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InstructionConcerningtheHistoricalTruthoftheGospels[*]

EnglishTranslationbyJosephA.Fitzmyer,S.J.TheologicalStudies25(1964)402408

I.HolyMothertheChurch,"thepillarandbulwarkoftruth,"[1]hasalwaysusedSacredScriptureinher
taskofimpartingheavenlysalvationtomen.Shehasalwaysdefendedit,too,fromeverysortoffalse
interpretation.Sincetherewillneverbeanendto(biblical)problems,theCatholicexegeteshould
neverloseheartinexplainingthedivinewordandinsolvingthedifficultiesproposedtohim.Rather,
lethimstriveearnestlytoopenupstillmoretherealmeaningoftheScriptures.Lethimrelyfirmlynot
onlyonhisownresources,butaboveallonthehelpofGodandthelightoftheChurch.

II.Itisasourceofgreatjoythattherearefoundtoday,tomeettheneedsofourtimes,faithfulsons
oftheChurchingreatnumberswhoareexpertsinbiblicalmatters.Theyarefollowingtheexhortations
oftheSupremePontiffsandarededicatingthemselveswholeheartedlyanduntiringlytothisserious
andarduoustask."LetalltheothersonsoftheChurchbearinmindthattheeffortsoftheseresolute
laborersinthevineyardoftheLordaretobejudgednotonlywithequityandjustice,butalsowiththe
greatestcharity,"[2]sinceevenillustriousinterpreters,suchasJeromehimself,triedattimesto
explainthemoredifficultquestionswithnogreatsuccess.[3]Careshouldbehad"thatthekeenstrife
ofdebateshouldneverexceedtheboundsofmutualcharity.Norshouldtheimpressionbegiveninan
argumentthattruthsofrevelationanddivinetraditionsarebeingcalledinquestion.Forunless
agreementamongmindsbesafeguardedandprinciplesbecarefullyrespected,greatprogressinthis
disciplinewillneverbeexpectedfromthediversepursuitsofsomanypersons."[4]

III.Todaymorethanevertheworkofexegetesisneeded,becausemanywritingsarebeingspread
abroadinwhichthetruthofthedeedsandwordswhicharecontainedintheGospelsisquestioned.For
thisreasonthePontificalBiblicalCommission,inpursuitofthetaskgiventoitbytheSupremePontiffs,
hasconsidereditpropertosetforthandinsistuponthefollowingpoints.

IV.1.LettheCatholicexegete,followingtheguidanceoftheChurch,deriveprofitfromallthatearlier
interpreters,especiallytheholyFathersandDoctorsoftheChurch,havecontributedtothe
understandingofthesacredtext.Andlethimcarryontheirlaborsstillfurther.Inordertoputthe
abidingtruthandauthorityoftheGospelsintheirfulllight,hewillaccuratelyadheretothenormsof
rationalandCatholichermeneutics.Hewilldiligentlyemploythenewexegeticalaids,aboveallthose
whichthehistoricalmethod,takeninitswidestsense,offerstohimamethodwhichcarefully
investigatessourcesanddefinestheirnatureandvalue,andmakesuseofsuchhelpsastextual
criticism,literarycriticism,andthestudyoflanguages.TheinterpreterwillheedtheadviceofPiusXII
ofhappymemory,whoenjoinedhim"prudentlytoexaminewhatcontributionthemannerof
expressionortheliteraryformusedbythesacredwritermakestoatrueandgenuineinterpretation.
Andlethimbeconvincedthatthispartofhistaskcannotbeneglectedwithoutseriousdetrimentto
Catholicexegesis."[5]BythispieceofadvicePiusXIIofhappymemoryenunciatedageneralruleof
hermeneutics,bywhichthebooksoftheOldTestamentaswellastheNewmustbeexplained.Forin
composingthemthesacredwritersemployedthewayofthinkingandwritingwhichwasinvogue
amongtheircontemporaries.Finally,theexegetewilluseallthemeansavailabletoprobemoredeeply
intothenatureofGospeltestimony,intothereligiouslifeoftheearlychurches,Andintothesenseand
thevalueofapostolictradition.

