DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION
ON DIVINE REVELATION
DEI VERBUM
SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED
BY HIS HOLINESS
POPE PAUL VI
ON NOVEMBER 18, 1965
PREFACE
1. Hearing the word of God with reverence and proclaiming it with faith, the
sacred synod takes its direction from these words of St. John: "We announce to
you the eternal life which dwelt with the Father and was made visible to us.
What we have seen and heard we announce to you, so that you may have fellowship
with us and our common fellowship be with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ"
(1 John 1:2-3). Therefore, following in the footsteps of the Council of Trent
and of the First Vatican Council, this present council wishes to set forth
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. (1)
CHAPTER I
REVELATION ITSELF
2. In His goodness and wisdom God chose to reveal Himself and to make known
to us the hidden purpose of His will (see Eph. 1:9) by which through Christ, the
Word made flesh, man might in the Holy Spirit have access to the Father and come
to share in the divine nature (see Eph. 2:18; 2 Peter 1:4). Through this
revelation, therefore, the invisible God (see Col. 1;15, 1 Tim. 1:17) out of the
abundance of His love speaks to men as friends (see Ex. 33:11; John 15:14-15)
and lives among them (see Bar. 3:38), so that He may invite and take them into
fellowship with Himself. This plan of revelation is realized by deeds and words
having in inner unity: the deeds wrought by God in the history of salvation
manifest and confirm the teaching and realities signified by the words, while
the words proclaim the deeds and clarify the mystery contained in them. By this
revelation then, the deepest truth about God and the salvation of man shines out
for our sake in Christ, who is both the mediator and the fullness of all
revelation. (2)
3. God, who through the Word creates all things (see John 1:3) and keeps them
in existence, gives men an enduring witness to Himself in created realities (see
Rom. 1:19-20). Planning to make known the way of heavenly salvation, He went
further and from the start manifested Himself to our first parents. Then after
their fall His promise of redemption aroused in them the hope of being saved (see
Gen. 3:15) and from that time on He ceaselessly kept the human race in His care,
to give eternal life to those who perseveringly do good in search of salvation (see
Rom. 2:6-7). Then, at the time He had appointed He called Abraham in order to
make of him a great nation (see Gen. 12:2). Through the patriarchs, and after
them through Moses and the prophets, He taught this people to acknowledge
Himself the one living and true God, provident father and just judge, and to
wait for the Savior promised by Him, and in this manner prepared the way for the
Gospel down through the centuries.
4. Then, after speaking in many and varied ways through the prophets, "now at
last in these days God has spoken to us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2). For He sent
His Son, the eternal Word, who enlightens all men, so that He might dwell among
men and tell them of the innermost being of God (see John 1:1-18). Jesus Christ,
therefore, the Word made flesh, was sent as "a man to men." (3) He "speaks the
words of God" (John 3;34), and completes the work of salvation which His Father
gave Him to do (see John 5:36; John 17:4). To see Jesus is to see His Father
(John 14:9). For this reason Jesus perfected revelation by fulfilling it through
his whole work of making Himself present and manifesting Himself: through His
words and deeds, His signs and wonders, but especially through His death and
glorious resurrection from the dead and final sending of the Spirit of truth.
Moreover He confirmed with divine testimony what revelation proclaimed, that God
is with us to free us from the darkness of sin and death, and to raise us up to
life eternal.
The Christian dispensation, therefore, as the new and definitive covenant,
will never pass away and we now await no further new public revelation before
the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 Tim. 6:14 and Tit.
2:13).
5. "The obedience of faith" (Rom. 13:26; see 1:5; 2 Cor 10:5-6) "is to be
given to God who reveals, an obedience by which man commits his whole self
freely to God, offering the full submission of intellect and will to God who
reveals," (4) and freely assenting to the truth revealed by Him. To make this
act of faith, the grace of God and the interior help of the Holy Spirit must
precede and assist, moving the heart and turning it to God, opening the eyes of
the mind and giving "joy and ease to everyone in assenting to the truth and
believing it." (5) To bring about an ever deeper understanding of revelation the
same Holy Spirit constantly brings faith to completion by His gifts.
