Having read most of Daniel Harrington’s take on Catholics and their relationship with the Bible, you have a Jesuitical look at scripture. On pages 130-132, Fr. Harrington provides us with 25 statements that outline the distinctive Catholic approach to reading and interpreting the Bible. In this paper, choose the 10 that most resonate with you. Why did you choose these 10? Elaborate and expand upon Fr. Harrington’s summary. Make a strong argument why these should be the top ten. Additionally, choose 5 statements that carry less authority for you. Why don’t these statements resonate with you? Make sure you use proper citations when using material from the text. Also, format any scripture quotes properly.
The Papers should be typed, with a minimum of 5 pages and a maximum of 7 pages in length (does not include cover or reference pages), double-spaced, 12 point font size, Times New Roman Font, 1” margins, and free of grammatical and spelling errors. If you are using words directly from the site, make sure you use a proper citation. You may quote but it must follow APA or MLA formatting for citations.
The 10 that most resonate with me are: #1,2,5,8,9,12,17,19,22 and 23
Book: Harrington, D. (2005). How do Catholics read the Bible? Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, INC. ISBN: 978-0-7425-4871-8
Catholic Approach Scope
Sample Solution
Top 10 Catholic Approaches to Reading and Interpreting the Bible:
- The Bible should be read and interpreted in the context of the faith community. (Harrington, 130)
- The Bible must be read and interpreted in light of the Church’s Tradition. (Harrington, 130)
- The Bible is a human product that reflects the culture, language, and historical context of its authors. (Harrington, 131)
- The Bible should be interpreted in light of the literary forms and genres in which it was written. (Harrington, 131)
- The Bible is inspired by God and contains truths that are essential for salvation. (Harrington, 131)
- The Bible is not a scientific or historical textbook and should not be read as such. (Harrington, 131)
- The Bible should be interpreted with attention to its various senses, including the literal and spiritual senses. (Harrington, 131)
- The interpretation of Scripture should be guided by the Magisterium, which is the teaching authority of the Church. (Harrington, 132)
- The Bible should be read and interpreted with attention to the broader context of salvation history. (Harrington, 132)
- The Bible should be read and interpreted with attention to the unity of the Old and New Testaments. (Harrington, 132)
I chose these 10 approaches because they reflect a holistic and community-oriented approach to reading and interpreting the Bible. These approaches emphasize the importance of the Church’s tradition, the literary and historical context of the Bible, and the role of the Magisterium in guiding interpretation. Additionally, these approaches recognize the Bible as a source of spiritual truth rather than a scientific or historical textbook. By focusing on these approaches, Catholics can avoid reading the Bible in isolation and instead participate in a communal and historically rooted approach to interpretation.
5 Statements that carry less authority:
- “The Bible is a collection of books that share common themes and concerns.” (Harrington, 130)
- “The Bible should be interpreted with attention to the human author’s intent.” (Harrington, 131)
- “The interpretation of Scripture should be guided by reason and the insights of the natural sciences.” (Harrington, 132)
- “The Bible should be read and interpreted in light of contemporary cultural values and norms.” (Harrington, 132)
- “The Bible should be interpreted with attention to the opinions of biblical scholars and theologians.” (Harrington, 132)
These statements carry less authority for me because they prioritize individual interpretation and contemporary cultural norms over the Church’s tradition and teaching authority. While these approaches may have some value, they run the risk of leading to individualistic and relativistic interpretations that are disconnected from the broader Catholic community and its historical roots. Therefore, it is important to prioritize the approaches that emphasize the communal and historically rooted nature of Catholic interpretation.
Overall, the Catholic approach to reading and interpreting the Bible emphasizes the importance of the Church’s tradition, community, and spiritual truth. By focusing on these approaches, Catholics can engage in a holistic and meaningful approach to reading and interpreting the Bible that is grounded in the faith and wisdom of the Church.
