God's Word: Scripture, Tradition, OfficeIn this book Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, presents the Word of God as a living reality in the Church. God's Word, according to Ratzinger, is encountered in the Bible, in Tradition, and through the teaching Office of the Bishop, who, through apostolic succession, is to be the servant of and witness to the divine Word. Ratzinger examines as well the relationship between the Episcopacy and the Papacy. He also considers the nature of Apostolic Succession, and he responds to Reformed objections to the Catholic view of the subject. His treatment is sympathetic to the concerns of non-Catholic Christians while remaining faithful to Catholic teaching and practice. This book also includes the famous Erasmus Lecture of Cardinal Ratzinger, which assesses the strengths and weaknesses of modern critical approaches to biblical interpretation. Ratzinger proposes a new approach that avoids the pitfalls of a narrowly critical outlook on the Bible without succumbing to fundamentalism. God's Word provides profound insights into Pope Benedict XVI's efforts to renew the Church's participation in God's Truth through the divine Word, as well as the Church's mission to proclaim the Word to all people. |
Contents
7 | |
13 | |
Reflections on the Nature of Apostolic | 22 |
Successio Papalis and Successio Episcopalis | 31 |
Theses on the Relation between Revelation | 51 |
Common terms and phrases
according actual already apostolic apostolica appears authority basis becomes beginning Bible biblical bishops Bultmann Catholic Cervini Christ Christian Church clear clearly closely concept concept of tradition concerning concrete connection Council course critical decree determined developed direction discussion doctrine dogma ecclesiae element essential event exegesis existence expressed fact faith finally formulated fundamental further given gospel hand historical Holy human idea important individual interpretation Jesus kind living means method nature offers Old Testament once original pope position possible practice precisely present principle problem pure question Ratzinger reality recognized refers reflections regarded relation remains revelation Rome Scrip Scripture sense side simply Spirit stand succession task theology things thought tion tradition Trent true truth turn understanding unity Vatican whole witness word written