bello Fudarco jos AP ‘Josephus, Contra Apronem POS ‘Journal of the Palestine Onental Society JRB- Bullen of the John Rylands Library JRel Journal of Relimon JTS Journal of Theological Studies (Oxford) KAT Kommentar zum Alten Testament KHK — Kurzer Handkommentar zum Alten Testament KIB Keihnschnifdiche Bibhothek. Knab J Knabenbauer, $ J KNT — ‘New Testament in English, trans Knox, 1945, KTW Theologisches Worterbuch zum NT h v G Kuttel (1932~) Lag MJ ge, OP Yebr. ODT J Lebreton, SJ, Les Ongmes due Dogme de la Trintlé, 1910 LERS Lagrange, Bhides sur les Rehgions sémtnques, Paris, 1903* LEJC Lagrange, L’Evangule de Jésus-Chnist LGJG Lagrange, Gospel of jsis Chnst 1998 [Eng ed of above] LOT — Driver, Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament, Edinburgh, 1929° LTK Lexikon fir Theologte und Kirche (Buchberger) MCG Encychal, Misti Copons Christ (1049) MGC — Moulton and Geden’s Concordance 0 Gra. NT MMV Moulton and Malhgan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament, 1930 Mn ‘The Month NP Novum Psaltenum (Pontificit Institut Bibher . . NRT Nouvelle Revue Théologique (Tournal) NtAb — Neulestamentliche Abhandlungen ODT Lebreton, Origines du Dogme de la Trinuté OLF Oxford Library of the Fathers Ong — Ongen POB —_Peake’s Commentary on the Bible PD Encycheal, Provedentissimus Deus (1893) PEF Palesune.’ Exploration Fund’ Quarterly Statement (185§~1937) PEQ Palestine Exploration Quarterly (1937-) PG Patrologia Graeca (Migne) PB Palastina-Jahrbuch BL Patrologia Latina (Migne) PW ——_Pauly-Wissowa, Real-encyclopiddte der classtschen Alterlunsuossenschaft, 1894~ RA Revue Apotogétique RB Revue Bibhque RBn _ Revue Bénédictine (Maredsous) RCF Revue du Clergé francais RHE — Revue d'Histoire Ecclésiastuque (Louvain) RHPR Revue d'Histoire et de Phulosophie Rehigicuse RSPT Revue des Scienecs Philosophiques et Théo- jogiqtucs RSR__ Recherches de Science Religieuse RSRS Robertson Smith, Religion of the Semites RT —_- Revue Thomsste SB Strack und Bullerbeck, Konimentar zum NT aus Talmud und Mudrasch, 1922-8 sc Studia Catholica (Nymegen Univ ) SCSS —Stemnmucller’s Companion to Seriplure Study, : vols, New York, 1941-3 en jeneca SHG — G A, Smth, Hustorteal Geography of the Holy Simon-Prado H Simon and J Prado, Praclectiones iblicae SP. Encyclical, Spintus Paraclitus (1920) SPIB Scnpta Pontificn Insutut. Biblicy SSCQ — Scnpturae Sacrae Gursus Completus (Migne) Sr Summa Theologica of St Thomas Aquinas : Studies. StKr Theologesche Studien und KrithenABBREVIATIONS ‘ertu WG ‘Westminster Commentaries TS” Tintoge und Gloube WH Wetcott & How's ed of NT r wv, eatmunster Version TBR: (NE), Theologsche Rundschau (Neve Folge) Wy Wordsworth & White's Vg NT THO, ‘Theologueche-prakusche | Quiartalschnift WZKM WienerZenschnt fir de Kunde des Morgen- (Linz) - jandes: Re RP Snae Se ZATW Zetec fr de altestamentiche Wisen- Geschichte schaft ae taieneiekent eer (yeaa ZDRV Zovechot des deuachenPalasina-Veroms a fitschrift fir katholsche Theologre (Ocen Se ZLG = Now Testaments Lesscon Graccum, auctore F Zorell, $ J , 1931* YD Yeee? Bovnne-Clementine Easton) ZNTW Zeitschni fir die neutestamenthche Wissen- VE Verbum Saluts’ senes schaft OTHER ABBREVIATIONS USED Aram. Aramaic AV Authonzed Version LxXX Septuagint (A) Codex Aleaandnnus , 8) Glos Vaulstnus fassor Bab Ba Baba Bathra Mass rah Bab Tal Babyloman Talmud MT Massoretic Text Bh Booh NT New Testament ¢ area, about ob obut, died cent. century obs observe, observation col, cc column, columns op at in the work last cited, or m the bibbography , chh chapter, chapters above Cathohe Truth Society OT Old Testament dort died Pent —_Pentateuch DV © Douay Version RV Revised Version ETr — Enghsh Translation RVm marginal reading of RV EVV English Versions (AV -+ RV) Sam Samanitan Pentateuch £,ff following verse(s), chapter(s), page(s), etc. SL Sumerian Law Gh Greek Syn Synoptic(s) Heb Hebrew Syr Synac Peshitta Version HT —_ Hebrew consonantal Text so sub verbo under the heading thd mm the same place 7, Tell wd (dem), the same author (person) TB Babyloman Talmud Kh Kiurbet (rus) t translation, translated by lt hiteral, Iterally VSS Versions, toc ct am the place last quoted w West, or Wadi * TRANSLITERATION OF HEBREW LETTERS : : 33 4 [with dage] and § [without dages > P 33 3 [with dagel) and g [without dage® D a4 4 [oath dages] and @ [wathout dages y a eee tae BBA [with dages] and p fithout dages] 5 & B Db st vw y =3 » P27 Sf Goth dag and [oothout dogs] nn [witb dage’] and ¢ [without dage’] Letters with