It often happens that we will be reading the Bible and encounter a passage that is difficult to understand. This might be because we find a particular word that we don't normally use in everyday language, or we may discover an event that seems to be contradictory.
This is especially the case when reading the Old Testament, where it can seem like we are immersed into another world.
The Church, in her wisdom, has provided some key things to keep in mind when reading the Bible that can help us make sense of what we are confused about.
The Second Vatican Council's dogmatic constitution on divine revelation, Dei Verbum, provides five tips that are important for us to be aware of when delving into sacred scripture.
1The Bible is "without error" in all things that lead to our salvation
Since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings for the sake of salvation. (DV, 11)
This is important to note, as it reassures us that God did not make any "mistakes" in communicating his salvation to humanity.
2Examine the intention of the human writer
At the same time, it should be noted that each human writer had a specific intention, which should be kept in mind. For example, the author of Genesis did not intend to create a modern, scientific textbook:
[S]ince God speaks in Sacred Scripture through men in human fashion, the interpreter of Sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words. (DV, 12)
3Observe the literary form used by the writer
Many of the writers of the Bible were "poets," which helps shape our understanding of what is written:
To search out the intention of the sacred writers, attention should be given, among other things, to "literary forms." For truth is set forth and expressed differently in texts which are variously historical, prophetic, poetic, or of other forms of discourse. The interpreter must investigate what meaning the sacred writer intended to express and actually expressed in particular circumstances by using contemporary literary forms in accordance with the situation of his own time and culture. (DV, 13)
4Historical context is key
Each writer wrote at a specific time in history, which should not go unnoticed:
For the correct understanding of what the sacred author wanted to assert, due attention must be paid to the customary and characteristic styles of feeling, speaking and narrating which prevailed at the time of the sacred writer, and to the patterns men normally employed at that period in their everyday dealings with one another. (DV, 13)
5Remember that a specific passage is part of a much wider whole
Whenever we read the Bible, we need to recall the reality that a single verse cannot be isolated:
[S]ince Holy Scripture must be read and interpreted in the sacred spirit in which it was written, no less serious attention must be given to the content and unity of the whole of Scripture if the meaning of the sacred texts is to be correctly worked out. The living tradition of the whole Church must be taken into account along with the harmony which exists between elements of the faith. (DV, 14)
Pope Leo began his general audience series on Vatican II Documents with Dei Verbum. Take a look below at some of what he has said:
