ISAIAH
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Is 55:10–11)
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Is 55:10–11)
BENEDICT XVI (Verbum Domini)
The Book is the very voice of the pilgrim People of God, and only within the faith of this People are we, so to speak, attuned to understand sacred Scripture. An authentic interpretation of the Bible must always be in harmony with the faith of the Catholic Church.
The Book is the very voice of the pilgrim People of God, and only within the faith of this People are we, so to speak, attuned to understand sacred Scripture. An authentic interpretation of the Bible must always be in harmony with the faith of the Catholic Church.
2 TIMOTHY
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16–17)
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16–17)
POPE FRANCIS (Evangelii gaudium)
The study of the sacred Scriptures must be a door opened to every believer. It is essential that the revealed word radically enrich our catechesis and all our efforts to pass on the faith. Evangelisation demands familiarity with God’s word, which calls for dioceses, parishes and Catholic associations to provide for a serious, ongoing study of the Bible, while encouraging its prayerful individual and communal reading. We do not blindly seek God, or wait for him to speak to us first, for “God has already spoken, and there is nothing further that we need to know, which has not been revealed to us”. Let us receive the sublime treasure of the revealed word.
The study of the sacred Scriptures must be a door opened to every believer. It is essential that the revealed word radically enrich our catechesis and all our efforts to pass on the faith. Evangelisation demands familiarity with God’s word, which calls for dioceses, parishes and Catholic associations to provide for a serious, ongoing study of the Bible, while encouraging its prayerful individual and communal reading. We do not blindly seek God, or wait for him to speak to us first, for “God has already spoken, and there is nothing further that we need to know, which has not been revealed to us”. Let us receive the sublime treasure of the revealed word.
REVELATION
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. (Rev 1:1–3)
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. (Rev 1:1–3)
CHURCH OF IRELAND (Anglican Communion)
The Bible tells of God's relationship with God's people through the centuries. This record always needs to be interpreted in the context of the church's faith, prayer and worship, and in such a way that what scripture said for its original audience is faithfully re-expressed for the modern world.
The Bible tells of God's relationship with God's people through the centuries. This record always needs to be interpreted in the context of the church's faith, prayer and worship, and in such a way that what scripture said for its original audience is faithfully re-expressed for the modern world.
HEBREWS
Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. (Heb 4:12–13)
Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. (Heb 4:12–13)
ENZO BIANCHI (Ecumenical monastery of Bose, Italy)
In the course of the liturgy you celebrate daily with your brothers and sisters in community or at least every Sunday in church, you hear Scripture readings and listen to a homily, a gift which explains and concretises the texts which were read. In this way you stand before the Word of God, living and active and echoing within you. You stand before the very presence of the Lord, before Christ the Sower who is sowing the seed of his Word in you.
In the course of the liturgy you celebrate daily with your brothers and sisters in community or at least every Sunday in church, you hear Scripture readings and listen to a homily, a gift which explains and concretises the texts which were read. In this way you stand before the Word of God, living and active and echoing within you. You stand before the very presence of the Lord, before Christ the Sower who is sowing the seed of his Word in you.
ST JEROME
For if, as Paul says, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, and if the one who does not know Scripture does not know the power and wisdom of God, then ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.
For if, as Paul says, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, and if the one who does not know Scripture does not know the power and wisdom of God, then ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.
TAIZE (Ecumenical monastery, France)
Why should we read the Bible for ourselves? What are we looking for in that book that is so special?All who read the Bible feel that they cannot remain at a distance. If God reveals his own Heart in it, that is because God is seeking our heart.And the little we have understood becomes so evident and so urgent for us that from then on we bear it within ourselves and can do nothing else but put it into practice.
Why should we read the Bible for ourselves? What are we looking for in that book that is so special?All who read the Bible feel that they cannot remain at a distance. If God reveals his own Heart in it, that is because God is seeking our heart.And the little we have understood becomes so evident and so urgent for us that from then on we bear it within ourselves and can do nothing else but put it into practice.
VATICAN II (Dei Verbum)
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Is 55:10–11)
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Is 55:10–11)
ARCHBISHOP ROWAN WILLIAMS
We believe in a God who speaks and calls; the God of the Bible is one who is always seeking to communicate more fully and effectively with human creatures, so we have to train ourselves to be quiet enough to hear that communication.
If the Bible is the book read and pondered by the community, then Bible-reading must be like all those other activities that the community of faith does—it must be a matter of each believer’s gift enriching every other believer’s gift, as in St. Paul’s language about the life of the Body of Christ. It’s a text that belongs to everyone, not to isolated individuals.
We believe in a God who speaks and calls; the God of the Bible is one who is always seeking to communicate more fully and effectively with human creatures, so we have to train ourselves to be quiet enough to hear that communication.
If the Bible is the book read and pondered by the community, then Bible-reading must be like all those other activities that the community of faith does—it must be a matter of each believer’s gift enriching every other believer’s gift, as in St. Paul’s language about the life of the Body of Christ. It’s a text that belongs to everyone, not to isolated individuals.