The Catholic Approach to the Bible

 

For Catholics, the Bible is God's inspired message to us. It's not just an old history book; it's a living book that shows us God’s great love story, which leads us to Jesus Christ!

Here is the simple guide for reading it as a Catholic:

1. We Read It Together (Not Alone) 🤝

The Bible was given to the whole community, the Church, not just to one person.

• Look to the Whole Story: We never take one verse and ignore the rest. We read every part of the Bible (both Old and New Testaments) in light of the entire story of Jesus.

• Trust the Church: Jesus gave the Church (through the apostles) the job of understanding and teaching the faith. We rely on the Church's wisdom, which has been guided by the Holy Spirit for 2,000 years, to know what the Scripture truly means.

2. We Look for the Two Meanings 👀

When you read a passage, you are looking for two basic things:

A. The Simple Meaning (What happened?)

• Ask: What did the writer intend to tell the people back then? Was it a poem, a set of laws, a historical event, or a story Jesus told (a parable)?

• Goal: Understand what the words literally say.

B. The Deeper Meaning (What does it mean for me?)

• Ask: After I know what it says, how does this guide my faith and life?

• It Leads to Jesus: Does this passage point toward Jesus?

• It Teaches Me How to Live: Does this passage show me how to be a better person or how to act like a Christian?

3. We Read It As Prayer 🙏

The best way to read the Bible is to make it a conversation with God. This is a practice called "Divine Reading."

1. Read: Choose a short passage and read it slowly.

2. Listen: What one word or short phrase stands out to you?

3. Talk: Tell God what is in your heart about that word or phrase.

4. Rest: Just sit silently with God for a moment.

When we read the Bible with faith and with the Church's guidance, God speaks to us directly!