6. Through divine revelation, God chose to show forth and communicate Himself
and the eternal decisions of His will regarding the salvation of men. That is to
say, He chose to share with them those divine treasures which totally transcend
the understanding of the human mind. (6)
As a sacred synod has affirmed, God, the beginning and end of all things, can
be known with certainty from created reality by the light of human reason (see
Rom. 1:20); but teaches that it is through His revelation that those religious
truths which are by their nature accessible to human reason can be known by all
men with ease, with solid certitude and with no trace of error, even in this
present state of the human race. (7)
CHAPTER II
HANDING ON DIVINE REVELATION
7. In His gracious goodness, God has seen to it that what He had revealed for
the salvation of all nations would abide perpetually in its full integrity and
be handed on to all generations. Therefore Christ the Lord in whom the full
revelation of the supreme God is brought to completion (see Cor. 1:20; 3:13;
4:6), commissioned the Apostles to preach to all men that Gospel which is the
source of all saving truth and moral teaching, (1) and to impart to them
heavenly gifts. This Gospel had been promised in former times through the
prophets, and Christ Himself had fulfilled it and promulgated it with His lips.
This commission was faithfully fulfilled by the Apostles who, by their oral
preaching, by example, and by observances handed on what they had received from
the lips of Christ, from living with Him, and from what He did, or what they had
learned through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The commission was fulfilled,
too, by those Apostles and apostolic men who under the inspiration of the same
Holy Spirit committed the message of salvation to writing. (2)
But in order to keep the Gospel forever whole and alive within the Church,
the Apostles left bishops as their successors, "handing over" to them "the
authority to teach in their own place."(3) This sacred tradition, therefore, and
Sacred Scripture of both the Old and New Testaments are like a mirror in which
the pilgrim Church on earth looks at God, from whom she has received everything,
until she is brought finally to see Him as He is, face to face (see 1 John 3:2).
8. And so the apostolic preaching, which is expressed in a special way in the
inspired books, was to be preserved by an unending succession of preachers until
the end of time. Therefore the Apostles, handing on what they themselves had
received, warn the faithful to hold fast to the traditions which they have
learned either by word of mouth or by letter (see 2 Thess. 2:15), and to fight
in defense of the faith handed on once and for all (see Jude 1:3) (4) Now what
was handed on by the Apostles includes everything which contributes toward the
holiness of life and increase in faith of the peoples of God; and so the Church,
in her teaching, life and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations
all that she herself is, all that she believes.
This tradition which comes from the Apostles develop in the Church with the
help of the Holy Spirit. (5) For there is a growth in the understanding of the
realities and the words which have been handed down. This happens through the
contemplation and study made by believers, who treasure these things in their
hearts (see Luke, 2:19, 51) through a penetrating understanding of the spiritual
realities which they experience, and through the preaching of those who have
received through Episcopal succession the sure gift of truth. For as the
centuries succeed one another, the Church constantly moves forward toward the
fullness of divine truth until the words of God reach their complete fulfillment
in her.
The words of the holy fathers witness to the presence of this living
tradition, whose wealth is poured into the practice and life of the believing
and praying Church. Through the same tradition the Church's full canon of the
sacred books is known, and the sacred writings themselves are more profoundly
understood and unceasingly made active in her; and thus God, who spoke of old,
uninterruptedly converses with the bride of His beloved Son; and the Holy
Spirit, through whom the living voice of the Gospel resounds in the Church, and
through her, in the world, leads unto all truth those who believe and makes the
word of Christ dwell abundantly in them (see Col. 3:16).
9. Hence there exists a close connection and communication between sacred
tradition and Sacred Scripture. For both of them, flowing from the same divine
wellspring, in a certain way merge into a unity and tend toward the same end.