V.Asoccasionwarrants,theinterpretermayexaminewhatreasonableelementsarecontainedinthe
"FormCriticalmethod"thatcanbeusedforafullerunderstandingoftheGospels.Butlethimbewary,
becausescarcelyadmissiblephilosophicalandtheologicalprincipleshaveoftencometobemixedwith
thismethod,whichnotuncommonlyhavevitiatedthemethoditselfaswellastheconclusionsinthe
literaryarea.Forsomeproponentsofthismethodhavebeenledastraybytheprejudicedviewsof
rationalism.Theyrefusetoadmittheexistenceofasupernaturalorderandtheinterventionofa
personalGodintheworldthroughstrictrevelation,andthepossibilityandexistenceofmiraclesand
prophecies.Othersbeginwithafalseideaoffaith,asifithadnothingtodowithhistoricaltruthor
ratherwereincompatiblewithit.Othersdenythehistoricalvalueandnatureofthedocumentsof
revelationalmostapriori.Finally,othersmakelightoftheauthorityoftheapostlesaswitnessesto
Christ,andoftheirtaskandinfluenceintheprimitivecommunity,extollingratherthecreativepower
ofthatcommunity.AllsuchviewsarenotonlyopposedtoCatholicdoctrine,butarealsodevoidof
scientificbasisandalientothecorrectprinciplesofhistoricalmethod.

VI.2.TojudgeproperlyconcerningthereliabilityofwhatistransmittedintheGospels,theinterpreter
shouldpaydiligentattentiontothethreestagesoftraditionbywhichthedoctrineandthelifeofJesus
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havecomedowntous.

VII.ChristourLordjoinedtoHimselfchosendisciples,[6]whofollowedHimfromthebeginning,[7]saw
Hisdeeds,heardHiswords,andinthiswaywereequippedtobewitnessesofHislifeanddoctrine.[8]
WhentheLordwasorallyexplainingHisdoctrine,Hefollowedthemodesofreasoningandofexposition
whichwereinvogueatthetime.HeaccommodatedHimselftothementalityofHislistenersandsaw
toitthatwhatHetaughtwasfirmlyimpressedonthemindandeasilyrememberedbythedisciples.
ThesemenunderstoodthemiraclesandothereventsofthelifeofJesuscorrectly,asdeedsperformed
ordesignedthatmenmightbelieveinChristthroughthem,andembracewithfaiththedoctrineof
salvation.

VIII.TheapostlesproclaimedaboveallthedeathandresurrectionoftheLord,astheyborewitnessto
Jesus.[9]TheyfaithfullyexplainedHislifeandwords,[10]whiletakingintoaccountintheirmethodof
preachingthecircumstancesinwhichtheirlistenersfoundthemselves.[11]AfterJesusrosefromthe
deadandHisdivinitywasclearlyperceived,[12]faith,farfromdestroyingthememoryofwhathad
transpired,ratherconfirmedit,becausetheirfaithrestedonthethingswhichJesusdidandtaught.[13]
NorwasHechangedintoa"mythical"personandHisteachingdeformedinconsequenceoftheworship
whichthedisciplesfromthattimeonpaidJesusastheLordandtheSonofGod.Ontheotherhand,
thereisnoreasontodenythattheapostlespassedontotheirlistenerswhatwasreallysaidanddone
bytheLordwiththatfullerunderstandingwhichtheyenjoyed,[14]havingbeeninstructedbythe
gloriouseventsoftheChristandtaughtbythelightoftheSpiritofTruth.[15]So,justasJesusHimself
afterHisresurrection"interpretedtothem"[16]thewordsoftheOldTestamentaswellasHisown,[17]
theytoointerpretedHiswordsanddeedsaccordingtotheneedsoftheirlisteners."Devoting
themselvestotheministryoftheword,"[18]theypreachedandmadeuseofvariousmodesof
speakingwhichweresuitedtotheirownpurposeandthementalityoftheirlisteners.Fortheywere
debtors[19]"toGreeksandbarbarians,tothewiseandthefoolish."[20]Butthesemodesofspeaking
withwhichthepreachersproclaimedChristmustbedistinguishedand(properly)assessed:catecheses,
stories,testimonia,hymns,doxologies,prayersandotherliteraryformsofthissortwhichwerein
SacredScriptureandwereaccustomedtobeusedbymenofthattime.

