Sacred Scripture Research Articles

Editorial

To commemorate the jubilee of the death and canonization of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Santo Tomás Institute of Balmesiana organized the 10th Symposium of Thomistic Studies, St. Thomas Aquinas, Master of the Sacred Page. The event took place at the Abat Oliba CEU University in Barcelona from May 10th to 12th, 2024. Other institutions, in particular, the Association pour le Centenaire Thomas d’Aquin (ACTA) from Toulouse, contributed greatly to the organization of the symposium. This event aimed to explore St. Thomas’ use of Sacred Scripture in his role as a biblical scholar. This is one of the aspects of the doctrine of Aquinas that has recently gained prominence, as there has been a renewed appreciation for the central role that Sacred Scripture played in the theology of the Angelic Doctor, frequently referred to as “biblical Thomism”. The purpose of the symposium was not only historical but also doctrinal, aiming to shed light on contemporary biblical hermeneutics and exegesis. The symposium was structured around the three core activities of the medieval scholar: legere, disputare, and praedicare, with the intention to understand the place of Sacred Scripture in each of these. It began with several introductory issues that addressed Aquinas' biblical hermeneutics and its foundations, with enriching contributions from professors Martínez, Amado, Loiseau, and Manresa. Next, the symposium delved into Aquinas' biblical exegesis, focusing on his commentaries on St. John, St. Paul, and a book of the Old Testament, with insightful presentations by Professors Giambrone, Roszak, and Ossandón. The following sessions were dedicated to the examination of how St. Thomas utilized disputare in his construction of a theological system. Professors Margelidon, Aroztegi, and Prieto offered valuable reflections on grace, the sacraments, and divine knowledge. Finally, the symposium turned to Aquinas' praedicare and his use of Scripture in preaching, with illuminating presentations by professors Smith, Vijgen, and Perrin. Thomas Olivier Venard concluded the symposium by discussing the contemporary relevance of Aquinas' biblical hermeneutics. We are pleased to offer the reader a substantial number of these enriching contributions in both this and the next issue of Bíblica et Patristica. We are grateful to the Editorial Board for their willingness to publish the texts and, in this way, familiarise the readers with the fruitful discussions we experienced in Barcelona in May.

The Sacred Scripture and the Symbolic Representations in the Early Christian Figurative Mosaics from the Balkans

It is a well-known fact that the figurative images in the Early Christian art are generally in conformity with the basic Sacraments, specific texts in the Old and the New Testament and the liturgy and rituals, which were performed in the churches. In the recent 40 years many new publications have been devoted to the pavement mosaics from the Balkans but they deal mainly with limited number of monuments from a separate contemporary state. As in Late Antiquity the borders between the provinces and both empires (Western and Eastern) were quite different from the contemporary ones, therefore the picture shown when tracing this aspect of research is not adequate and not complete if the we do not concern the ancient boundaries of the provinces, and do not consider the Balkans as one artistic area, but with many different traditions and influences. For this purpose, the mosaics not only from the well-known artistic centres of Greece have been gathered together, but also from Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and the European parts of Turkey. This provides new opportunities for a multifaceted study of the topic of the Early Byzantine liturgical practice from a formal, symbolic and theological point of view and emphasizes the importance of the figurative mosaic images and the inscriptions associated with them, which directly or symbolically reflects the Holy Scripture as well as it reveals the mysterious nature and the specific features of the rituals of the Early Christianity.

Book Review: The Making of the Bible: From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture by Konrad Schmid and Jens Schröter trans. Peter Lewis

Book Review: <i>The Making of the Bible: From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture</i> by Konrad Schmid and Jens Schröter trans. Peter Lewis

The Making of the Bible: From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture by Konrad Schmid and Jens Schröter (review)

The Making of the Bible: From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture by Konrad Schmid and Jens Schröter (review)

The Gospel is Not an Event of the Past but of the Present. Actualization of the Sacred Scripture in the Homiletic Preaching of Pope Francis

Pope Francis treats the Sacred Scriptures as an experience rather than merely doctrine, striving through his ministry of the word to make listeners contemporaries of Jesus. The actualization of God’s word in Francis’ preaching involves adapting the salvific message to the current situation of the community, which requires the use of language that corresponds to the mentality and issues of the listeners. The aim of this article is to present, using selected homilies of the Pope as examples, the use of simple and understandable language that highlights the past deeds of God (signum memorativum), their present significance (signum representativum), and the future awaiting the faithful (signum prognosticum). This is essential for an authentic witness of faith, underscoring the truthfulness of homiletic preaching and the relevance of God’s word in the daily lives of believers.