adage’ forte are wntten twice Vocal and ha! Vo vs toe by mature ace eae gee oral and hatep Swe (shewa) are wnitten above the line, g éedmin €g pom, dabar . those long by position with a horizontal ime or bar,THE PLACE OF THE BIBLE IN THE CHURCH By WILLIAM LEONARD anp Dom BERNARD ORCHARD 4a Bibliography—Conclum Trdentinum (Gérresgeselischaft Ed) Tom 5 Acta 1, 528-35, Tom. 12, ‘Tractatus 1, 1-104, F Cavalera, La Bible en Langue Vulgave au Concile de Trente x Mélanges Podechard, 37-56 (1945), R_ Bellarmuno, Controversiae De Verbo Det, hb 4, B Malou, La Lecture de la S Bible en Langue Vulgaire (2 vols, 1846) , E Mangenot, Ecriture Sainte in DTC 4, 2092-2101 , J Pérennés, Tradition et Magistere m DAFC, J B Franzehn, De’ Traditione et Scriptura (1870) , G Pesch, De Inspirations S Seripturae—cap 6, De Perspicuitate et Sufficientia S Scnpturac fr 8) : H_ von Not, Ueber Brbelkenntms und Bibel (1896) , J Hoffmann, Die Hetlige Schrift ein Volks—und Schulbuch (2903) , Ht Hopf, Buch der Biche (1904) , N Peters, ire ind Bibel (x00) » xd Unter, Bibel (x028) 5 HG Graham, Where we got the Bible (1911), A Stonner, Vor Sinn und Wert der Heiigen Schrift (1927) » H Pope, The Catholic Church and the Bible (1928) , Sowon, Das Heilsge Buch (1928), Th Paffrath, Gott ‘Herr und Vater (1930), A d’Alés and P Vigué, La Bible et la Théologie wn Initiation Brblique, ch 30, 751— 774 (1939), *B F Westcott, The Bible wn the Church 1864), *A Harnack, Bible Reading in the Early Church 1912), *A CG Paucs, A Fourteenth Century English tblical’ Version (1902), also A Fourteenth Cent Bibheal Vesson {1g04) by the same authoress»_ © Deanesly, The Lollard Bible and other Medtecal English Versions (1920) , B Smalley, The Study of the Bible n the Midile Ages (oat) > J F OH Tregear, The First English Bible, CR, Jan “Feb (1946) b Infroductory—It may seem a little strange to begm awork on the Bible with a discussion of its place in the Church rather than with a formal account of sts general character and history But sce the true position and authonty of the Bible m Christan Socicty has been most unfortunately confused and obscured im the aftermath of the religious dissensions of the sucteenth century, tt seems the most logical and candid thing to state unequivocally at the head of this Volume the conviction underlying the work of alll the contributors to it, iz that it 1s impossible to understand anght the Bible and its message unless the Bible atsclf be first Wigwed ap ts nght setting, 1¢ not merely a5, the eclectic product of certain outstanding members of that divine society that has custed in the world ever since God called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees, but rather as the divinely inspired crystallization of the spint and teaching of that society at times and places specially chosen by the Spirit of God dwelling within st It will therefore be well to state at the head of this article that both Church (‘ the Israel of God’) and Bible belong to an order of providence which has destined man to a supernatural end The divine decree, which clevated mankind from the beginning to fellowship in the divine nature, made necessary & supernatural revelation of God’s purpose, of the secrets of his divinity, of the counsels of his wisdom and goodness Thi communication of heavenly Imowledge began to be made from the day of man’s creation and, as God’s purpose was not revohed after the fall, but more wonderfully embodied in a plan of redemption, supernatural revelation contmued The preparation of the Redeemer’s coming was a progressive Yevelation, but the defimtive mamfestation of all God's urpose.on bebal ofthe human race was made by the 4 ‘on of God Incarnate in the fullness of time, of Heb 1 1 A living teaching authority 1s prior to every single c book of Divine Scripture—There is no evidence for the eoastence (or destruction) of any divinely-nspired Scriptures ‘of premosaic date” Whatever divine revelation or communication there was in the early days of the human race probably took place by word of mouth only, and was handed on orally from generation to generation God communicated his message to certain men and they in turn on bis behalf ‘transmitted it to their fellow-men in human language ‘This 1s what we mean by prophecy, which became a ermanent—though vanously distributed—nstitution in Israel, and produced all or nearly all of the forty- five books that form the Old Testament. From Moses onward God made provision that a part of what emanated ‘ from