IX.Thisprimitiveinstruction,whichwasatfirstpassedonbywordofmouthandtheninwritingforit
soonhappenedthatmanytried"tocompileanarrativeofthethings"[21]whichconcernedtheLord
JesuswascommittedtowritingbythesacredauthorsinfourGospelsforthebenefitofthechurches,
withamethodsuitedtothepeculiarpurposewhicheach(author)setforhimself.Fromthemanythings
handeddowntheyselectedsomethings,reducedotherstoasynthesis,(still)otherstheyexplicatedas
theykeptinmindthesituationofthechurches.Withevery(possible)meanstheysoughtthattheir
readersmightbecomeawareofthereliability[22]ofthosewordsbywhichtheyhadbeeninstructed.
Indeed,fromwhattheyhadreceivedthesacredwritersaboveallselectedthethingswhichweresuited
tothevarioussituationsofthefaithfulandtothepurposewhichtheyhadinmind,andadaptedtheir
narrationofthemtothesamesituationsandpurpose.Sincethemeaningofastatementalsodepends
onthesequence,theEvangelists,inpassingonthewordsanddeedsofourSaviour,explainedthese
nowinonecontext,nowinanother,dependingon(their)usefulnesstothereaders.Consequently,let
theexegeteseekoutthemeaningintendedbytheEvangelistinnarratingasayingoradeedina
certainwayorinplacingitinacertaincontext.Forthetruthofthestoryisnotatallaffectedbythe
factthattheEvangelistsrelatethewordsanddeedsoftheLordinadifferentorder,[23]andexpress
hissayingsnotliterallybutdifferently,whilepreserving(their)sense.[24]For,asSt.Augustinesays,
"ItisquiteprobablethateachEvangelistbelievedittohavebeenhisdutytorecountwhathehadtoin
thatorderinwhichitpleasedGodtosuggestittohismemoryinthosethingsatleastinwhichthe
order,whetheritbethisorthat,detractsinnothingfromthetruthandauthorityoftheGospel.Butwhy
theHolySpirit,whoapportionsindividuallytoeachoneasHewills,[25]andwhothereforeundoubtedly
alsogovernedandruledthemindsoftheholy(writers)inrecallingwhattheyweretowritebecauseof
thepreeminentauthoritywhichthebooksweretoenjoy,permittedonetocompilehisnarrativeinthis
way,andanotherinthat,anyonewithpiousdiligencemayseekthereasonandwithdivineaidwillbe
abletofindit."[26]

X.Unlesstheexegetepaysattentiontoallthesethingswhichpertaintotheoriginandcompositionof
theGospelsandmakesproperuseofallthelaudableachievementsofrecentresearch,hewillnotfulfil
histaskofprobingintowhatthesacredwritersintendedandwhattheyreallysaid.Fromtheresultsof
thenewinvestigationsitisapparentthatthedoctrineandthelifeofJesuswerenotsimplyreportedfor
thesolepurposeofbeingremembered,butwere"preached"soastooffertheChurchabasisoffaith
andofmorals.Theinterpreter(then),bytirelesslyscrutinizingthetestimonyoftheEvangelists,willbe
abletoillustratemoreprofoundlytheperennialtheologicalvalueoftheGospelsandbringoutclearly
hownecessaryandimportanttheChurchsinterpretationis.

