Revelation of God’s Holy Word

 

 

In the section, “Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation” chapter II, “The Transmission of Divine Revelation”:

 

 

Page 117-118:  “9.  Hence there exist a close connection and communication between sacred tradition and sacred Scripture.  For both of them, flowing from the same divine wellspring, in a certain way merge into a unity and tend toward the same end.”

 

“To the successors of the apostles, sacred tradition hands on in its full purity God’s word, which was entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit.”

 

“Consequently, it is not from sacred Scripture alone that the Church draws her certainty about everything which has been revealed.  Therefore both sacred tradition and sacred Scripture are to be accepted and venerated with the same sense of devotion and reverence.”

 

“10.  Sacred tradition and sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit of the word of God, which is committed to the Church.”

 

“The task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching in the name of Jesus Christ.”

 

“It is clear, therefore, that sacred tradition, sacred Scripture, and the teaching authority of the Church, in accord with God’s most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that all together and each in its own way under the action  of the one Holy Spirit contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.”

 

Chapter III, “The Divine Inspiration and the Interpretation of Sacred Scripture”:

 

Page 121:  “For all of what has been said about the way of interpreting Scripture is subject finally to the judgment of the Church, which carries out the divine commission and ministry of guarding and interpreting the word of God.”

 

Chapter VI, “Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church”:

 

Page 125:  “She has always regarded the Scriptures together with sacred tradition as the supreme rule of faith, and will ever do so.  For, inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and apostles.”

 

Page 126:  “Catholic exegetes then and other students of sacred theology, working diligently together and using appropriate means, should devote their energies, under the watchful care of the sacred teaching office of the Church, to an exploration and exposition of the divine writings.”

 

Page 127:  “24.  Sacred theology rests on the written word of God, together with sacred tradition, as its primary and perpetual foundation.”

 

Page 128:  “Furthermore, editions of the sacred Scriptures, provided with suitable comments, should be prepared also for the use of non-Christians and adapted to their situation.  Both pastors of souls and Christians generally should see to the wise distribution of these in one way or another.”