The Philosophers and the Bible: The Debate on Sacred Scripture in Early Modern Thought ed. by Antonella Del Prete, Anna Lisa Schino, and Pina Totaro (review)

The Philosophers and the Bible: The Debate on Sacred Scripture in Early Modern Thought ed. by Antonella Del Prete, Anna Lisa Schino, and Pina Totaro (review)

SELF-MANAGEMENT IN THE LIGHT OF SĀṀKHYAYOGA (CHAPTER-II) OF ŚRĪMADBHAGAVADGĪTĀ

Our India is renowned in the globe for its distinctive, rich, glorious heritage and cultural tradition. Ancient India is augmented with unique sacred scriptures like the Vedas, Upanishads, Śrīmadbhagavadgītā, the Rāmāyana, the Mahābhārata, Purāṇas, Bible, Quran, Yoga sῡtras of Patañjali, Dharmaśāstras etc. Amongst these the Śrīmadbhagavadgītā is a marvelous Hindu sacred scripture, which is incorporated in the epic Mahābhārata consisting of 700 verses in 18 chapters in Sanskrit language by Vyasa. The Gītā is the divine discourse spoken by the supreme Lord Krishna himself, so it is told- गीता सुगीता कर्तव्या किमन्यैःशास्त्रसंग्रहैः। या स्वयंपद्मनाभस्य मुखपद्माद्विनिःसृताः।। (महा.भीष्मपर्व, 43.1). It means “The Gītā alone should be sung, heard, recited, studied, taught, pondered, and assimilated properly and well which was emerged directly from the lotus like lips of god Vishnu himself.” Amongst 18 chapters the 2nd chapter is सांख्ययोगः or the yoga of knowledge. Management is an organizational activity to remain the administration disciplined while self-management is an individual activity to keep oneself disciplined. Gītā is full of advises in regard to discipline and regulate the lifestyle of human beings, to be perfect etc., especially the 2nd chapter teaches more about self-regulation, self-management, and self-control. Based on qualitative method, this article tries to ponder about the self management as highlighted in Sāṁkhyayoga of Śrīmadbhagavadgītā. By knowing these one should be well-balanced and mentally sound from internally. Then, one is not affected by these side effects of worldly life by getting knowledge what should be done and what should not be.

Maria „omnis sancta” i „forma sanctificationis”. Zarys mariologii średniowiecznej według Bonawentury z Bagnoregio

In his numerous sermons, Bonaventure proves how deeply Marian piety was rooted in the liturgy of the Church, but also how deeply it should be rooted in Sacred Scripture and in theology. Two sermons deserve special mention. One is the second sermon, De Purificatione, for the feast of the Purification, and another is the second sermon preached on the feast of the Epiphany. These are the first examples of such an unambiguous and at the same time comprehensive approach to the Marian doctrine. From an analysis of these sermons, it is clear that Bonaventure’s main contribution to Mariology is not so much in the direction of doctrinal novelty, but rather in the approach and the method he used, which he remained faithful to in his teaching, whether from the cathedral or the pulpit. The Seraphic Doctor deals primarily with the defense and re-proposal of the truths of faith affirmed and professed by generations of Christians. For him, Mary is the Mother of Truth, and the doctrine concerning her, to be worthy of attention, must be deeply rooted in the theology dealing with the mysteries of her Son.

Towards developing an atmospheric space for inter-religious dialogue in Africa

The practice of religions and spirituality is common in Africa. In many ways, religion may be considered as a routine of life, living and practising it either as inherited or borrowed. Religious pluralism is a reality in Africa, dating back to the 1st century up to the 19th century when Africa became a bedrock of traders and colonisers both from Europe and Asia. The paper explores plural religiosity with a view to developing a conducive atmosphere that may promote a suitable inter-religious dialogue in Africa. Largely, the most pronounced and practised religions are Christianity symbolised by the cross, Islam symbolised by the crescent, and African indigenous religion that does not have a common symbol nor sacred scriptures. We note that, for generations, religions have caused division among communities, but have in the recent years developed the quest to create good relations and dialogue with each other. Because of the diverse nature of insecurity in Africa, it is hoped that inter-religious dialogue may cause community cohesion, integration, inclusivity, and co-existence. In the wake of different types of inter-religious dialogue that are globally being researched, this paper suggests a specific inter-religious dialogue that Africans can exercise: ‘dialogue for life’.Contribution: Inter-religious dialogue for life is contextual in that, it touches upon the life situations of ordinary people in society. The author argues that, by embracing it religiously, inter-religious dialogue for life shall address crucial issues such as poverty, radicalisation, terrorism, climate change, bad governance, and human trafficking that adversely affect African society.

