1. What is the Bible all about? What is the purpose of the Bible?  And what is its message?

Sr Marie: “To the question – what is the Bible?, I would say that the Bible is certainly ‘the Word of God’. Yet, since it was written by human beings, it is also the product of a certain culture and reflects particular moments in human history.

The purpose of the Bible is to reveal to God’s immense love for us human beings. So it helps us draw closer to God in our response to that love.

The main message of the Bible is precisely to lead human beings to an awareness of God’s presence in their lives, an awareness of God’s tender care and that he created human beings in order to make them sharers of his creative love.  The Bible is called ‘the history of salvation’ because in, and through it, we perceive God offering us salvation and redeeming us continually, to lead us to himself. Thus, the main message of the Bible is this bond that God desires to have with human beings: “You shall be my people and I shall be your God.”

The word ‘Bible’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘the book’. A bible scholar has called it “The Word of God in words of men”: God’s loving revelation of himself to human beings written in human form and language. The Jews used the title ‘the Book’ to denote their sacred writings. We find these writings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. To these writings, the Christian Church has added some early Christian writings which are considered to be ‘inspired’. These include the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, Pauline letters and other letters, and the book of Revelation.”

2. Who wrote the Bible and why?

Sr Marie: “The Bible is not one book, written by one person. There are seventy three books. Forty six books are in the Old Testament, and twenty seven in the New Testament. These books were written by different authors. They were mainly written in Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek languages. Hence, they are the product of the community of faith. Therefore, the Bible can be considered to be a whole library of books.

What all these books have in common is that they are born out of a faith in the living God.  Otherwise they vary in content and message, depending on the background of the author, and the time in which a particular book was written. What makes a unity of this ‘library’ is the conviction of all the authors that Yahweh is the true and living God. Inspired by his Spirit, these authors narrate how God has created the universe and all it contains. Above all, they write about God’s love for human beings, which is everlasting and unchangeable.”

3. When was the Bible written?

Sr Marie: “The Bible grew out of the life of the Judeo-Christian community. It is not purely a literary device. The Bible was not preserved because it was ‘literature’ but because it reflects the intimate relationship of man with God.  It took many years to be formed. The Old Testament spans 1000 years of Israelite history, while the New Testament covers the first 100 years or so of Christianity.

The composition of the Bible is both complex and varied. Some writings come from one source and clearly reflect the author’s personality. Others are the work of successive generations. In these books, different generations added different insights.  Thus, what we have in the Bible is a ‘shared memory’ of a living tradition.

4. Is the Bible true?  Is the Bible historical?

Sr Marie: “Some of the events described in the Bible, such as the Exodus from Egypt, the conquest of Palestine, the life of Jesus Christ, and the spread of the Gospel, are truly historical  However, the term ‘historical’ as understood in the modern sense, is inadequate to describe what is written in the Bible. The ‘historians’ to whom we owe these writings were not just recording events. Their main concern was to tell the story of a community of faith, rather than to narrate the political or social events of the day. The writers gave the theological interpretation of the historical events. They did not necessarily accurately record the dates or other information of these events.

Thus, it is vital for someone who is studying the scriptures to recognise the form and intention of the author since this can be key to interpret the text. For example, the account of creation in the book of Genesis is not intended to be a literal account of how the universe came to be. It is a theological reflection on the fact that God is the Creator. Likewise, the story of the prophet Jonah, who was swallowed up by the whale and later thrown out on the shore, is not to be read as an historical narrative. It is a legend with an important truth to transmit. The run-away prophet is led by his experience in the pagan land of Nineveh to realise that faith in Yahweh, and salvation, is offered to all peoples. Through this narrative, we learn that these God-given gifts were not offered exclusively to Jews.

5. Why is the Bible called ‘the Word of God’? Why is it said to be ‘inspired’?

The Bible is called ‘the Word of God’. It is also said to be ‘inspired’ because the Bible communicates God’s revelation of himself through the medium of the history of Israel and of early Christianity. Furthermore, it continues to do this in every epoch of human history. Yet we are dealing with the written word – Scripture.

We know that the writing of the Bible took place over a period of time. These biblical writings emerged from the awareness of the faith-community that God was present in their midst. Thus, in this process of writing, human history becomes the gradual unfolding of the face of God on the one hand, and of the face of man on the other. It is always a two-fold revelation. Scripture reveals to us the tender, loving heart of God. It reveals a God who is always ready to forgive and ‘re-create’ what human beings mess up. At the same time, we find narratives about the tortuous nature of man, ever bent on doing evil.”

6. What is the key to applying the Bible to my life? Why is the Bible important?

Sr Marie: “First of all, the Bible needs to be prayed over. The message which the Bible conveys needs to be assimilated before it can be applied to our own lives.  We also have to read the Bible in the light of faith. If we read the Bible in this way, we realise that it is not simply an account of how the Jewish people came to believe in the one God. It is not just about their struggles to maintain that faith. We realise that it is also an account of my own relationship with God. ‘Salvation history’ is my history.

