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21. The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as
she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred
liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread
of life from the table both of God's word and of Christ's body.
She has always maintained them, and continues to do so, together with
sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of faith, since, as inspired by
God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of
God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit
resound in the words of the prophets and Apostles. Therefore, like
the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must
be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture. For in the sacred
books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love
and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so
great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the
strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and
everlasting source of spiritual life. Consequently these words are
perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture: "For the word of God is
living and active" (Heb. 4:12) and "it has power to build you
up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified"
(Acts 20:32; see 1 Thess. 2:13).
22. Easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the
Christian faithful. That is why the Church from the very beginning
accepted as her own that very ancient Greek translation; of the Old
Testament which is called the septuagint; and she has always given a
place of honor to other Eastern translations and Latin ones especially
the Latin translation known as the vulgate. But since the word of
God should be accessible at all times, the Church by her authority
and with maternal concern sees to it that suitable and correct
translations are made into different languages, especially from the
original texts of the sacred books. And should the opportunity arise
and the Church authorities approve, if these translations are produced
in cooperation with the separated brethren as well, all Christians
will be able to use them.
23. The bride of the incarnate Word, the Church taught by the
Holy Spirit, is concerned to move ahead toward a deeper understanding
of the Sacred Scriptures so that she may increasingly feed her sons
with the divine words. Therefore, she also encourages the study of
the holy Fathers of both East and West and of sacred liturgies.
Catholic exegetes then and other students of sacred theology, working
diligently together and using appropriate means, should devote their
energies, under the watchful care of the sacred teaching office of the
Church, to an exploration and exposition of the divine writings.
This should be so done that as many ministers of the divine word as
possible will be able effectively to provide the nourishment of the
Scriptures for the people of God, to enlighten their minds,
strengthen their wills, and set men's hearts on fire with the love of
God. [35] The sacred synod encourages the sons of the Church and
Biblical scholars to continue energetically, following the mind of the
Church, with the work they have so well begun, with a constant
renewal of vigor. [36]
24. Sacred theology rests on the written word of God, together
with sacred tradition, as its primary and perpetual foundation. By
scrutinizing in the light of faith all truth stored up in the mystery of
Christ, theology is most powerfully strengthened and constantly
rejuvenated by that word. For the Sacred Scriptures contain the word
of God and since they are inspired really are the word of God; and so
the study of the sacred page is, as it were, the soul of sacred
theology. [37] By the same word of Scripture the ministry of the
word also, that is, pastoral preaching, catechetics and all
Christian instruction, in which the liturgical homily must hold the
foremost place, is nourished in a healthy way and flourishes in a holy
way.
25. Therefore, all the clergy must hold fast to the Sacred
Scriptures through diligent sacred reading and careful study,
especially the priests of Christ and others, such as deacons and
catechists who are legitimately active in the ministry of the word.
This is to be done so that none of them will become "an empty preacher
of the word of God outwardly, who is not a listener to it inwardly"
[38] since they must share the abundant wealth of the divine word with
the faithful committed to them, especially in the sacred liturgy. The
sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian
faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the
divine Scriptures the "excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ"
(Phil. 3:8). "For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of
Christ."[39] Therefore, they should gladly put themselves in
touch with the sacred text itself, whether it be through the liturgy,
rich in the divine word, or through devotional reading, or through
instructions suitable for the purpose and other aids which, in our
time, with approval and active support of the shepherds of the
Church, are commendably spread everywhere. And let them remember
that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that
God and man may talk together; for "we speak to Him when we pray;
we hear Him when we read the divine saying." [40]
It devolves on sacred bishops "who have the apostolic teaching"[41]
to give the faithful entrusted to them suitable instruction in the right
use of the divine books, especially the New Testament and above all
the Gospels. This can be done through translations of the sacred
texts, which are to be provided with the necessary and really adequate
explanations so that the children of the Church may safely and
profitably become conversant with the Sacred Scriptures and be
penetrated with their spirit.
Furthermore, editions of the Sacred Scriptures, provided with
suitable footnotes, should be prepared also for the use of
non-Christians and adapted to their situation. Both pastors of souls
and Christians generally should see to the wise distribution of these
in one way or another.
26. In this way, therefore, through the reading and study of the
sacred books "the word of God may spread rapidly and be glorified"
(2 Thess. 3:1) and the treasure of revelation, entrusted to the
Church, may more and more fill the hearts of men. Just as the life
of the Church is strengthened through more frequent celebration of the
Eucharistic mystery, similar we may hope for a new stimulus for the
life of the Spirit from a growing reverence for the word of God,
which "lasts forever" (Is. 40:8; see 1 Peter
1:23-25).
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