the chair of Moses ’ for the instruction of the people should under a charisma associated with and ‘to prophetic ispiration be committed to wntng Thus the Bible grew ‘We are_here concerned, however, not with the ‘Hebrew ‘ Church’ and its Bible but with the Chnistran_ Church and the Bible which it partly inherited from Judaism and partly created out of the fund of Christan Tevelation and history ‘The same providence, indeed, obtains and 1s even more visibly in evidence when the Church of Christ begins to execute her divine com- mussion to go out and teach all nations from Judaca to the ends of theearth Itis absurd, even psychologically, that the grace of Pentecost should be dominated by the letter of a book The fact 1s that, while the Apostles Jooked upon themselves primarily as witnesses. of Chnst, the ving organism ! which 1s the pillar and the ground of truth? functioned as a cotee, and ats minssters were ‘ servants of the word *, the term‘ word ? meaning the spoken word ‘A hiving voice 1s not, however, incompatible with d a written source of revelation 'A written fount of truth has sts own special advantages It is the fixation of a considerable part of the deposit entrusted to the Church Thus Scripture becomes her patrimony, and as nightly reckoned amongst her greatest treasures In preaching the hving word she has the support of a fixed text. The revelation which she holds is, therefore, as the Council of Trent defined, ‘ contained in written books and In traditions without writing—traditions which were received from the mouth of Christ himself and from the Apostles under dictation of the Holy Spit and have come down to us, delivered, as xt were, from hand to hand’ (Sess iv, EB 46) We must not, however, imagine Scnpture and e Tradition to be like two distinct reservoirs recerving the waters of divine truth from distinct and separate spriny ‘There 15 n_a sense but one source of revealed truth, nz divine Tradition, by which 1s meant the body of revealed truth handed down from the Apostles through the ages and contamed in the doctrine, teaching and practice of the Catholic Church Yet since a large and important part of that revelation was committed to writing both before and after the ume of Christ the Church 1s accustomed to speak of two sources of revela- tion, oral Traditon and Scripture. The pecuhar character and importance of Scripture—the wnitten part of this divine Tradition—derives solely from thePLACE OF THE BIBLE IN THE CHURCH ¢ that it ss the inspired word of God, ‘ a letter wntten ae our henvenly father and transmutted by the sacred qwniters to the human race in 1s pilgrimage so far from is heavenly country? (Chrys In Gen hom 22) ‘The two streams of oral Tradition and Scnpture happily mux, for an the living magisteruum of the Church these are living waters springing together aia u everlasting _It is the Church, the holder of Tradition, that gives Ife to the dead letter of Scripture Eaperi- ence shows that 1 1s only in the hfe of the Church, the Bride of Chnst, that Scripture, divinely anspired as 1t 15, becomes * hving and effectual, and more piercing than any two-edged sword (Heb 4 12) t Since the Bible 1s not the only source from which the truths of revelation must be drawn, the Fathers of ‘Trent expressly condemned the mmnovators who made the Bible the sole arbiter of doctrine, reyecting Tradition and subsututng mdividual religious judgement for the judgement of a teaching Church ‘The things which the Church 15 commissioned to teach out of the Bible are matters of faith and morals perbnent to the building up of Christian doctrine, In regard to these truths the authonity of Tradition and of the Bible1s equal__Either one or the other will certify that a certain proposition 1s.in the divine-apostolic deposit. Nevertheless, as we shall sec later, the Church is superior to the Bible in the sense that she is the Living Voice of Chnst, and therefore the sole infallible interpreter of the mspired Word, whenever an authoritative interpretation 1s juired (§ 396) lorcover the inspiration of the whole Bible cannot be known from the Bible, but only through the Church. For the biblical Canon can only be established by the Ghurch Hence it 1s the Church alone that has made Lnown which are the mspired books (of §§ 11-18) On the other hand the Church 1s not directly com- mussioned to teach everything narrated mm the Bible, eg that Abraham hved in Hebron Of itself the residence of a patriarch at Hebron does not enter into