In the history of Israel, in the response that individuals make to the love of God revealed in Scripture, I recognise my own story. I recognise my weak response. I also recognise the constant calls that God makes in my life or situation.

The Bible is important because through it God speaks to us in a special way. It is his Word, and through it God reveals himself to us through the experiences, struggles, faith and doubt of the Jewish people. Hence, in the Bible we see a mirror of our own story.  The Bible is a paradigm for humanity. In the events recorded in the Bible we can see our own history as peoples, as nations, and even as individuals.

St. Paul tells us: “Scripture was written for our instruction” (1 Corinthians 10:11). In and through the Bible we see salvation history as it happens  in our own lives. In this sense the Bible epitomises the human experience of God. It reveals our struggle to believe, and narrates our struggle against evil.  Above all the Bible reveals God’s faithful love and mercy.”

7. Is the Bible a moral book?

Sr Marie: “The Bible is not a book of moral theology as understood in the modern sense. The unique message of God’s love for humanity, and humanity’s response to, or rejection of that love, is expressed in a variety of ways. A variety of literary forms are used. We find poetry, for example Psalms and Song of Songs, historical novels such as those about Ruth and Esther, popular tales like the story of Job, and national events.

While reading the Bible one also needs to take in consideration the writers’ way of thinking. Semitic ‘logic’ is very different from Greek or modern logic. Modern mentality tends to be more philosophical and abstract whereas the Semite thinks differently.  A good example to demonstrate this would be the Gospel parables. In answer to ‘Who is my neighbour?’ Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan with the invitation at the end: “You go and do likewise’.

We need to adopt the Semitic way of thinking in order to understand that the Bible is offering us this guidance as a way of life.  We are called, in the words of the prophet Micah, to ‘walk humbly with our God’. That has moral implications and exigencies for justice, human relationships…”

8. Is the Bible sexist?

Sr Marie: “The Bible was written within a Semitic culture. Therefore, we cannot interpret it by our own criteria of gender equality. One must not forget that it was written by a people who lived in a different epoch. These people expressed themselves in a distinct way and had a particular mentality and culture.

Most of the Bible was written in a patriarchal culture where women were considered inferior to men. A woman was blamed for the sin of our first parents. Sirach (42: 14) goes so far as to say “Better the wickedness of man than the goodness of a woman”. Texts such as this reveal the extent to which cultural prejudice influenced the concept of the woman over the centuries.

God is spirit and has no gender. However, God is always referred to in masculine terms both in speech and in the liturgy.  Hence masculine images of such as Father and King, dominate. This is in contrast to the surrounding, concurrent, polytheistic cultures which featured mainly female images of the deity such as Astarte and Isis. These religious cults were often linked to sexual orgies, temple prostitution and other sexually related practices. Through its images of God, the Israelite’s religion tried to show that it was distinct from other religions.

Although the image of God as King and Father dominate, in the Bible we also find feminine images of God.  Thus, both male and female images are equally good ways of addressing God. God is both Father and Mother. These images express our way as humans of naming the mystery that is God.

Whatever gender image we use for God expresses our own experience of God. So this varies from person to person.

Jesus treats women and man with equal love and respect

It is centuries after the first books of the Bible were written that we see Jesus treating men and women equally. Jesus’ attitude towards women is in marked contrast to the way women were undervalued in his day. In the Gospel tradition men and women are treated alike.  In the Gospels, both men and women are equally loved by God and equally responsible for their fidelity to God. As St Paul remarks, “In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3: 28)

9. Which 3 Bible verses are good to memorise?

“I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31: 3)

“He (Christ) loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2: 20)

“Come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22: 20)

Read more:
– Top Popes’ Quotes About The Truth Of The Bible
– The Gospels: A Commentary

The post What is the Bible? – Catholic Answers by Sr Marie appeared first on Universe of Faith.

“Be perfect therefore as your Father is perfect” (Mt 5;48) This verse has always confused me. Surely the expectation is a little (or very) unrealistic? It is no secret that humans tend towards selfishness. We are hard-wired to survive in a habitat that is not always friendly like all creatures in the animal kingdom so we are very focused on our own well-being. I believe that even altruistic people are motivated by what gives them satisfaction and that is neither a bad thing nor a good thing. It’s just the way we are.

The pleasure seeker and the respectable citizen

Some find satisfaction in the pursuit of personal pleasure. These people crave instant gratification and do not bother who they hurt in order to achieve it. These are the hedonistic libertines of our society. The more they have the more they want. On the extreme opposite pole there are those who are satisfied by obeying rules and being respectable citizens. These tend to be rigid and judgemental. These are the bigoted, perpetually resentful members of our society. These persons are still driven by what gives them satisfaction so they are also self-centered.

