Dominic Russo
Mr. Lace
Junior Theology CP
4 May 2014
25th Sunday of Ordinary Time
According to the Pontifical Biblical Commission's Document, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church:
"The historical-critical method is the indispensable method for the scientific study of the meaning of ancient texts. Holy Scripture, inasmuch as it is the "word of God in human language," has been composed by human authors in all its various parts and in all the sources that lie behind them. Because of this, its proper understanding not only admits the use of this method but actually requires it."
This quote from The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church is saying that it is not suggested to use the historical-critical method, rather it is required to use it to interpret Scripture. It also states that it is the only method for scientifically studying the meaning of ancient texts. When using the historical-critical method you have to take into mind three things.
One is textual criticism, which is examining a text's original language or if there were different translations of the particular text. The second is source criticism, which is examining the written or oral sources of the text or how it parallels with another text. The third is form criticism, which is examining the genre of the particular text. In my paper I will analyze the readings from the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, which are Isaiah 55:6-9, Philippians 1:20C-24, 27A, and Matthew 20:1-16A. I will use source criticism to examine Isaiah 55:6-9. I will use textual criticism to examine Philippians 1:20C-24,27A. I will use form criticism to examine Matthew 20:1-16A. I will then use the information I gathered to determine what God is trying to communicate with the world through these three Scripture passages. In these...