the edifice of Chistian doctrine which guides souls by faith and good works to the bhss of eternity The snfallibihty of the Church only pertains to all such necessary matters of faith and morahty as lead men to heaven, while the mfalhbihty of the Bible pertams to everything authentically contamed in the biblical pages It would be erroneous, however, to think that the Church bas no interest in the fact of Abraham’s residence at Hebron It 1s asserted im Scripture and 1s therefore mmfallibly true The Church, as the champion of the Bible's merrancy, has the right to condemn any demal of an authentic biblical statement. At the same time, a secondary fact such as that men- tioned ftom patriarchal history cannot itself directly tbe matter fora positive infalhble defimuon am the question 1s sometimes asked whether all revealed truth may not be found at least obscurely 1m Scripture It 1s impossible, however, to make an absolute affirmation in the terms of the above question , but, relauvely speaking, so much 1s contained in the Bible that it 1s difficult to assert that certain particular truths of Christian faith and conduct are nowhere found am st Tos, for instance, said that the Bible nowhere feaches the distinction between mortal and vemal sin ‘The disunction, st seems, 13 nowhere clearly enunciated, Dut at as bard to say that wt cannot be gathered from the whole assemblage of [passages where mention smade of great sins such as exclude from the Lingdom of God and of other faults which do not seem to be regarded as seriously staining the honour of those who commit them Since, Senpture 18 2 communication from an all- loving Providence for the purpose of guiding mankind in the path of perfection (o 8 2)sit clear that st should be studied primanly with a view to one’s own spintual Profit Thats, we should seek. 1ts spymtual message and apply at to ourselves This 1s Bible study par excellence, which for ats success always requires the help of God's Grace It as of course connected, to a greater or lesser degree, wih what we may call scientific Bible study, ‘hich aims at elucidating the meaning of the text with g the aid both of secular sciences such as philology and 1g ology, and of Church Tradition ae NBY cnufic Bible study has ws own place and h value m bibheal matters, but its subordinate position should always be recognized Such study 1s ulbmately Justified only if xt helps to make the spinitual content Qlearer and more readily available. ‘The philological clucidation or literary analysis of a passage may well be elevated to the spsritual plane by the motive of the one carrying xt out, but mm atself xt bas no spintual value. For example, the study of the Synoptic Problem 3s an itself an eacrcise 1m literary criticism that has no more spintual value for the student than the study of the Baconian theory of Shakespearean authorship, although the matenals under discussion, the words of the Bible, are of course infinitely superior from the point of view of their ongin We shall now proceed to study our subject under the following heads ‘A. The Bible as the Book of Spiritual Perfection 1 B The Church’s Love of the Bible 1 Her use of the Bible (a) In the ume of Chnist 2) In the Apostohe Age. ) In the Early Centuries. id) In the Dark Ages (2) In the Middle Ages (f) In Modern Times 2 The Hustory of Private Bible Reading 3 A Short History of Exegesis 4. Direction of Modern Biblical Study (a) General Account f} Modem Catholic Brbheal Acuwity ‘¢) Achievement Scholarship CG The Bible as the Church’s Exclusive Posses- sion D_ Appenthx on Bible Circulation, of Non-Catholic A THE BOOK OF SPIRITUAL PERFECTION AND SANCTIFICATION ‘The primary reason why all Catholics should know 2a the Bible well 1s (as above stated) the advancement of their own personal sanctification, for ‘to be ignorant of the Scripture 1s not to know Christ’ (Jer De Stud Senpt ad Paul , Ep 53, 3) “All Scripture mspired of God 1s profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice that the man of God may be perfect, furnshed to every good work’, 2 Tim 3 16-17 ‘These words of St Paul state clearly that God’s purpose in giving the Scriptures to the Cathohe Church was to make the man of God perfect, “In order that we may ‘be perfect as our cavenly Father 1s perfect? we must study Jesus Chinst, who 1s, as St John so finely says, ‘ the exegesis’ of the Father, 118 © Prayer and good works without the proper direction of our spiritual effort resulting from carhest study of Our