Disturbing Bible Passages

[Credo in Deum]

Please read 'Historical Accuracy.'

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08413a.htm

 

[BarbTherese]

http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/is-everything-in-the-bible-true

Genre and the Principle of Assertion

"When interpreting the "literal sense" of the Bible, we must distinguish between the narration and the form of narration, also known as genre. Narration is the telling of things that happened and genre is the style used to tell what happened. In all cultures, many different styles and methods are used to communicate messages.

Scholars have listed nine kinds of literary forms in the narrative literature or historical books of the Old Testament: fable, parable, historical epic, religious history, ancient history, popular tradition, liberal narrative, Midrash (commentary), and prophetical and apocalyptical narrative (John E. Steinmueller, A Companion to Scripture Studies, 33). Whatever genre is used, the question that must be considered is what the author asserted or intended to communicate by using this style of narration. The answer to this question will supply the literal sense of the passage.

For example, in Micah 3:2-3, we read, "You that hate good, and love evil; that violently pluck off their skins from them, and their flesh from their homes? Who have eaten the flesh of my people, and have flayed their skin from off them: and have broken, and chopped their bones as for the kettle, and as flesh in the midst of the pot." Does the author mean that the enemies of God’s people were cannibals? No: He is asserting that the enemies of God persecuted the people of God. The passage represents a common Hebraic style of writing employed to assert the reality of persecution and war (see also Deut. 32:42; Ezek. 39:17-18; Rev. 17:6, 16). To interpret this passage without considering the Hebrew genre, one would have to conclude that flesh was actually being eaten and blood actually being drunk.

The principle of affirmation or assertion is the key element in Biblical interpretation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "the reader must be attentive to what the human authors truly wanted to affirm and to what God wanted to reveal to us by their words" (CCC 109). Furthermore, "in order to discover the sacred authors’ intention," the Catechism states "the reader must take into account the conditions of their times and culture, the literal genres in use at that time, and the modes of feeling, speaking, and narrating then current" (CCC 110). Notice that the Catechism implies there are different modes of narrating, i.e., genres. The reason for the variety of genres is found in Dei Verbum, which states, "For the fact is that truth is differently presented and expressed in the various types of historical writing, in prophetical and poetical texts, and in other forms of literary expression" (12).

Therefore, when we engage in the difficult task of interpretation, the principle of affirmation or assertion, which is connected to genre, must be the guiding principle for the literal sense. The interpretation guidelines for the spiritual sense of Scripture can be found in paragraphs 111-117 of the Catechism.

Further Reading

• Fr. William G. Most, Free From All Error, second ed. (Prow, 1990)
• The Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, available at www.ewtn.com.
• Pope Benedict XV, Spiritus Paraclitus. Available at www.ewtn.com."

My brother's opinion on Job unfortunately was influenced by watching South Park.  I wish he stopped watching that trash.

The story is presented as God bragging to Satan about how wonderful Job is and Satan arguing back that he's only holy because God has blest him with so many good things. God responds that they'll see about that after he takes them away. Job still praises the Lord and God wins the challenge. A character on the show says it's the worst story he ever heard and that God just tormented Job to make a point. 

Sometimes we are the sower who goes out to sow and our seed falls amongst rocks.  I have reasoned that the wind(Holy Spirit) just could carry it to good and fertile soil since I have at times planted my seed so to say to have it completely rejected - and then years down the line find out that it actually flowered.

The other interesting point about the Parable of The Sower for me, is that the sower does not search around for good and fertile soil.  He simply goes out and casts his seeds, fall wherever they may.  Sow prayerfully and with detachment depending on The Lord who along can bring forth flowering. 

I know that sowing can be a frustrating type of labour and even a grief filled labour.  The fruits of The Holy Spirit are : CCC - 1832 The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."