Opening Up the Scriptures: Joseph Ratzinger and the Foundations of Biblical Interpretation

by José Granados (Editor), Carlos Granados (Editor), Luis Sánchez-Navarro (Editor)

Overview

Opening Up the Scriptures was written by a group of eminent Catholics, including Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger — now Pope Benedict XVI. In these erudite essays the authors contend that historical-critical interpretation of Scripture has long since run its course in both Protestant and Catholic exegesis. Instead, they argue, the future of interpretation lies in accepting that the Bible is not just a collection of historical documents but also a record of revelation conceived in faith. By this token, true exegesis involves the faith and humility of the exegete.

Contributors:

Paul Beauchamp
Bruna Costacurta
Ignace de la Potterie
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Klemens Stock
Albert Cardinal Vanhoye

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802860118
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	07/31/2008
Series:	Ressourcement: Retrieval & Renewal in Catholic Thought
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Fr. José Granados is assistant professor of theology at the John Paul.II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations     xi
Preface to the American Edition   Jose Granados     xiv
On the Horizon of Hope   Carlos Granados   Luis Sanchez-Navarro     xix
Biblical Interpretation in Conflict: On the Foundations and the Itinerary of Exegesis Today   Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger     1
Preliminary Consideration: Where We Are and What We Must Do     1
The State of the Problem     1
The Task     7
Two Examples of Self-Criticism of the Historical-Critical Method: The Methodologies of Martin Dibelius and Rudolf Bultmann     10
The Main Elements of the Method and Their Presuppositions     10
The Philosophical Origin of the Method     17
Basic Elements of a New Synthesis     20
Biblical Exegesis: A Science of Faith   Ignace de la Potterie     30
The Bible: Human Word and Word of God     35
The Bible as Human Word     35
The Bible and the Word of God     38
The Relation between the Two Aspects     39
What Does Scripture Have to Say about This?     46
The Unity of the Whole of Scripture     48
The Interpretation of Sacred Scripture: A Science of Faith     51
The Problem     51
The"Science of Faith" according to R. Guardini     53
Michael Theobald's Critical Reaction     56
Attempt at a Synthesis     59
Conclusion     63
Is a Biblical Theology Possible?   Paul Beauchamp     65
The Reality and the Wish     65
A Theology of the Two Testaments Is Necessary Today     68
Christian-Jewish Relations     68
The Gospel and Cultures     69
Biblical Law and the Violence of the World     70
Jesus Christ and the Two Testaments     72
The Challenge     72
The Commitment of the Subject-Reader     74
The Course of the Research     75
Ethics and Aesthetics     75
Obstacles     77
Conclusion     78
Exegesis: Reading the Scriptures in Faith   Bruna Costacurta     79
Christ in Contemporary Exegesis: Where We Are and Where We Are Going   Klemens Stock     87
Outline of the Situation Today     87
The Gap between the Pre-Paschal Jesus and the Post-Paschal Christ Has Shrunk Somewhat     87
The Search for the "Historical Jesus" Continues     89
There Is a Growing Distance from Historical-Critical Exegesis from Many Sides      89
There Are Efforts to Reclaim the Jewishness of Jesus     91
New Approaches Are Also Affecting How We See Christ     91
Possible Directions for Exegetical Work on Christ     95
Less Violence with the Sources     95
More Trust in the Unique Form of the Sources     96
Painstaking Historical Work     99
The Whole as the Reference-Point     100
Christ in John and Mark     100
All of God's Relations to Men Are Mediated to Them through Jesus     101
Mark Is Concentrated on the Christological Question     101
Mark Preserves the Christological Question     102
The Reception in the Church of the Dogmatic Constitution "Dei Verbum"   Albert Cardinal Vanhoye     104
Scripture and Word of God     105
Scripture and Tradition     107
Revelation and Communion     112
Inspiration and Believing Community     115
Biblical Studies and Theology     119
Conclusion     125
Exegesis and the Magisterium of the Church   Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger     126
Original Publications     137
Index of Holy Scripture     139
Index of Magisterial and Ecclesial Documents     141
Index of Authors     143
Index of Subjects     146