Post-Sentence Mediation – Its Rationale and Importance in the Light of the Teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. A Look from the Perspective of a Catholic Country

Victim-offender mediation in enforcement proceedings is a new challenge for the justice system in Poland and many countries around the world. The number of such mediations is currently very small. The lack of appropriate regulations and enthusiasm among representatives of the studies and its practitioners make it difficult to search for a way to popularize a conciliatory attitude in enforcement proceedings. The authors of this publication seek arguments in favour of post-sentence mediation in the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. The importance of faith and religion in the lives of many people (including convicts) and an analysis of the texts of Sacred Scripture and statements of clergymen on forgiveness and satisfaction allow us to be optimistic about the Church’s efforts to encourage the implementation of principles so important to restorative justice.

Alcune note sul Sacramento della Penitenza celebrato in rito armeno

"Some notes regarding the Sacrament of Penance in the Armenian rite. The authors, the first of whom is “vardapet”, or “master priest” of the Armenian Mekhitarist Congregation, the second an Armenian scholar and graduate of the Armenian Academy of San Lazzaro in Venice, intended to present succinctly some characteristics, especially ritual, concerning the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation as it is conferred in the Armenian Church. Passages of Scripture are cited in which the Saviour gives the Church the potestas to grant forgiveness to the faithful. Reference is made to various situations present in Sacred Scripture and to the magnanimity of the Saviour who grants forgiveness, for example the forgiveness of the Good Thief who recognizes his own sins and turns, aware of his life as a sinner, to the Saviour, who suffered for us on the Cross, in order to be “remembered” in the Kingdom of Heaven. And Jesus assures him that he would be with Him in paradise. The authors emphasize the importance of profound change, called “change of mentality” or “metanoia”. After some historical remarks, the authors make references to the Liturgy and the Scripture in order to help the reader to meditate on the great gift of forgiveness, one of the greatest given by the Saviour before ascending to heaven and leaving us not alone, but in the shadow of his merciful love. There is also no lack, even if offered in a succinct way, of references to other traditions in which the faithful, recognizing their sins, turn to God for his forgiveness. Among the characters mentioned in these pages, Manasses cannot be missing, he who changed his mentality to get closer to God, while recognizing the serious sins he has committed. In the appendix there are some passages, including that of the ARJAKUMN (ABSOLUTION), which help us to understand the state of sin and the longing to escape from a road that leads to death, also because we have allowed ourselves to be enchanted by the one who, in many Eastern traditions, is not even mentioned, that is, Satan. Among the various prayers, the recognition of involuntary sins is also striking, a recognition that the faithful make before the priest pronounces the words of absolution. Among the authors mentioned, Saint Nersès the Gracious, Patriarch of the Armenians (1102-1173), is particularly remembered. Keywords: sin, penance, confession, Sacrament, tradition, forgivenes, absolution."

Phenomenology: Application for the exploration of the live experiences of participants and historical text

Phenomenological research tries to describe and interpret meanings of experiences to a certain degree in-depth about the historical and sacred scripture and tried to explore the live experience of people about the phenomenon. There are mainly two types of phenomenology such as heuristic transcendental phenomenology and hermeneutic phenomenology. The heuristic transcendental phenomenology was used first by Husserl as descriptive or psychological or empirical phenomenology and it was developed as heuristic transcendental phenomenology. In heuristic transcendental phenomenology, Suspension or Reduction, Bracketing (epoche) is used to place researchers' preconceptions about the phenomenon at the edge of the writing. The hermeneutic phenomenology is used to understand the meaning of historical scripture such as Veda, Kuran, Bahagvat Geeta, Ramayan and other old scripture through the learning cycle being reflective and critical. So phenomenology works as the philosophy and qualitative research design to guide the whole research process.

What Is “The Word of God” in Sacred Scripture?

Jakie „słowo Boże” w Piśmie Świętym? W niniejszym artykule zostaje podjęty problem wzajemnej zależności obecnych w naukach o natchnieniu biblijnym określeń „słowo Boże” oraz „Pismo Święte”, w kontekście wydanego przez Papieską Komisję Biblijną dokumentu pt. „Natchnienie i prawda Pisma Świętego. Słowo, które od Boga pochodzi i mówi o Bogu, aby zbawić świat” z 2014 roku. Po przedstawieniu istotnych cech definicji oraz funkcji Pisma Świętego zostaje wykazane rozumienie słowa Bożego w kontekście Starego i Nowego Testamentu. Ostatecznie zostaje podjęta próba udzielenia odpowiedzi na pytanie w jakich okolicznościach właściwe jest postawienie znaku równości między wspomnianymi wyżej terminami.

