Malcolm Rivera
The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, formally known as Dei Verbum, is a document produced by the Second Vatican Council and promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965. It is one of the principal documents of the Second Vatican Council and is considered the Church's highest teaching authority on the theme of divine revelation. The document covers topics such as revelation, tradition, inspiration, the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the use of Scripture in the Church. It also addresses controversies within the Council, such as whether the Roman Catholic Church taught biblical infallibility or biblical inerrancy. Dei Verbum is a short but significant text that has influenced subsequent Church teachings on Scripture and reaffirmed the truth and holiness of God.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Title | Dei Verbum |
| Translation | Word of God |
| Promulgated by | Pope Paul VI |
| Date | 18 November 1965 |
| Type of Document | Dogmatic Constitution |
| Focus | Scripture, divine revelation as a whole |
| Chapters | 6 |
| Topics Covered | revelation, tradition, inspiration, the Old Testament, the New Testament, the use of Scripture in the Church |
| Other Topics | God's self-revelation in creation, nature, historical acts, prophets, incarnation of Christ |
| Scripture | Should be accessible to all Christian faithful in their languages |
| Scripture Reading | Should be frequent and accompanied by prayer |
| Scripture Interpretation | Subject to the judgment of the Church |
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What You'll Learn
The role of Scripture in Catholic life and liturgy
Scripture plays a significant role in Catholic life and liturgy, as outlined in the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, or Dei Verbum. This document, promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1965, is one of the principal teachings of the Second Vatican Council. It focuses on how God's revelation is communicated to humanity and addresses the relationship between Scripture and Tradition.
Dei Verbum affirms the importance of providing easy access to Sacred Scripture for all Christians. This includes ensuring suitable translations into different languages, especially from the original texts of the sacred books. The document encourages frequent reading of Scripture, accompanied by prayer, to foster a dialogue between God and humanity.
In Catholic liturgy, Sacred Scripture holds a prominent place. The four Gospels are considered preeminent, and the remaining books of the New Testament are recognised as inspired by the Holy Spirit, confirming the teachings of Christ and proclaiming the saving power of His divine work.
The Constitution also emphasises the unity between sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture, both of which are to be accepted and venerated with equal reverence. This unity is rooted in their shared divine origin, with Scripture being the written word inspired by the divine Spirit and Tradition encompassing oral teachings and practices passed down through the generations.
Additionally, Dei Verbum provides a framework for interpreting Scripture, asserting that the Church carries out the divine commission of guarding and interpreting the word of God. This interpretation considers the historical context and the use of human language in expressing divine truths, recognising the "condescension" of eternal wisdom in adapting its language to humanity's understanding.
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God's self-revelation in creation
In the Gospel of John, it is written, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). This "Word" is God's power to speak, which is intrinsic to his nature, and through which he expresses and shares his eternal, holy, and all-powerful qualities. This Word became flesh in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Thus, God reveals himself through his Son, Jesus, who displays the Father's control, speaks his words, and represents his glorified presence with his people.
Additionally, God reveals himself through his creation, which bears his "mark". Since the creation of the world, God's invisible attributes, such as his eternal power and divinity, have been evident and perceivable in what he has made. This is referred to in Romans 1:19-20, where it is stated that God's existence and nature are discernible through his creation. Similarly, in Genesis 1:26–27, it is written that God made humans in his image, as a reflection of himself. This imprint of God on humanity allows for a basic understanding of morality, including concepts of good and evil, truth, and the duty to seek the good and true.
Furthermore, God has provided special revelations to particular people, including events in nature and history, and inspired human words recorded in Scripture. These revelations extend beyond God's own being, Trinitarian persons revealing themselves to each other. Through these various means, God communicates his control, presence, and authority over all things, revealing himself as Lord.
In summary, God's self-revelation in creation is a central aspect of divine revelation, where God makes himself known through his works, creation, and most fully in his Son, Jesus Christ. By nature of being a speaking God, he communicates his attributes and presence, allowing all his creatures to know him and understand his will.
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Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture
The Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei verbum ("Word of God"), is a document promulgated by Pope Paul VI on 18 November 1965. It is one of the principal documents of the Second Vatican Council and addresses Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture.