For Sacred Scripture is the word of God inasmuch as it is consigned to writing
under the inspiration of the divine Spirit, while sacred tradition takes the
word of God entrusted by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit to the Apostles,
and hands it on to their successors in its full purity, so that led by the light
of the Spirit of truth, they may in proclaiming it preserve this word of God
faithfully, explain it, and make it more widely known. Consequently it is not
from Sacred Scripture alone that the Church draws her certainty about everything
which has been revealed. Therefore both sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture
are to be accepted and venerated with the same sense of loyalty and
reverence.(6)
10. Sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit of the word
of God, committed to the Church. Holding fast to this deposit the entire holy
people united with their shepherds remain always steadfast in the teaching of
the Apostles, in the common life, in the breaking of the bread and in prayers
(see Acts 2, 42, Greek text), so that holding to, practicing and professing the
heritage of the faith, it becomes on the part of the bishops and faithful a
single common effort. (7)
But the task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written
or handed on, (8) has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office
of the Church, (9) whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.
This teaching office is not above the word of God, but serves it, teaching only
what has been handed on, listening to it devoutly, guarding it scrupulously and
explaining it faithfully in accord with a divine commission and with the help of
the Holy Spirit, it draws from this one deposit of faith everything which it
presents for belief as divinely revealed.
It is clear, therefore, that sacred tradition, Sacred Scripture and the
teaching authority of the Church, in accord with God's most wise design, are so
linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that
all together and each in its own way under the action of the one Holy Spirit
contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.
CHAPTER III
SACRED SCRIPTURE, ITS INSPIRATION AND DIVINE
INTERPRETATION
11. Those divinely revealed realities which are contained and presented in
Sacred Scripture have been committed to writing under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit. For holy mother Church, relying on the belief of the Apostles (see
John 20:31; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-20, 3:15-16), holds that the books of both
the Old and New Testaments in their entirety, with all their parts, are sacred
and canonical because written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they
have God as their author and have been handed on as such to the Church
herself.(1) In composing the sacred books, God chose men and while employed by
Him (2) they made use of their powers and abilities, so that with Him acting in
them and through them, (3) they, as true authors, consigned to writing
everything and only those things which He wanted. (4)
Therefore, since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred
writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the
books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and
without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings (5) for the
sake of salvation. Therefore "all Scripture is divinely inspired and has its use
for teaching the truth and refuting error, for reformation of manners and
discipline in right living, so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient
and equipped for good work of every kind" (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Greek text).
12. However, since God speaks in Sacred Scripture through men in human
fashion, (6) the interpreter of Sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what
God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the
sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of
their words.
To search out the intention of the sacred writers, attention should be given,
among other things, to "literary forms." For truth is set forth and expressed
differently in texts which are variously historical, prophetic, poetic, or of
other forms of discourse. The interpreter must investigate what meaning the
sacred writer intended to express and actually expressed in particular
circumstances by using contemporary literary forms in accordance with the
situation of his own time and culture. (7) For the correct understanding of what
the sacred author wanted to assert, due attention must be paid to the customary
and characteristic styles of feeling, speaking and narrating which prevailed at
the time of the sacred writer, and to the patterns men normally employed at that
period in their everyday dealings with one another. (8)
But, since Holy Scripture must be read and interpreted in the sacred spirit
in which it was written, (9) no less serious attention must be given to the
content and unity of the whole of Scripture if the meaning of the sacred texts
is to be correctly worked out. The living tradition of the whole Church must be
taken into account along with the harmony which exists between elements of the
faith. It is the task of exegetes to work according to these rules toward a
better understanding and explanation of the meaning of Sacred Scripture, so that
through preparatory study the judgment of the Church may mature. For all of what
has been said about the way of interpreting Scripture is subject finally to the
judgment of the Church, which carries out the divine commission and ministry of
guarding and interpreting the word of God. (10)
13. In Sacred Scripture, therefore, while the truth and holiness of God
always remains intact, the marvelous "condescension" of eternal wisdom is
clearly shown, "that we may learn the gentle kindness of God, which words cannot
express, and how far He has gone in adapting His language with thoughtful
concern for our weak human nature." (11) For the words of God, expressed in
human language, have been made like human discourse, just as the word of the
eternal Father, when He took to Himself the flesh of human weakness, was in
every way made like men.
CHAPTER IV
THE OLD TESTAMENT
14. In carefully planning and preparing the salvation of the whole human race
the God of infinite love, by a special dispensation, chose for Himself a people
to whom He would entrust His promises. First He entered into a covenant with
Abraham (see Gen. 15:18) and, through Moses, with the people of Israel (see Ex.
