1

—NOTES ON CFE 1, 10 2

Canon (Greek:
kanon; meaning rule,
norm, criterion, list
Alexandria translated the To recover their lost Jewish
LOOKING Hebrew texts into Greek and identity after the Fall of
BACK they included the 7
deuterocanonical books: Tobith,
Jerusalem, Jewish scribes
began compiling, preserving,
Judith, Baruch, Sirach, Wisdom, and translating the Hebrew
1 & 2 Macabees; 46 OT books texts. 7 deuterocanonical books
were removed; 39 OT books

Greek version of the Old

Testament 200 years before
Christ; 70 scholars from
 That is the reason why the 1600 years. Luther followed the 4

Catholics have 73 books and this Palestinian Canon that is why

has been the consistent teaching Protestants have 66 books.
of the Church’s tradition for almost
CRITERIA
What are the bases of the Church in determining the
inspired books?

The Sacred Scriptures belongs to the Church. It enriches Her and the Sacred
Tradition. The Sacred Tradition, as the very life of the Church under the
animation of the Holy Spirit, gives the framework to penetrate deeply the
meaning of God’s message contained in the Sacred Scriptures. We cannot
separate the Bible from the life of the people of whose context, struggles, and
religious experiences paved the development of the writing of the biblical
contents.
BIBLICAL
INTERPRETATION

exegesis eisegesis

There is always something to interpret

because there are written texts and
narrated stories.
 1

What does the biblical text mean? In

what point of understanding is this text
leading me into?

77
 2

What does the biblical text mean for me?

How can this text relate or explain my
situation?

“No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation,

for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of
God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
(2 Peter 1:19-20)
8
 FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN BIBLICAL
INTERPRETATION from the Catechism for Filipino
Catholics (92-96)

12345
the inspired
author’s intention
the text itself the reader
of the text
the common horizon
that connects the
original
community
its context with our
present
community today
9
 .
Its true and essential meaning is
grasped by those who share the faith
and the experiences of the people of
God

Scriptures as REVELATION
We cannot divorce the Scriptural contents
from the contexts and religious encounters
that paved the way for the process of its
writing under the inspiration of God. .
The meaning of the Biblical texts is not
disclosed by merely reading or studying the
Bible.
 10
What do you REMEMBER most from the

lesson? How significant is the Bible for you?

For your assignment, kindly write a simple reflection on

this question:

What insights from the Biblical inspiration did give you an

impact in your understanding of human relationships? (see
the details of this assignment in your classwork.

11
 “
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than
any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing
soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts
and attitudes of the heart.

—HEBREW 4:12

12
13