Dei verbum teaches that God has revealed himself in many ways: through nature, historical acts, prophets, Scripture, Tradition, and most especially through the incarnation of Christ himself. It highlights the close connection and communication between Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, which "merge into a unity and tend toward the same end". Both are to be "accepted and venerated with the same sense of loyalty and reverence". Sacred Scripture is the Word of God, consigned to writing under the inspiration of the divine Spirit. It is to be made accessible to all Christian faithful through suitable and correct translations into different languages, especially from the original texts of the sacred books. The reading of Sacred Scripture is to be accompanied by prayer, "so that God and man may talk together".
The Dogmatic Constitution identifies Sacred Scripture as consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament details God's special revelation to the people of Israel, the "chosen people", giving them direct knowledge about God and the world. This knowledge was passed down orally and eventually written down in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). The New Testament, including the four Gospels, is composed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It confirms matters concerning Christ, states His true teachings, preaches the saving power of His divine work, tells the story of the beginnings of the Church, and foretells its glorious fulfillment.
Dei verbum also addresses heresies about Scripture. It affirms that the Christian dispensation is the "new and definitive covenant" that will never pass away, rejecting the idea that new revelation will come through another prophet. It reaffirms that God can be known with certainty from creation, against those who asserted otherwise. Additionally, it refutes the notion that everything true about God can be known solely through philosophy, asserting the necessity of divine revelation.
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The Old Testament
Dei Verbum establishes a connection between sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture, highlighting their unity in conveying the Word of God. The Old Testament, as part of sacred Scripture, plays a crucial role in this framework. It is seen as a preparation for the coming of Christ and the messianic kingdom, with its prophecies and types pointing towards the redemption offered by Christ.
The books of the Old Testament, according to Dei Verbum, reveal to humanity the knowledge of God and His just and merciful nature. They provide a lively sense of God and contain sublime teachings, sound wisdom, and a treasury of prayers. Despite their incompleteness and temporariness in certain aspects, they showcase true divine pedagogy and manifest the mystery of our salvation in a veiled manner.
The document emphasizes the importance of making the Old Testament accessible to all Christian faithful. This is achieved through translations into various languages, especially from the original texts, to ensure a clear understanding of the Scriptures. The Church plays a vital role in providing suitable instruction and explanations to help individuals comprehend the spirit and meaning of the Old Testament.
Additionally, Dei Verbum underscores the necessity of reading and studying the Old Testament. By engaging with these sacred books, the word of God can spread and be glorified. The document encourages frequent reading accompanied by prayer, fostering a dialogue between God and humanity.
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The New Testament
The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, or 'Dei Verbum', promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1965, is a document that outlines the Catholic Church's teachings on how to interpret and understand divine revelation. It is one of the principal documents of the Second Vatican Council. The document itself begins with a meaningful sentence that sets the tone: "Hearing the Word of God with reverence and proclaiming it with faith, the sacred synod..." This highlights the role of the Church as a community that listens to and proclaims the Word of God.
Chapter IV of Dei Verbum affirms the saying attributed to Augustine that "the New Testament is hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is manifest in the New". This highlights the importance of both the Old and New Testaments in Christian teaching and the need for access to Sacred Scripture for all Christians. The New Testament, especially the Gospels, is to be made accessible through translations and adequate explanations so that all may understand and be "penetrated with their spirit".
The document also encourages the reading of divine Scriptures, with prayer accompanying this reading, so that "God and man may talk together". This is a key aspect of the relationship between the Church and the Word of God. It is through the reading and study of sacred books that "the word of God may spread rapidly and be glorified".
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Frequently asked questions
The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, formally known as Dei Verbum, is a teaching about divine revelation as a whole, not just the Bible.
Dei Verbum is Latin for "Word of God", taken from the first line of the document.
The six chapters of Dei Verbum cover the topics of revelation, tradition, inspiration, the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the use of Scripture in the Church.
The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation is one of the principal documents of the Second Vatican Council and constitutes the church's highest teaching authority on the theme of divine revelation.
Dei Verbum teaches that Scripture and Tradition are two means by which the one word of God comes to us. Therefore, they are to be accepted and venerated with equal loyalty and reverence, and there can be no conflict or superiority between the two.