Blessed Lord (each according to his capacity) wall be without fruit oF use ‘Thus proper direction of our spiritual effort can result only from the continuous feeding, nay, saturation, of our minds yu the teaching and atmosphere of Sacred, Wnt, For whosoever secks true perfection by union with God and the perfect kitting of his soul and spint with the Divinity must steadfastly aim to make himself hke his Master Jesus Christ by umitating his virtues as they are depicted for us in the Gospels, Epistles and other New Testament wntings (f § 106) Nor should we neglect the study of the OT where Chnst 1s seen not 50 much in his own person but in hus mysteries which are there prefigured. It was the Holy Spint of Jesus, too, that mspired, for example, the writers of the Psalms, and the Books of Wisdom and Ecclesiasticus What could be more profitable for a young man to meditate upon than Ps 118 33-40? foram old man, Ps 70 5, G12, 17-197) OFPLACE OF THE BIBLE IN THE CHURCH 2a How can one meditate too long on Wis 6-8 descnbing the attracteness of Wisdom, or fail to profit from a meditation on Ecclus 31 describing the danger of riches and of the just man’s «corn of them?‘ Everything in the Sacred Bool shines and ghstens even in als outer shell but the marrow of stas sweeter if you want the Femel, sou must break the shell’ (Ef 69, 9) With these words St Jerome encourages us to persevere an meditaung on the Scriptures for our own profit and that of others : b The fruit and reward of Buble study 1s, as Pope Pius X tells us, threefold Spiritual dehght, love of Chnst and zeal for Ins cause St Jerome, writing to his disciple Paula (E> 30, 13) thus describes tht interior sansfac- nonofspint "* Tell me whether you hnow of anything more sacred than this sacred mystery, anything more delchtful than the pleasure found herein? What food, what hones could be sweeter than to earn of God's Promdence, to enter into his shrine and look into the mind of the Crentor, to listen to the Lord's words at which the wise of this world laugh, but which are really full of spuntual teaching? Others may have ther wealth may drint out of jrwclled cups, be clad in silks, enjoy popular ypplause. find 1 mpossible toexhrust their wealth by disupating tan pleasures of all kinds , but Gur deheht as 19 meditate on the Law of the Lord day and mght, to knock at hus door when shut, to receive our food from the Trinity of Persons, and, under the guidance of the Lord ample under foot the swelling fumults of tes world? To Snem_ Chriscas to love him And how can our sunds be fed with knowledge of his carthly fife, save through the Senptures that record 1? ¢ How to study the Bible—But though the Bible 1s the Book of Spirntual Perfection no spintual profit can be derived from its studs unless at be undertaken in & prayerful spint, in prety and humity and in submnssion Of the intellect’ to the Rule of Fath We must in fact be prepared to study the Bible on our knees Being wntten by the Holy Spint we ‘ cannot otherwise read or understand it“ than the Lioly Spirit by whom 2 was wniten demands"? (Jer InGel,5 19) Henceto derive Profit from Bible Study, an the truc sense, we must hve tn a state of grice and’ be prepared hie St Jerome to Femove whatever in ourselyes may prove a hindrance, te detach aurcelves from the love of the pleasures of dus world and seeh to form in ourselves ‘ the mind of Chast’ ‘This latter involves our submusion to the teaching authority of the Church of Christ, knowing that there can be nothing set down in the Bible by the Holy Spirit of Jesus that ean in any way contradict the teaching of his Church, which 1s stself mfallibly directe: by the same Holy Spit We therefore follow in all our studies the Rule and Analogy of Fath Lastly, to derive serious profit from our tible study we must be as assiduously faithful to at ns was Custochium, the daughter of Paula, St Jerome's favourste disciple, to whom he wrote (Lf 22; 17, 29) ‘Read assiduously and learn ns much as you can Let sleep find you holding your Bible, and when your head nods let at be Tesung on the sacred page |” B, THE CHURCH’S LOVE OF THE BIBLE 8a The love and veneration of the Church for the Bible can best be seen and appreciated by examuning her use of at down the course of the centuries 1 The Church’s Use of the Blble—The use of the Bible for instruction 1s a practice which has descended from the one Master, Christ our Lord, through his Apostles to the Apostolic Church | Some of the Church's children