24:8). To this people which He had acquired for Himself, He so manifested
Himself through words and deeds as the one true and living God that Israel came
to know by experience the ways of God with men. Then too, when God Himself spoke
to them through the mouth of the prophets, Israel daily gained a deeper and
clearer understanding of His ways and made them more widely known among the
nations (see Ps. 21:29; 95:1-3; Is. 2:1-5; Jer. 3:17). The plan of salvation
foretold by the sacred authors, recounted and explained by them, is found as the
true word of God in the books of the Old Testament: these books, therefore,
written under divine inspiration, remain permanently valuable. "For all that was
written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and the encouragement of
the Scriptures we might have hope" (Rom. 15:4).
15. The principal purpose to which the plan of the old covenant was directed
was to prepare for the coming of Christ, the redeemer of all and of the
messianic kingdom, to announce this coming by prophecy (see Luke 24:44; John
5:39; 1 Peter 1:10), and to indicate its meaning through various types (see 1
Cor. 10:12). Now the books of the Old Testament, in accordance with the state of
mankind before the time of salvation established by Christ, reveal to all men
the knowledge of God and of man and the ways in which God, just and merciful,
deals with men. These books, though they also contain some things which are
incomplete and temporary, nevertheless show us true divine pedagogy. (1) These
same books, then, give expression to a lively sense of God, contain a store of
sublime teachings about God, sound wisdom about human life, and a wonderful
treasury of prayers, and in them the mystery of our salvation is present in a
hidden way. Christians should receive them with reverence.
16. God, the inspirer and author of both Testaments, wisely arranged that the
New Testament be hidden in the Old and the Old be made manifest in the New. (2)
For, though Christ established the new covenant in His blood (see Luke 22:20; 1
Cor. 11:25), still the books of the Old Testament with all their parts, caught
up into the proclamation of the Gospel, (3) acquire and show forth their full
meaning in the New Testament (see Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:27; Rom. 16:25-26; 2 Cor.
14:16) and in turn shed light on it and explain it.
CHAPTER V
THE NEW TESTAMENT
17. The word God, which is the power of God for the salvation of all who
believe (see Rom. 1:16), is set forth and shows its power in a most excellent
way in the writings of the New Testament. For when the fullness of time arrived
(see Gal. 4:4), the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us in His fullness of
graces and truth (see John 1:14). Christ established the kingdom of God on
earth, manifested His Father and Himself by deeds and words, and completed His
work by His death, resurrection and glorious Ascension and by the sending of the
Holy Spirit. Having been lifted up from the earth, He draws all men to Himself
(see John 12:32, Greek text), He who alone has the words of eternal life (see
John 6:68). This mystery had not been manifested to other generations as it was
now revealed to His holy Apostles and prophets in the Holy Spirit (see Eph.
3:4-6, Greek text), so that they might preach the Gospel, stir up faith in
Jesus, Christ and Lord, and gather together the Church. Now the writings of the
New Testament stand as a perpetual and divine witness to these realities.
18. It is common knowledge that among all the Scriptures, even those of the
New Testament, the Gospels have a special preeminence, and rightly so, for they
are the principal witness for the life and teaching of the incarnate Word, our
savior.
The Church has always and everywhere held and continues to hold that the four
Gospels are of apostolic origin. For what the Apostles preached in fulfillment
of the commission of Christ, afterwards they themselves and apostolic men, under
the inspiration of the divine Spirit, handed on to us in writing: the foundation
of faith, namely, the fourfold Gospel, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John.(1)
19. Holy Mother Church has firmly and with absolute constancy held, and
continues to hold, that the four Gospels just named, whose historical character
the Church unhesitatingly asserts, faithfully hand on what Jesus Christ, while
living among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation until the
day He was taken up into heaven (see Acts 1:1). Indeed, after the Ascension of
the Lord the Apostles handed on to their hearers what He had said and done. This
they did with that clearer understanding which they enjoyed (3) after they had
been instructed by the glorious events of Christ's life and taught by the light
of the Spirit of truth. (2) The sacred authors wrote the four Gospels, selecting
some things from the many which had been handed on by word of mouth or in
writing, reducing some of them to a synthesis, explaining some things in view of
the situation of their churches and preserving the form of proclamation but
always in such fashion that they told us the honest truth about Jesus.(4) For
their intention in writing was that either from their own memory and
recollections, or from the witness of those who "themselves from the beginning
were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word" we might know "the truth"
concerning those matters about which we have been instructed (see Luke 1:2-4).
