Holy Scripture
COMPENDIUM
The truths which God has revealed are contained in Holy Scripture and Tradition. Holy Scripture is the collection of sacred writings of Prophets and Sacred Writers, Apostles and Evangelists, inspired by the Holy Ghost, and received by the Church as inspired. Holy Scripture is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains the inspired books written before the coming of Jesus Christ; the New Testament, those written after His coming.
Holy Scripture is generally called the Holy Bible. The word Bible means the collection of sacred books, the Book par excellence, the Books of books, the Book inspired by God. Holy Scripture us called the book par excellence, because of the excellence of the matter of which is treats, and because of its Author.
In Holy Scripture, there can be no error, because, as it is all inspired, the Author of all its parts is God Himself. This does not hinder some of the copies and translations from containing some mistakes of copyists and translators. Nevertheless, in the editions received and approved by the Catholic Church, there can be no errors in what concerns faith or morals.
The reading of the Bible is not necessary for all Christians, since they are taught by the Church; but still it is very useful and recommended to all. We may read those vernacular translations of the Bible which are recognized as faithful by the Church, and which are provided with explanations approved by her. But only her approved translations may be read, because she is the sole legitimate guardian of the Bible.
We can ascertain the true sense of Holy Scripture only through the Church, because the Church alone cannot err in her interpretation of it. If a Catholic were offered the Bible by a Protestant, or by one of their emissaries, he should reject it with horror, because it is forbidden by the Church; and if he has obtained it inadvertently, he should at once throw it into the fire, or give it to his parish Priest. Protestant Bibles are forbidden, because they are corrupted or contain errors, and because they are not approved by the Church and are without notes explanatory of difficult passages, and hence may do harm to the Faith. And for this reason, the Church forbids even translations of Holy Scripture already approved by her is they are reprinted without explanations which she has approved.
CATECHISM
874. Where are the truths which God has revealed contained?
The truths which God has revealed are contained in Holy Scripture and in Tradition.
875. What is Holy Scripture?
Holy Scripture is the collection of books written under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, by the Prophets and the Hagiographers, the Apostles and the Evangelists. These books have been received by the Church as inspired.
876. How is Holy Scripture divided?
Holy Scripture is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
877. What is the Old Testament?
The Old Testament comprises the inspired books written before the coming of Jesus Christ.
878. What is the New Testament?
The New Testament comprises the inspired books written after the coming of Jesus Christ.
879. What is the common name for Holy Scripture?
The common name for Holy Scripture is the Holy Bible.
880. What is the meaning of the word Bible?
The word Bible means the collection of holy books, the Book par excellence, the Book of books, the book inspired by God.
881. Why is Holy Scripture called the book par excellence?
Holy Scripture is so called because of the surpassing merit of the content as well as the author who inspired it.
882. Can there be any error in Holy Scripture?
There cannot be any error in Holy Scripture, since, indeed, it is inspired by God. The Author of all of the books is God Himself. This does not prevent that, in copies and translations that have been made, some errors on the part of the copyists or translators may have crept into it.
883. Is the reading of the Bible necessary to all Christians?
The reading of the Bible is not necessary to all Christians, since they are instructed by the Church; however, its reading is very useful and recommended to all.
884. May any translation of the Bible, in the vernacular, be read?
We can read those translations of the Bible in the vernacular which have been acknowledged as faithful by the Catholic Church and which have explanations also approved by the Church.
885. Why may we only read translations of the Bible approved by the Church?
We may only read translations of the Bible approved by the Church because she alone is the lawful guardian of the Bible.
886. Through which means can we know the true meaning of the Holy Scripture?
We can only know the true meaning of Holy Scripture through the Church's interpretation, because she alone is secure against error in that interpretation.
887. What should a Christian do who has been given a Bible by a Protestant or by an agent of the Protestants?
A Christian to whom a Bible has been offered by a Protestant or an agent of the Protestants should reject it with disgust, because it is forbidden by the Church. If it was accepted by inadvertence, it must be burnt as soon as possible or handed in to the parish Priest.
888. Why does the Church forbid Protestant Bibles?
The Church forbids Protestant Bibles because, either they have been altered and contain errors, or not having her approbation and footnotes explaining the obscure meanings, they may be harmful to the Faith. It is for that same reason that the Church even forbids translations of the Holy Scriptures already approved by her which have been reprinted without the footnotes approved by her.