Dei Verbum
FFFE Outline
Origin and Introduction
Dogmatic Constitution: Pope Paul VI, 18 November 1965
Context: Vatican Council II, building off Council of Trent, and First Vatican Council
The Document itself:
Purpose: found in the Preface, “Therefore, following in the footsteps of the Council of Trent, and of the First Vatican Council, this present council wishes to set forth the authentic doctrine on divine revelation and how it is handed on, so that by hearing the message of salvation the whole world may believe, by believing it may hope, and by hoping it may love.”
Contents: 5 Chapters (Very short document!)
Revelation Itself
- God making himself and his will known. (1)
- No new public revelation. (4)
Handing On Divine Revelation
- Keeping the Gospel alive: the Apostles hand on the Divine Revelation (8)
- Sacred Tradition (10)
- Apostolic Preaching (10)
Sacred Scripture, Its Divine Inspiration and Interpretation
- Inspired by the Holy Spirit (11)
- Relying on the Apostles (11)
- For sake of Salvation: Sacred Scripture: Solidly taught, and without Error (11)
- Human (12)
- Communicate what the Sacred Writers intended; what God intends, not what we intend. (12)
- Literary forms (12)
- “Marvelous Condescension”: learning the gentle kindness of God. (13)
The Old Testament
- God chose a people (14)
- Entrusts His promises (14)
- Purpose: to plan for the coming of Christ :: Messiah (15)
- “New Testament hidden in the Old, and the Old manifest in the New.” (16)
The New Testament
- Gospel preeminence: Principal Witness for Jesus, Savior. (18)
- Gospels= Apostolic Origin (19)
- Epistles: Inspired by Holy Spirit, matters of the Lord confirmed, His teaching more fully stated… (20)
Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church
- Venerate Scripture= Venerating the Lord. (21)
- Access= for all (22)
- Feeding and Study (23)
- Theology rests on Scripture (24)
- Clergy read and study Scripture= no empty preaching. (25)
- God be glorified (26)