20. Besides the four Gospels, the canon of the New Testament also contains
the epistles of St. Paul and other apostolic writings, composed under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, by which, according to the wise plan of God,
those matters which concern Christ the Lord are confirmed, His true teaching is
more and more fully stated, the saving power of the divine work of Christ is
preached, the story is told of the beginnings of the Church and its marvelous
growth, and its glorious fulfillment is foretold.
For the Lord Jesus was with His apostles as He had promised (see Matt. 28:20)
and sent them the advocate Spirit who would lead them into the fullness of truth
(see John 16:13).
CHAPTER VI
SACRED SCRIPTURE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH
21. The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she
venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she
unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table
both of God's word and of Christ's body. She has always maintained them, and
continues to do so, together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of
faith, since, as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they
impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy
Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and Apostles. Therefore, like the
Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and
regulated by Sacred Scripture. For in the sacred books, the Father who is in
heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force
and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and
energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul,
the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life. Consequently these words are
perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture: "For the word of God is living and
active" (Heb. 4:12) and "it has power to build you up and give you your heritage
among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32; see 1 Thess. 2:13).
22. Easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the Christian
faithful. That is why the Church from the very beginning accepted as her own
that very ancient Greek translation; of the Old Testament which is called the
septuagint; and she has always given a place of honor to other Eastern
translations and Latin ones especially the Latin translation known as the
vulgate. But since the word of God should be accessible at all times, the Church
by her authority and with maternal concern sees to it that suitable and correct
translations are made into different languages, especially from the original
texts of the sacred books. And should the opportunity arise and the Church
authorities approve, if these translations are produced in cooperation with the
separated brethren as well, all Christians will be able to use them.
23. The bride of the incarnate Word, the Church taught by the Holy Spirit, is
concerned to move ahead toward a deeper understanding of the Sacred Scriptures
so that she may increasingly feed her sons with the divine words. Therefore, she
also encourages the study of the holy Fathers of both East and West and of
sacred liturgies. Catholic exegetes then and other students of sacred theology,
working diligently together and using appropriate means, should devote their
energies, under the watchful care of the sacred teaching office of the Church,
to an exploration and exposition of the divine writings. This should be so done
that as many ministers of the divine word as possible will be able effectively
to provide the nourishment of the Scriptures for the people of God, to enlighten
their minds, strengthen their wills, and set men's hearts on fire with the love
of God. (1) The sacred synod encourages the sons of the Church and Biblical
scholars to continue energetically, following the mind of the Church, with the
work they have so well begun, with a constant renewal of vigor. (2)
24. Sacred theology rests on the written word of God, together with sacred
tradition, as its primary and perpetual foundation. By scrutinizing in the light
of faith all truth stored up in the mystery of Christ, theology is most
powerfully strengthened and constantly rejuvenated by that word. For the Sacred
Scriptures contain the word of God and since they are inspired really are the
word of God; and so the study of the sacred page is, as it were, the soul of
sacred theology. (3) By the same word of Scripture the ministry of the word
also, that is, pastoral preaching, catechetics and all Christian instruction, in
which the liturgical homily must hold the foremost place, is nourished in a
healthy way and flourishes in a holy way.