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XI.Therearestillmanythings,andofthegreatestimportance,inthediscussionandexplanationof
whichtheCatholicexegetecanandmustfreelyexercisehisskillandgeniussothateachmay
contributehisparttotheadvantageofall,tothecontinuedprogressofsacreddoctrine,tothe
preparationandfurthersupportofthejudgmenttobeexercisedbytheecclesiasticalmagisterium,and
tothedefenseandhonoroftheChurch.[27]Butlethimalwaysbedisposedtoobeythemagisteriumof
theChurch,andnotforgetthattheapostles,filledwiththeHolySpirit,preachedthegoodnews,and
thattheGospelswerewrittenundertheinspirationoftheHolySpirit,whopreservedtheirauthorsfrom
allerror."Nowwehavenotlearnedoftheplanofoursalvationfromanyothersthanthosethrough
whomthegospelhascometous.Indeed,whattheyoncepreachedtheylaterpassedontousinthe
ScripturesbythewillofGod,asthegroundandpillarofourfaith.Itisnotrighttosaythatthey
preachedbeforetheyhadacquiredperfectknowledge,assomewouldventuretosaywhoboastof
beingcorrectorsoftheapostles.Infact,afterourLordrosefromthedeadandtheywereinvestedwith
powerfromonhigh,astheHolySpiritcameuponthem,theywerefilledwithall(Hisgifts)andhad
perfectknowledge.Theywentforthtotheendsoftheearth,oneandallwithGodsgospel,announcing
thenewsofGodsbountytousandproclaimingheavenlypeacetomen."[28]

XII.3.Thosewhosetaskitistoteachinseminariesandsimilarinstitutionsshouldhaveitastheir
"primeconcernthatHolyScripturebesotaughtasboththedignityofthedisciplineandtheneedsof
thetimesrequire."[29]Lettheteachersaboveallexplainitstheologicalteaching,sothattheSacred
Scriptures"maybecomeforthefuturepriestsoftheChurchbothapureandneverfailingsourcefor
theirownspirituallife,aswellasfoodandstrengthforthesacredtaskofpreachingwhichtheyare
abouttoundertake."[30]Whentheypracticetheartofcriticism,especiallysocalledliterarycriticism,
letthemnotpursueitasanendinitself,butthatthroughittheymightmoreplainlyperceivethesense
intendedbyGodthroughthesacredwriter.Letthemnotstop,therefore,halfway,contentonlywith
theirliterarydiscoveries,butshowinadditionhowthesethingsreallycontributetoaclearer
understandingofrevealeddoctrine,or,ifitbethecase,totherefutationoferrors.Instructorswho
followthesenormswillenabletheirstudentstofindinSacredScripturethatwhichcan"raisethemind
toGod,nourishthesoul,andfurthertheinteriorlife."[31]

XIII.4.ThosewhoinstructtheChristianpeopleinsacredsermonshaveneedofgreatprudence.Let
themaboveallpassondoctrine,mindfulofSt.Paulswarning:"Looktoyourselfandyourteaching
holdontothat.Forbysodoingyouwillsavebothyourselfandthosewholistentoyou."[32]Theyare
torefrainentirelyfromproposingvainorinsufficientlyestablishednovelties.Asfornewopinions
alreadysolidlyestablished,theymayexplainthem,ifneedbe,butwithcautionandduecarefortheir
listeners.Whentheynarratebiblicalevents,letthemnotaddimaginativedetailswhicharenot
consonantwiththetruth.

XIV.Thisvirtueofprudenceshouldbecherishedespeciallybythosewhopublishforthefaithful.Let
themcarefullybringforththeheavenlyrichesofthedivineword"thatthefaithfulmaybemovedand
inflamedrightlytoconformtheirlives(tothem)."[33]Theyshouldconsideritasacreddutyneverto
departintheslightestdegreefromthecommondoctrineandtraditionoftheChurch.Theyshould
indeedexploitalltherealadvancesofbiblicalsciencewhichthediligenceofrecent(students)has
produced.Buttheyaretoavoidentirelytherashremarksofinnovators.[34]Theyarestrictlyforbidden
todisseminate,ledonbysomeperniciousitchfornewness,anytrialsolutionsfordifficultieswithouta
prudentselectionandseriousdiscrimination,forthustheyperturbthefaithofmany.