The Decline and Fall of Sacred Scripture: How the Bible Became a Secular Book, written by Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker

The Decline and Fall of Sacred Scripture: How the Bible Became a Secular Book, written by Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker

The Making of the Bible: From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture. By Konrad Schmid, Jens Schröter

The Making of the Bible: From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture. By Konrad Schmid, Jens Schröter

Malpractice and Misconception of Good Friday Celebration in the Philippines

This research is designed to explain theologically Good Friday which is one of the important events in the life of the Church. It seeks to analyze the mystery behind Good Friday, particularly on Christ’s suffering and death. This is done to help the reader understand Good Friday. The researcher has included some important biblical accounts, Church documents, and ideas of prominent theologians that explain the Theology of Good Friday. The research argues that the claim of the misconceptions and malpractices of the people on Good Friday is not supported by the accounts of Sacred Scripture and the Church’s documents, and this should be corrected in a prudent manner as possible.

DESAFIOS E CONTRIBUIÇÕES PARA UMA TEOLOGIA PRÁTICA NO PÓS-COVID-19

Covid-19 is still a problem to be faced, disbelief, misinformation, ignorance, denialism or simple protection of freedom principles made many people choose not to vaccinate themseves. This article aimed to analyze the challenges and contributions of post-covid-19 practical theology. For this constructo, the methodology assumed a qualitative approach and a bibliographical research profile inspired by the Sacred Scriptures, articles, theses, dissertations and books. The study denounces the capitalist system, the seriousness of public health, the opportunity for pastoral review and proclamation of the Gospel. Practical Theology goes through “go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (MARK 16:15-18), the Chruches that had the reccords maintained their social work, took the word and food to the needy. Pastoral and Practical Theology found problems in tithing and eucharistic fasting that could be alleviated with better control and pastoral organization.

Gender of Purple Manuscripts and the Makeup of Sacred Scriptures

In his letters to Roman aristocratic women about the proper use of scripture, Jerome dismissed purple makeup and any adornment of books with luxurious materials as wasteful distraction from the content of the text. He contrasts makeup and precious clothing with the textual correctness of his scholarly emended manuscripts and with corporal mortification and ascetic practices. Jerome’s dismissal of the materiality and sensuality of books goes hand in hand with a binary gender model that associates the philological work upon the text and the renunciation of its adornment with male scholarship. In order for women to become equal to men through the study of scripture, Jerome extols the performance of a textual asceticism that suppresses the makeup of books and of female bodies alike. His makeup criticism is part of a larger discourse that expresses a persistent fear of a sensual engagement with the materiality of scripture in binary gender stereotypes. A close reading of the purple metaphors employed by Jerome reveals their roots in the rhetorical appraisal of eloquence and poetic language precisely through the materiality of the text.

Alkitab: Karya Kooperatif Allah dan Manusia? (Memahami Ajaran Gereja tentang Ilham Alkitabiah)

Abstract&#x0D; The teaching of biblical inspiration is one of the basic understandings of the Bible in the Catholic Church. Reading and using the Bible does not guarantee the correct understanding of biblical inspiration. Therefore, this article intends to examine the understanding of biblical inspiration by the Christians and the church's teaching in the documents Dei Verbum and The Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scriptures. This study uses qualitative method with a field study and literature study. Through this study, an understanding was obtained that the Christians have not understand the teaching of biblical inspiration correctly based on the church's teaching, where inspiration signifies the cooperation between God and humans in writing the Scriptures. Thus the church needs to make a pastoral service to explain the church's teaching about biblical inspiration correctly.&#x0D;

Implementasi Pendidikan Karakter di Sekolah Katolik dalam Terang Dokumen Educating to Fraternal Humanism

The teaching of biblical inspiration is one of the basic understandings of the Bible in the Catholic Church. Reading and using the Bible does not guarantee the correct understanding of biblical inspiration. Therefore, this article intends to examine the understanding of biblical inspiration by the Christians and the church's teaching in the documents Dei Verbum and The Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scriptures. This study uses qualitative method with a field study and literature study. Through this study, an understanding was obtained that the Christians have not understood the teaching of biblical inspiration correctly based on the church’s teaching, where inspiration signifies the cooperation between God and humans in writing the Scriptures. Thus the church needs to make a pastoral service to explain the church's teaching about biblical inspiration correctly.