The interpretation of a writing has for its object to find the ideas which the author intended to express. We do not consider here the so-called authentic interpretation or the writer's own statement as to the thought he intended to convey. In interpreting the Bible scientifically, its twofold character must always be kept in view: it is a Divine ( Read more... )

The typical sense has its name from the fact that it is based on the figurative or typical relation of Biblical persons, or objects, or events, to a new truth. This latter is called the antitype, while its Biblical correspondent is named the type. The typical sense is also called the spiritual, or mystical, sense: mystical, because of its more ( Read more... )

In general, the sense of Sacred Scripture is the truth actually conveyed by it. We must well distinguish between the sense and the signification of a word. A good dictionary will give us, in the case of most words, a list of their various possible meanings or significations; but no reader will be tempted to believe that a word has all these ( Read more... )

At this point it is very important to explain something about my method, the RC Exegetic method, which includes Form critic but isn't only Form critic.
What's Exegesis?Exegesis is the branch of theology which investigates and expresses the true sense of Sacred Scripture ( Read more... )

The Period of Oral Transmission

For almost a generation before our earliest written sources, in the period between A.D. 30 and 65, the gospel material circulated by word of mouth. We may be surprised, given the high esteem in which Jesus was held by his earliest followers, that they did not very soon in the post-Easter period begin to commit their ( Read more... )

Sources for the Study of Jesus

Of the four gospels, the first three are known as synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke. Because of their extensive similarities, they may be arranged in parallel columns and “viewed together,” hence, syn-optic. (A convenient edition is The Gospel Parallels, published by Nelson.) Together with their similarities, ( Read more... )

As I promised to rcnonperson: Proceed with caution(but this entry is for all who are interested ( Read more... )