XV.ThisPontificalBiblicalCommissionhasalreadyconsidereditpropertorecallthatbooksandarticles
inmagazinesandnewspapersonbiblicalsubjectsaresubjecttotheauthorityandjurisdictionof
ordinaries,sincetheytreatofreligiousmattersandpertaintothereligiousinstructionofthefaithful.
[35]Ordinariesarethereforerequestedtokeepwatchwithgreatcareoverpopularwritingsofthis
sort.

XVI.5.Thosewhoareinchargeofbiblicalassociationsaretocomplyfaithfullywiththenormslaid
downbythePontificalBiblicalCommission.[36]

XVII.Ifallthesethingsareobserved,thestudyoftheSacredScriptureswillcontributetothebenefitof
thefaithful.EveninourtimeeveryonerealizesthewisdomofwhatSt.Paulwrote:TheSacredWritings
"caninstruct(us)forsalvationthroughfaithinChristJesus.AllScriptureisdivinelyinspiredand
profitableforteaching,forreproof,forcorrection,andfortraininginuprightness,sothatthemanof
Godmaybeperfect,equippedforeverygoodwork."[37]

XVIII.TheHolyFather,PopePaulVI,attheaudiencegraciouslygrantedtotheundersignedsecretary
onApril21,1964,approvedthisInstructionandorderedthepublicationofit.

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Rome,April21,1964
BenjaminN.Wambacq,O.Praem.
SecretaryoftheCommission

FootnotestothePBC's"Instruction"

*[Fitzmyer'sNote]:ThenumberingofthefootnotesoftheLatinisgenerallypreservedoccasionallyit
hasbeennecessarytoreversetwoofthembecauseoftheEnglishwording.Wordsaddedin
parenthesesdonotappearintheLatintexttheyaresuppliedforthesakeoftheEnglish.Cf.notes2
and8supra.ForsomestrangereasonthereferencestotheEncyclicalDivinoafflanteSpirituaregiven
intheLatintextoftheInstructiontotheItaliantranslationoftheEncyclicalinActaapostolicaesedis
wehavechangedthemtothecorrespondingpagesoftheofficialLatintext.

1)1Tim3:15.

2)DivinoafflanteSpiritu(hereafterDaS)46(EB564AAS35[1943]319RSS101).

3)Cf.SpiritusParaclitus2,3(EB451RSS50).

4)ApostolicLetterVigilantiae(EB143RSS33).

5)DaS38(EB560AAS35[1943]316RSS98).

6)Mk3:14Lk6:13.

7)Lk1:2Acts1:2122.

8)Lk24:48Jn15:27Acts1:810:3913:31.

9)Lk24:4448Acts2:323:155:3032.

10)Acts10:3641.

11)CompareActs13:1641withActs17:2231.

12)Acts2:36Jn20:28.

13)Acts2:2210:3739.

14)Jn2:2212:1611:5152cf.14:2616:12137:39.

15)Jn14:2616:13.

16)Lk24:27.

17)Lk24:4445Acts1:3.

18)Acts6:4.

19)1Cor9:1923.

20)Rom1:14.

21)Lk1:1.

22)Lk1:4.

23)Cf.JohnChrysostom,Hom.inMatth.1,3(PG57,1617).

24)Augustine,DeconsensuEvangelistarum2,12,28(PL34,109091CSEL43,12729).

25)1Cor12:11.

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26)DeconsensuEvangelistarum2,21,5152(PL34,1102CSEL43,153).

27)DaS47(EB565AAS35[1943]319RSS102).

28)Irenaeus,Adversushaereses3,1,1(Harvey2,2PG7,844).

29)ApostolicLetterQuoniaminrebiblica(EB162RSS36).

30)DaS55(EB567AAS35[1943]322RSS104).

31)DaS25(EB552AAS35[1943]311RSS93).

32)1Tim4:16.

33)DaS50(EB566AAS35[1943]320RSS103).

34)ApostolicLetterQuoniaminrebiblica13(EB175RSS38).

35)InstructionDeconsocialionibusbiblicis(EB626).

36)Ibid.(EB62233).

37)2Tim3:1517.

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