Divino Afflante Spiritu
Overview
Pope Pius XII’s 1943 encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu discusses developments in biblical studies and calls for a renewal of the study of the Sacred Scriptures. By encouraging the use of the original languages for study and translation and describing the proper place of historical-critical methods in Catholic exegesis, it opened a new era in Catholic biblical scholarship.
Top Highlights
“Hence this special authority or as they say, authenticity of the Vulgate was not affirmed by the Council particularly for critical reasons, but rather because of its legitimate use in the Churches throughout so many centuries; by which use indeed the same is shown, in the sense in which the Church has understood and understands it, to be free from any error whatsoever in matters of faith and morals; so that, as the Church herself testifies and affirms, it may be quoted safely and without fear of error in disputations, in lectures and in preaching; and so its authenticity is not specified primarily as critical, but rather as juridical.” (source)
“In the performance of this task let the interpreters bear in mind that their foremost and greatest endeavor should be to discern and define clearly that sense of the biblical words which is called literal. Aided by the context and by comparison with similar passages, let them therefore by means of their knowledge of languages search out with all diligence the literal meaning of the words; all these helps indeed are wont to be pressed into service in the explanation also of profane writers, so that the mind of the author may be made abundantly clear.” (source)
“The Fathers of the Church in their time, especially Augustine, warmly recommended to the Catholic scholar, who undertook the investigation and explanation of the Sacred Scriptures, the study of the ancient languages and recourse to the original texts.” (source)
“‘not because, having been composed by human industry, they were afterwards approved by her authority, nor merely because they contain revelation without error, but because, having been written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God for their author, and as such were handed down to the Church herself.’” (source)
- Title: Divino Afflante Spiritu
- Author: Pius XII
- Publisher: Libreria Editrice Vaticana
- Print Publication Date: 1943
- Logos Release Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible › Study and teaching--Catholic Church
- Resource ID: LLS:DVNFFLNTSPRT
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:37:51Z