25. Therefore, all the clergy must hold fast to the Sacred Scriptures through
diligent sacred reading and careful study, especially the priests of Christ and
others, such as deacons and catechists who are legitimately active in the
ministry of the word. This is to be done so that none of them will become "an
empty preacher of the word of God outwardly, who is not a listener to it
inwardly" (4) since they must share the abundant wealth of the divine word with
the faithful committed to them, especially in the sacred liturgy. The sacred
synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially
Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the "excellent
knowledge of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:8). "For ignorance of the Scriptures is
ignorance of Christ."(5) Therefore, they should gladly put themselves in touch
with the sacred text itself, whether it be through the liturgy, rich in the
divine word, or through devotional reading, or through instructions suitable for
the purpose and other aids which, in our time, with approval and active support
of the shepherds of the Church, are commendably spread everywhere. And let them
remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that
God and man may talk together; for "we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him
when we read the divine saying." (6)
It devolves on sacred bishops "who have the apostolic teaching"(7) to give
the faithful entrusted to them suitable instruction in the right use of the
divine books, especially the New Testament and above all the Gospels. This can
be done through translations of the sacred texts, which are to be provided with
the necessary and really adequate explanations so that the children of the
Church may safely and profitably become conversant with the Sacred Scriptures
and be penetrated with their spirit.
Furthermore, editions of the Sacred Scriptures, provided with suitable
footnotes, should be prepared also for the use of non-Christians and adapted to
their situation. Both pastors of souls and Christians generally should see to
the wise distribution of these in one way or another.
26. In this way, therefore, through the reading and study of the sacred books
"the word of God may spread rapidly and be glorified" (2 Thess. 3:1) and the
treasure of revelation, entrusted to the Church, may more and more fill the
hearts of men. Just as the life of the Church is strengthened through more
frequent celebration of the Eucharistic mystery, similar we may hope for a new
stimulus for the life of the Spirit from a growing reverence for the word of
God, which "lasts forever" (Is. 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:23-25).
NOTES
Preface
Article 1:
1. cf. St. Augustine, "De Catechizandis Rudibus," C.IV 8: PL. 40, 316.
Chapter I
Article 2:
2. cf. Matt. 11:27; John 1:14 and 17; 14:6; 17:1-3; 2 Cor 3:16 and 4, 6; Eph.
1, 3-14.
Article 4:
3. Epistle to Diognetus, c. VII, 4: Funk, Apostolic Fathers, I, p. 403.
Article 5:
4. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap.
3, "On Faith:" Denzinger 1789 (3008).
5. Second Council of Orange, Canon 7: Denzinger 180 (377); First Vatican
Council, loc. cit.: Denzinger 1791 (3010).
Article 6:
6. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap.
2, "On Revelation:" Denzinger 1786 (3005).
7. Ibid: Denzinger 1785 and 1786 (3004 and 3005).
Chapter II
Article 7:
1. cf. Matt. 28:19-20, and Mark 16:15; Council of Trent, session IV, Decree
on Scriptural Canons: Denzinger 783 (1501).
2. cf. Council of Trent, loc. cit.; First Vatican Council, session III,
Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap. 2, "On revelation:" Denzinger
1787 (3005).
3. St. Irenaeus, "Against Heretics" III, 3, 1: PG 7, 848; Harvey, 2, p. 9.
Article 8:
4. cf. Second Council of Nicea: Denzinger 303 (602); Fourth Council of
Constance, session X, Canon 1: Denzinger 336 (650-652).
5. cf. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith,
Chap. 4, "On Faith and Reason:" Denzinger 1800 (3020).
Article 9:
6. cf. Council of Trent, session IV, loc. cit.: Denzinger 783 (1501).
Article 10:
7. cf. Pius XII, apostolic constitution, "Munificentissimus Deus," Nov. 1,
1950: A.A.S. 42 (1950) p. 756; Collected Writings of St. Cyprian, Letter 66, 8:
Hartel, III, B, p. 733: "The Church [is] people united with the priest and the
pastor together with his flock."
8. cf. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith,
Chap. 3 "On Faith:" Denzinger 1792 (3011).
9. cf. Pius XII, encyclical "Humani Generis," Aug. 12, 1950: A.A.S. 42 (1950)
pp. 568-69: Denzinger 2314 (3886).
Chapter III
Article 11:
1. cf. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith,
Chap. 2 "On Revelation:" Denzinger 1787 (3006); Biblical Commission, Decree of
June 18,1915: Denzinger 2180 (3629): EB 420; Holy Office, Epistle of Dec. 22,
1923: EB 499.
