CHAPTER III

WORD OF GOD

I. The word bible

A. Etymology- comes from the Greek word biblia which means

scrolls

B. As understood by believers:

B.1 As faith-book- faith therefore is important in reading and

understanding its meaning
B.2 As an account of life-it records events (historically) seen as
designed and influenced by God (religiously)
B.3 As an event of community- the divine communication
happened in a human setting through varied means

II. The Bible as the Word of God

A The richness of the Word “OF”

The Word of God can actually mean three things:
1. The Bible is Word about God-is our main “textbook”
for learning who God is.
2. The Bible is Word from God-it contains God’s self-
communication mediated through human words.
3. The Bible is Word by God- The principal author is God
with humans as co-authors.

B. Revelation in the Bible

While Revelation is contained in the Bible, it is not
limited to it. There is also Sacred Tradition, which is Revelation
transmitted through non-written means .

C. The Bible and Jesus

For Christians, the Bible is the written account of
Revelation, which points to Christ, who is the Revelation, i.e.
its objective content. The Bible and Christ are then inseparable
in the Event of Revelation.
 For us, Christians, the Word of God applies to the Bible and more
so, to the Divine Person of Christ. Jesus Himself is God’s
message to humankind.
Jesus is the center and fulfillment of the Bible, of all Revelation.
In the person of Jesus, all the words of God find their meaning be-
cause Christ is the Word of God Himself.

III. The Books of the Bible

A. The Two Testaments
Testament in the Bible means covenant, the solemn agreement
Between God and Israel, fulfilled and universalized by Christ.

A.1 Old Testament- a lesson of faithfulness, expressed variedly

through laws, stories, prophecies, and wisdom literature.

A.2. New Testament- Tells us of Jesus, and how through his

passion, death and resurrection, He established the definite
covenant relationship between God and humanity.

B. Arrangements of the Books

C. Chapters and Verses

How do bible references work?

a) Determine the book, which is often in an abbreviated
form.
b) The abbreviation is followed by a number, which
indicates the chapter.
The chapter number and the verse numbers are
separated either by a colon or a comma.
c) Then the next set of numerical figure indicates the
verses.
e.g. Jn. 3: 16-17 reads: from the book of (Gospel
according to) John, Chapter three, verses sixteen to
seventeen.

D. Inspiration of the Bible

 The Bible came about the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The
word “inspiration” comes from the Latin words “in” and
“spirare,” which means to “breathe into”.

D.1 Wrong notions about inspiration

a) Divine Inspiration is not verbal or mechanical dictation.
b) Divine Inspiration is not subsequent approbation.
c) Divine inspiration is not simply negative assistance.
d) Divine inspiration is not mere ideological inspiration.

D.2 The Catholic understanding of Inspiration

D.3v Effects of Inspiration

E. Inerrancy of the Bible

E.1 Inerrancy as an effect of inspiration
E.2 Some Difficulties in Scriptures
Reconciling Difficulties and Inerrancy

F. Formation of Sacred Scriptures

G. Canonicity

H. Interpretation of the Bible