Scripture
The Bible, Divine Revelation, and the Authority of God’s Word
Why Scripture Matters
Sacred Scripture is the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and entrusted to the Church for the salvation of souls.
Through the Bible, God reveals His plan of salvation, culminating in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
Catholics cherish Scripture as one of the primary ways God speaks to His people and nourishes their faith.
Scripture and Tradition
Catholics believe that Divine Revelation comes to us through both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.
The Apostles preached the Gospel before the New Testament was written, and the Church preserved both the written and unwritten teachings handed down from Christ.
Scripture and Tradition are not competitors; they work together as two modes of transmitting the one deposit of faith.
The Authority of the Bible
Because Scripture is inspired by God, it teaches truth without error in all that God intended to reveal for our salvation.
Catholics therefore approach the Bible with reverence, trusting that it is truly God’s Word communicated through human authors.
The Church serves as the authentic interpreter of Scripture, helping the faithful understand difficult passages and avoid error.
Common Apologetics Questions
- Is the Bible the only authority for Christians?
- How was the biblical canon determined?
- Who decided which books belong in the Bible?
- Can Scripture be interpreted privately?
- What role does Sacred Tradition play?
- Why do Catholic and Protestant Bibles differ?
Explore Scripture Apologetics
The Catholic View of Scripture
Catholics do not merely believe in the Bible; we believe in the God who inspired it and in the Church Christ established to preserve, interpret, and proclaim it.
The Bible was born from the life of the Church, preserved by the Church, and continues to be proclaimed by the Church throughout the world.
Understanding Scripture correctly requires reading it within the living Tradition of the Catholic faith.
A Prayer Before Reading Scripture
Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind and open my heart to receive the Word of God.
Help me to understand Sacred Scripture according to the mind of Christ and the teaching of His Church.