2. cf. Pius XII, encyclical "Divino Afflante Spiritu," Sept. 30, 1943: A.A.S.
35 (1943) p. 314; Enchiridion Bible. (EB) 556.
3. "In" and "for" man: cf. Heb. 1, and 4, 7; ("in"): 2 Sm. 23,2; Matt.1:22
and various places; ("for"): First Vatican Council, Schema on Catholic Doctrine,
note 9: Coll. Lac. VII, 522.
4. Leo XIII, encyclical "Providentissimus Deus," Nov. 18, 1893: Denzinger
1952 (3293); EB 125.
5. cf. St. Augustine, "Gen. ad Litt." 2, 9, 20:PL 34, 270-271; Epistle 82, 3:
PL 33, 277: CSEL 34, 2, p. 354. St. Thomas, "On Truth," Q. 12, A. 2, C.Council
of Trent, session IV, Scriptural Canons: Denzinger 783 (1501). Leo XIII,
encyclical "Providentissimus Deus:" EB 121, 124, 126-127. Pius XII, encyclical
"Divino Afflante Spiritu:" EB 539.
Article 12:
6. St. Augustine, "City of God," XVII, 6, 2: PL 41, 537: CSEL. XL, 2, 228.
7. St. Augustine, "On Christian Doctrine" III, 18, 26; PL 34, 75-76.
8. Pius XII, loc. cit. Denziger 2294 (3829-3830); EB 557-562.
9. cf. Benedict XV, encyclical "Spiritus Paraclitus" Sept. 15, 1920:EB 469.
St. Jerome, "In Galatians' 5, 19-20: PL 26, 417 A.
10. cf. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith,
Chapter 2, "On Revelation:" Denziger 1788 (3007).
Article 13:
11. St. John Chrysostom "In Genesis" 3, 8 (Homily l7, 1): PG 53, 134;
"Attemperatio" [in English "Suitable adjustment"] in Greek "synkatabasis."
Chapter IV
Article 15:
1. Pius XI, encyclical 'Mit Brennender Sorge," March 14, 1937: A.A.S. 29
(1937) p. 51.
Article 16:
2. St. Augustine, "Quest. in Hept." 2,73: PL 34,623.
3. St. Irenaeus, "Against Heretics" III, 21,3: PG 7,950; (Same as 25,1:
Harvey 2, p. 115). St. Cyril of Jerusalem, "Catech." 4,35; PG 33,497. Theodore
of Mopsuestia, "In Soph." 1,4-6: PG 66, 452D-453A.
Chapter V
Article 18:
1. cf. St. Irenaeus, "Against Heretics" III, 11; 8: PG 7,885, Sagnard
Edition, p. 194.
Article 19:
(Due to the necessities of translation, footnote 2 follows footnote 3 in text
of Article 19.)
2. cf. John 14:26; 16:13.
3. John 2:22; 12:16; cf. 14:26; 16:12-13; 7:39.
4. cf. instruction "Holy Mother Church" edited by Pontifical Consilium for
Promotion of Bible Studies; A.A.S. 56 (1964) p. 715.
Chapter VI
Article 23:
1. cf. Pius XII, encyclical "Divino Afflante Spiritu:" EB 551, 553, 567.
Pontifical Biblical Commission, Instruction on Proper Teaching of Sacred
Scripture in Seminaries and Religious Colleges, May 13, 1950: A.A.S. 42 (1950)
pp. 495-505.
2. cf. Pius XII, ibid: EB 569.
Article 24:
3. cf. Leo XIII, encyclical "Providentissmus Deus:" EB 114; Benedict XV,
encyclical "Spiritus Paraclitus:" EB 483.
Article 25:
4. St. Augustine Sermons, 179,1: PL 38,966.
5. St. Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah, Prol.: PL 24,17. cf. Benedict XV,
encyclical "Spiritus Paraclitus:" EB 475-480; Pius XII, encyclical "Divino
Afflante Spiritu:" EB 544.
6. St. Ambrose, On the Duties of Ministers I, 20,88: PL l6,50.
7. St. Irenaeus, "Against Heretics" IV, 32,1: PG 7, 1071;
(Same as 49,2) Harvey, 2, p. 255.
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