There are so many things to know about the Bible. Listed here are just a
few basic things that every Catholic must know. The list is not exhaustive. It
only lists very basic facts and information.
The Bible is composed of two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
One basic theme of the Bible is covenant. In the Old Testament, it is the
covenant between Yahweh and Israel. In the New Testament, it is between God
and the new Israel, the Church
God did not write the Bible. God only authored the Bible. The Bible was
compiled and written by men who were inspired to write the texts of the Bible
through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament of the Bible, the books are divided into three main
divisions: the Torah, the books of the Prophets, and the Wisdom Literature
In the New Testament of the Bible, the books are divided into the Gospels,
the letters of St. Paul, the other epistles, and the book of Revelation.
The Bible is not supposed to be viewed as a history book. It is a book that
simply states how God loves humanity by saving mankind from sin and death
through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ
Since the Bible is not a history book and it should not be seen from the
point of view of science, therefore it should not be a source to extract data
that is historical or scientific. Much of the writings of the Bible are myths
and wisdom literature. These types and forms of writing emphasize truth and
wisdom rather than facts, information and data.
The original language of the Old Testament is Hebrew since we borrowed these
books from the Jewish tradition.
The original language of the New Testament is Greek, since this was the
common language of the people during the New Testament era.
The first translation of the Bible was made by St. Jerome. This first book
of translation from the original languages of the Bible was translated into the
Latin language. This translation by St. Jerome is called the Vulgate.
There is another early translation of the Bible. It is called the Septuagint.
It is a translation of the original languages of the Bible into Greek.
In the translation of the Bible from the original language into present day
languages, there is something added or missing in the meaning of the original
term. We call these added or missing element nuances of meaning. That is why
those who want to specialize in the Bible, study the Bible in the original texts
of Hebrew and Greek. In a study such as these, the original nuances of meaning
are preserved.
The study or interpretation of the Bible using a scientific method of
analysis of historical and cultural contexts in which the passages were edited
is called "exegesis".
Many priests apply this exegesis of the Bible in their homilies when they
refer to certain data or historical fact associated with a certain phrase or
word in the Bible passage
It is the New American Bible translation that is usually used in the readings
of the Mass.
Good modern translations of the Bible are the following: New American Bible,
The Jerusalem Bible, The Good News Bible, and the Revised
Standard Version Bible.
For serious Bible studies, the Revised Standard Version of the Bible is recommended.
For liturgical purposes and for Bible sharing purposes, the New
American Bible is quite appropriate. For personal prayer and reflection, the
Good News Bible is very helpful. The Jerusalem Bible on the other hand is good
also for personal prayer and meditation and also for personal study because of
the good commentaries and notes at the bottom of the pages of this Bible.
There is not one perfect way or method of praying or of reading the Bible.
Choose the method that will be most helpful for your spiritual growth and for
your Bible education needs.
If you wish to know the Bible from a Catholic perspective, choose the
Jerome Bible Commentary or the series of commentaries published by Image Books.