An Apologetical Explanation of

Interpreting the Bible

How can we best interpret what we read in the Bible?

We also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. (1 Thes 2:13)

Sacred Scripture is one of the Church’s greatest treasures, and she proclaims the written Word of God at every liturgy: the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rite of Baptism, the Rite of Confirmation, the Order of Marriage, and in the celebration of all the other Sacraments. The Church also encourages the faithful to read Scripture for study, meditation, and devotional prayer.

In order to arrive at a proper and accurate interpretation of Scripture, we must pay attention first to the intent of each of the Sacred Authors, the literary styles each one employed, and the symbolic language each one used; second we must read every passage of the Word of God within the context of Scripture as a whole, Sacred Tradition, and the doctrinal and moral truths taught by the Catholic Church.

The fathers of the Second Vatican Council identified three main criteria for interpreting Scripture: We should attend to the following:

  • keep in mind the “content and unity” off all Scripture.
  • read Scripture within “the living Tradition of the whole Church.”
  • pay attention to the “analogy of faith,” which is defined as “the coherence of the truths of faith among themselves and within the whole plan of revelation.” (Cf. CCC 112-114)

The Tradition of the Church also recognizes that Scripture has both a literal sense, which forms the basis for understanding all the “senses” of Scripture, and a spiritual sense, consisting of the following:

  • the allegorical sense, which views people and events in the Old Testament as a prefiguration of people and events in the New Testament.
  • the moral sense, which examines the message or lesson for proper human conduct.
  • the anagogical sense, in which concepts and events are seen as foreshadowing eternal life in Heaven. (Cf. CCC 115-118)

The Catechism addresses this question in paragraphs 109, 115-117.

The contents of this page are Copyright © 2014 Rev. James Socias (of the Midwest Theological Forum). These apologetics are reproduced with written consent of said copyright holder for St Patricks Parish, Jaffrey, NH website only. Reproduction of any sort must be approved directly by said copyright holder.

To get a hardcopy of these Apologetics or the Didache Bible please visit the Midwest Theological Forum (publisher) at: http://www.theologicalforum.org