“The bible is the living Word of God!” This emphatic statement, stressed over and over by a priest I know, serves to drive its message home. The bible is: “living and active”—as pertinent and relevant today as it was centuries ago (Hebrews 4:12).
Throughout salvation history, the books of the bible were written by various authors but were all inspired by the Holy Spirit (see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #101-141). As the Catechism explains, God condescends in His goodness to speak to us “in the words of men”—just as He takes on human flesh and condescends in human form in the person of His Son for our salvation (CCC, 101). God, throughout Scripture, speaks with one voice:
One and the same Word of God extends throughout Scripture. . . it is one and the same Utterance that resounds in the mouths of all the sacred writers, since he who was in the beginning God with God has no need of separate syllables; for he is not subject to time.
(CCC, 102)
Truth of the Word
Through the words of Sacred Scripture, Father God “comes lovingly to meet his children” to talk with us (CCC, 104). Scripture teaches the truth “firmly, faithfully, and without error” as God willed it for our salvation (CCC, 107). Not a “religion of the book” is Christianity, says the Church, but, rather, a “religion of the ‘Word’ of God.” Through Christ Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit are our minds opened to understand Scripture (CCC, 108).
Interpretation of the Word
The Church states three important conditions necessary for Scripture to be interpreted correctly. In brief, one must:
- Be especially attentive “to the content and unity of the whole Scripture.”
- Read the Scripture within “the living Tradition of the whole Church.“
- Be attentive to the analogy of faith. (CCC, 111-114)
(See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #109-141 included link for a complete description of the above re: Interpretation of Scripture, Sense of Scripture, and Canon of Scripture.)
The Word of God Now
This living Word of God is as alive and meaningful today as our incarnate God, Christ Jesus, is in his daily Eucharistic presence. In the Eucharist, Christ is true flesh and true blood for our spiritual nourishment. As the eternal Word, the Word of God is an ever-present “lamp for my feet” and “light for my path,” says St. Paul (Ps 119:105). It is nourishment and strength for our minds and hearts, as the Eucharist is for our souls. “All scripture is inspired by God,” says St. Paul, “and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). The necessity for knowing and living God’s Word is so crucial to the eternity of one’s soul that Christ confirms, “‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Mt 4:4).
Holiness and the Word
Reading Scripture can thus aid one’s growth in holiness. The more one knows God’s Word, the more readily able one is to recall it in daily circumstances. Sacred Scripture is always there to greet one with living wisdom, guidance, direction, hope, love and peace. Within the sure words of our Lord Jesus Christ, says St. Paul, one finds teaching “in accordance with godliness” (1 Tim 6:3-4) and one’s sure recipe for holiness.
