As Catholics, we believe that the Bible is the Word of God in human words (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:13). Because it is the Word of God, it has meaning for all people of every time and place. Still, we must recall that the books of the Bible were written at a particular time in history and, as such, require interpretation to understand their full meaning for us today.
The task of interpretation involves three steps. First, we must hear the word from within our concrete situation. Second, we must identify the aspects of our present situation highlighted or called into question by the biblical text. Finally, we must seek the meaning in the text that will help us understand our present situation and move forward in accord with God’s will. Such interpretation must take into account the literal meaning of the Scripture and the particular cultural circumstances in which it was written, what the rest of Scripture says about the question, and how the Church has interpreted that Scripture through the centuries. By prayerfully considering these elements, we can come to know God’s will, expressed in the Bible, more fully.
