4.

Divino Afflante Spiritu

Introduction

This particular Encyclical was issued during the time of Pope Pius XII in 1943. This
particular work was under taken by Augustine Bea S.J and Jacques-Marie-Voste O.P along
with Pope Pius XII. There was a serious attack on the Biblical Scholars in the time of Pope
Pius XI and early years of Pope Pius XII. The outcome of this attack resulted in bringing out
this Encyclical.

The Pope and the Bible

The encyclical brings out the views of different Popes who promoted the biblical
studies. Pope Leo XIII has done a concrete job by establishing the Pontifical Biblical
Commission to defend the teaching truth of the sacred books, inerrancy of the Bible and laid
down the method for Biblical studies. Pope Pius X established Pontifical Biblical Institute
and entrusted it to Jesuits. Pope Pius XI entrusted the revision of the Vulgate to the
Benedictines.

Biblical Studies Today

1. New devolepment in Biblical Studies 7. Catholic must not neglect for the sake
2. Philology of History, Archaeology and
3. Textual Criticism Philology.
4. Catholic exegete should unite two 8. Pius XII rebukes ‘Mystical
things (i. reverence for Sacred Text ii. Interpretation’ which partly rejects the
Observance of all rules.) literal sense.
5. Latin Vulgate juridical rather than 9. Spiritual sense of the Scripture must be
critical Authenticity promoted.
6. The Catholic exegete should study the
context, comparison and langue.
Interpretation of the Scripture

1. Interpreter should keep in mind the Historical Goal

2. The supreme rule of interpretation is to discover and define what the writer intended
3. Comparative Literature
4. The incarnation of analogy
 5. The Biblical Scholar should defend scripture from all error.
6. Literary criticism and Apparent error in Scripture

Difficulties in Scripture

1. Though there are difficulties in the bible but Catholics should use the scientific
methods to defend the Bible.
2. St. Augustine says “God wished difficulties to be scattered through the Scripture” so
that we will scrupulously read, experience our limitations and exercise the submission
of our mind.
3. Inerrancy: Solution should coherence with inherency of the Sacred Scripture.
4. Scholars should have the liberty to study the bible so that, new developments should
help in the progress of the Catholic Doctrine.

Scripture in the Life of the Church

1. Priest should use bible for meditation and for preaching

2. Love for Scripture among laity and use of vernacular langue
3. Seminarians should develop a goal Love for Sacred Scripture
4. Professors aim: i. Explain Literal sense ii. Defend theological doctrines iii. Give the
experience of ‘Emmaus Road’ in students.

Conclusion

1. Scripture study is the consolation to the broken world of war

2. Meditation and Knowledge of Scripture will sustain man
3. Rewards for the Biblical studies.