may at times have neglected the Bible too much, but at no period of her history can it be sad of her as a body that she Fept the inspired wrstings closed. and sealed b (a) In the Time of Christ ~The example of our Lord 8 very staking He came as one having authority, Eunsef a fountain of wisdom and knowledge, speaking a3 no man ever spoke, and showing those potent motives of credtbihty which we ¢all miracles Yet he 8b used the inspired Scriptures of the Hebrew people and appealed to them He recognized them as writin that foretold hum, Jn 5 39, as having irrefragable authority, 10 35, as writings of whose ordinances ho Jot or uttle should pass away, Mt 5 18. He solemnly read them and commented on them, Lk 416 ff , he made st clear that his life, death and resurrection would be fulfilment of the Scriptures He pomted out how they testified to his mission and divinity, Mt 22 42 , 26 64, wath three texts of Deuteronomy he met the temptations of Satan, Mt 4 4, 7, 10, he employed the Scriptures in his mstructions to his disciples, Mt 13 14, and to the crowds, Jn 6 45, he had recourse to them in rebuking and” refuting Pharisees and Sadducees, Mt 8 53, 158, 22°32 ‘The same Christ cites Moses, David, Isaias, Damel by name, and touches the history of such biblical personages as the Queen of Sheba and Solomon, as Elias and the widow of Sarepta, Ehscus and Naaman the Synan, Jonas and the Ninevites, Lot and his wife | Two of his'seven words on the cross are Psalm passages, and a third contuns an allusion to the words of a Psalm Finally, after his resurrection Jesus explained the Scrsptures— the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms, Lh 24 44—and opened the minds of his disciples to understand them (6) In tho Apostolic Age—It is no wonder, in view of © ths divine example, that the apostohe preaching of the Church’s infancy 1s full of Holy Wnt St Peter’s discourses at Jerusalem are mostly tussues of Scripture texts, similarly the discourse of St James at the Council of Jerusalem and the sermon of St Paul in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch All the writings of the NT—Gospels, Acts and Epistles—either abound in scriptural arguments or are dyed with the colours of biblical language and biblical allusion StPaulis the Scripturist par excellence It snot merely on account of the number of his citations and biblical arguments, but above all on account of his penetration of the Christian fecundity of the sacred age that we can truly call the Apostle of the Gentiles the great exponent of the Law and the Prophets, which he had Jearned at the fect of Gamahel, even before he received the fullness of enlightenment from the Holy Spirit We also know his view of the power and utility of the Bible ns an apostohe snstrument (of Heb 4 12) The same Apostle reminds Timothy that the Holy Senp- tures which he had known from childhood were full of saving mstructon by the faith which 1s in Christ Jesus, 2 Tum 3.15 Hence he says to Tunothy ‘Attend to reading’, 1 Tum 413 Moreover, xt 1s not merely as a Jewish’ patrmony ‘to be used by Judaco-Christians that he commends the use of the Bible. Writing to the predominantly Gentile community of Rome, alter citing a text as an exhortation to patience and tolerance, he says ‘What things socver were written, were written for our learning that through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope, Rom 15 4. And only five verses further down, he cites no less than four passages from Ps, Deut and Is to show that * the Gentiles arc to glorify God for his mercy * (c) In the Early Centurles—Those who exercised the d office of teaching nthe Church realized the cogency of his example of Christ and the Apostles asa law for their own Iwves | We need only cite two great ecclesiastical writers who sum up that law of Bible study The beautiful code of priestly duty which St Jerome so slegantly penned to Nepotian contains these words t * You should read the divine scriptures very frequently , in fact, sacred reading should never be out of your hands “ Learn what ‘you must teach, hold that genuine form of speech which accords’ with sound loctrine The words of a priest should be seasoned. wath the reading of the Scriptures? (Ef ad Nepotia- num) Similarly that wise book, the Regula Pastoralis of St Gregory, which King Alfred translated into Anglo- Saxon, says ‘It is mcumbent on those who attend to the office of preachmg not to neglect the studious reading of the sacred volume’ (Reg Past 2, 11)