Id and Superego, the two brothers, found in every person

In Freud’s theory of the personality, these two opposing forces are found in every person. The self gratifying part of us is called the Id and it is always in conflict with the Superego that is the rule respecting, rigid version of us. If there is an imbalance between them one aspect will become dominant and the person in question will either become a libertine or a bigot. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son these two forces within us are vividly represented by the prodigal, debauched son and his prim, judgemental, obnoxious brother. These two brothers are both found within us.

Father Ego

According to Freud, there is then a third aspect of the human personality. It is the Ego (not to be confused with the common use of the word with its negative connotations related to pride). The Ego is the third part of the human personality which mediates between the Id and the Superego and incorporates them in a healthy way. The Ego allows the creative, questing force of the Id to flow but channels it through good sense and reason so that the individual’s safety and the rights of society are respected.

The mediator between the two brothers in the aforementioned parable is the Father. He is always in control. He is the perfect balance between tenderness and assertiveness. His motivation is not selfishness. He is driven by love. This is a detailed portrait of God the Father by the Man who knows Him best. It is what Jesus is proposing as a model when He tells us to be perfect like the Father.

Reconciling Id and Superego through Love

It is also a portrait of a healthy, human psyche which has a strong enough Ego that the conflict between the Superego and the Id, though ever ongoing, is mediated. The mediating factor is love. The love of God (see Pope Benedict’s letter God is Love, Part 1, Par 10) incorporates both the possessive, burning love called Eros which corresponds to the Id, and the dutiful, virtuous love called Philia which we may see as corresponding to the Superego. God seamlessly unifies these different forms of love through Agape which is divine, unconditional love. As the human being is led deeper into a reality of unity with God, his human limitations become transcended by the divine nature that he has inherited through the paschal mystery, saving the person from becoming either destructive (too ‘passionate’ that one destroys the other) or without life (only governed by duty).  As a result He gradually incorporates the human aspects of love previously governed by the Id and the Superego into a new reality transcended by Agape . This results in a healthier, holistic personality and the true fulfilment of human yearnings.

Read more from Nuntia:
– Prayer: The Fear Of Abandonment
– A Slow, Genuine, Spiritual Conversion Experience
– “I Faced My Fear” – Facing The Fear Of Rejection

The post Id Ego and Superego Compared to the Three Characters in the Prodigal Son appeared first on Universe of Faith.

1. Through the Bible we get to know God’s presence in human history

“The Bible is not a historical curio, but “the work of the Holy Spirit, through which we can hear the very voice of the Lord and know his presence in history , our human history.”
Pope Benedict 16th, The Church In The Middle East, 2012.

2. The Bible is a great story of mercy, love, tenderness, closeness and forgiveness

“The Bible is the great story of the marvels of God’s mercy. Every one of its pages is steeped in the love of the Father who from the moment of creation wished to impress the signs of his love on the universe. Through the words of the prophets and the wisdom writings, the Holy Spirit shaped the history of Israel as a recognition of God’s tenderness and closeness, despite the people’s infidelity. Jesus’ life and preaching decisively marked the history of the Christian community, which has viewed its mission in terms of Christ’s command to be a permanent instrument of his mercy and forgiveness.
Pope Francis, Mercy with Misery, 2016.

3. The Bible is the Church’s book

“The Bible is the Church’s book, and its essential place in the Church’s life gives rise to its genuine interpretation.”
Pope Benedict 16th, The Word Of The Lord, 2010.

4. The Bible is an essential element in teaching Catholic religion

“The communication of the truth and beauty of the word of God and knowledge of the Bible is an essential element of the curriculum for teaching the Catholic religion.”
Pope Benedict 16th, Address, 2009.

5. Love of God and neighbour as described in the Bible is central to Christian existence

“The essence of the love of God and neighbour as described in the Bible is shown to be the centre of Christian existence, the result of faith.”
Pope Benedict 16th, Address, 2006.

Read more:
– Top Pope Francis’ Quotes About Global And Local Solidarity
– Top Pope’s Quotes About Mother Mary – The Blessed Virgin

The post Top Popes’ Quotes About the Truth of the Bible appeared first on Universe of Faith.

I admit that there are Biblical texts where God seems to choose between one and the other. Many a time this choice is done in view of his plan. The one who is not chosen is not destroyed but is given another role. I am referring, as an example, to the choice between Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau. Regarding the choice of the Jews as a people in both the Old and the New Testament, God chooses for himself the Jews so that through them he will eventually get through all the nations, So, again, it is not a choice that excludes. This is why the Jews are referred to as those “through whom the imperishable light of the law was to be given to the world.” Wisdom 18:4.

Send us your question on hello@universeoffaith.org

Read more:
– What Is The Bible? – Catholic Answers By Sr Marie
– Top Popes’ Quotes About The Truth Of The Bible

The post Why Does God Choose Some and Excludes Others in the Old Testament? appeared first on Universe of Faith.