Attentiveness and Study in Interpreting Scripture

Attentiveness and study are essential for interpreting Scripture accurately. Understanding the human author's intention, cultural context, and various literary forms is crucial. Correct interpretation requires unity in the whole Scripture, alignment with the Church's Tradition, and application of the analogy of faith. The reader must be attentive to the spirit who inspired the Scriptures.

• Interpreting Scripture
• Attentiveness
• Study
• Unity
• Church Tradition

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1. SCRIPTURE SCRIPTURE MUST BE MUST BE INTERPRETED INTERPRETED IN LIGHT OF IN LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT THE SPIRIT WHO WROTE WHO WROTE THE THE SCRIPTURES SCRIPTURES.

2. Attentiveness and Study Needed Attentiveness and Study Needed The correct interpretation of Scripture demands The correct interpretation of Scripture demands attentiveness to what the human author wanted to say attentiveness to what the human author wanted to say and to what God wanted to reveal. and to what God wanted to reveal. Discovering the human author's intention demands a Discovering the human author's intention demands a study of the culture, the modes of narrating, and the study of the culture, the modes of narrating, and the different forms of writing (history, poetry, prophecy, etc.). different forms of writing (history, poetry, prophecy, etc.).

3. ATTENTIVENESS AND STUDY NEEDED ATTENTIVENESS AND STUDY NEEDED My Reflection My Reflection: Attentiveness is crucial : Attentiveness is crucial to the correct interpretation of to the correct interpretation of Scripture. I think attentiveness means Scripture. I think attentiveness means more than awareness; it means a more than awareness; it means a serious focus on study of Scripture must serious focus on study of Scripture must be developed. be developed. My Reflection My Reflection: It seems to require a kind : It seems to require a kind of pre of pre- -study of the pervading culture study of the pervading culture and language of the time when Scripture and language of the time when Scripture was written. Or do we depend on the was written. Or do we depend on the clergy to have established this pre clergy to have established this pre- -study for us? for us? study Your Reflection: Your Reflection: Your Reflection: Your Reflection:

4. CORRECT INTERPRETATION REQUIRES THAT THE READER: Be attentive to the "content and unity of the whole Scripture." God's Be attentive to the "content and unity of the whole Scripture." God's plan (in the Old and New Testament) has a unity in Christ. "Sacred plan (in the Old and New Testament) has a unity in Christ. "Sacred Scripture, like the heart of Christ' was closed before the Passion. Since Scripture, like the heart of Christ' was closed before the Passion. Since the Passion, the Scriptures have been opened" (St. Thomas Aquinas). the Passion, the Scriptures have been opened" (St. Thomas Aquinas). Read the Scriptures within the Church's living Tradition. "According to Read the Scriptures within the Church's living Tradition. "According to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church" (Origin). the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church" (Origin). Apply the "analogy of faith" (the coherence of all truths among Apply the "analogy of faith" (the coherence of all truths among themselves and within God's plan). themselves and within God's plan).

5. THE READER My Reflection My Reflection: Content and unity seem to be imperative in studying Scripture, realizing that the Old and New Testaments are united in Christ and that the Passion of Christ reopened Scripture for us. My Reflection My Reflection: We must read Scripture in the light of Tradition which was inspired by the Holy Spirit. My Reflection My Reflection: I must learn to understand what is meant by the analogy of faith, a concept I am unfamiliar with, but which has something to do with the coherence of all truths according to God s plan. Your Reflection: Your Reflection: Your Reflection: Your Reflection: Your Reflection: Your Reflection:

6. THREE SPIRITUAL SENSES THREE SPIRITUAL SENSES Scripture has both a literal sense (the words themselves) and three Scripture has both a literal sense (the words themselves) and three different spiritual senses: different spiritual senses: 1. 1. Allegorical sense Allegorical sense - - Recognizing events in the light of Christ (the Recognizing events in the light of Christ (the parting of the Red Sea) as a sign of Baptism parting of the Red Sea) as a sign of Baptism 2. Moral sense 2. Moral sense - - Using as a help to act justly Using as a help to act justly 3. Anagogical sense 3. Anagogical sense - - Seeing the truths in light of eternal happiness Seeing the truths in light of eternal happiness All interpretation is subject to the Church and exegetes must help the All interpretation is subject to the Church and exegetes must help the Church form a firmer judgment. "I believe in the Gospel because of the Church form a firmer judgment. "I believe in the Gospel because of the authority of the Church" (St. Augustine). authority of the Church" (St. Augustine).

7. THREE SPIRITUAL SENSES THREE SPIRITUAL SENSES My Reflection My Reflection: : The Allegorical meaning I think, would be the most difficult to absorb unless we have some idea about the images popular during the author s time. . My Reflection My Reflection: The moral sense although sometimes difficult to implement in real life, would be the simplest to understand and apply. My Reflection My Reflection: I have never had experience with interpreting anything using the anagogical sense. I have to familiarize myself with this concept before I can apply it to the study of Scripture. Your Reflection: Your Reflection: Your Reflection Your Reflection: Your Reflection: Your Reflection: