Review: 'The Word of God at Vatican II' Part III | National Catholic Reporter

Review: 'The Word of God at Vatican II' Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Witherup describes his theory of how the Scriptures are to be interpreted, with the Tenach as presenting salvation in a hidden matter (which is Christian arrogance, it is essentially for the Jews and those who seek their wisdom, history and myth - not necessarily in that order - Leviticus is now understood as coming from Babylonian rebi, not Moses - although the prophesies certainly did set up for the Messianic hysteria of turn of the millenium Judaism).



As for the Gospels, their source in the teaching of Jesus, the preaching of that teaching by the apostles and the storytelling of the Gospel writers essentially kills any claims that we must hang on each word in the same way forever, at the same time forever ending the practice of leaving the laity illiterate of scripture - of course, Vatican II follows previous efforts both within and without the Church to translate scripture accessibly - it could not have done otherwise.  Indeed, in an about face, studying the scripture has become our new homework assignment - both for scholars and the liaty, which started much earlier with the institution of seminaries.  The author highlights that study should follow historical criticism, among others, which I believe lessens the danger of proof texting - although on need only look at the work of the Organization for Marriage to know that it exists in the Catholic side as well.  Fr. Ronald counsels against just that - as using the scriptures for apologetics on every point of teaching forms oppositional relationships, whichi is opposite of the goal of evangelization.



MSW wonders why an apolstolic constition that is so useful is so neglected - as the civil rights movement would say to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable (hoping that scriptural exegis should not necessarily jibe with upper west side or Georgetown cocktail parties - to which I respond - who in Georgetown is still having cocktail parties and why am I never invited!).  I would suspect, however, that Curia has put this one aside because it does make so much sense and does not push their view that Catholic scholarship should be all about Catholic identity and apologetics and not a dialogue with both God and eachother.  Dei Verbum is clearly not that.