We read the Bible within the tradition of the Church to benefit from the holiness and wisdom of those who have gone before us. As long ago as the 5th century, St. Jerome, a Father and Doctor of the Catholic Church insisted that “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ!”

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Why do we read the Bible?

We read the Bible to benefit from the holiness and wisdom of those who have gone before us. The Bible is an ancient text, but is still relevant to our lives today. As long ago as the 5th century, St. Jerome, a Father and Doctor of the Catholic Church insisted that “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ!”

The Bible is not one book

The Bible is not one long book! In fact it’s a collection of 73 books, written by many different people, and at many different times. In fact, the word “Bible” comes from a Greek plural noun, ta biblia, meaning the books.

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How the Bible speaks to Catholics

Catholics believe that there are different ways to read and understand the Bible, these different methods of interpreting the Bible can deepen our relationship with God:

• the literal sense: the meaning of Scripture is conveyed by the words and discovered by critical explanation or interpretation of a text, following the rules of sound interpretation. All other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal.

• the spiritual sense: In light of the unity of God’s plan, not just what the text of Scripture says literally;  but  real-life events that the Bible speaks about can also be signs.

• the moral sense: the events we read in Scripture should lead us to act justly and fairly to live morally.

• the allegorical sense: we can find a more profound understanding of events by seeing their significance in Christ. An allegory are words, pictures or stories which contain a different meaning. An example of this would be the crossing of the Red Sea – we can see this as a sign of Christ’s victory and of Christian baptism.

• the anagogical sense (Greek: anagoge, “leading”): the realities and events in the Bible, in terms of their eternal significance, lead us home to God. So the Church on earth is a sign of the heavenly Jerusalem.

How does the Bible help Catholics grow in faith?

The Catholic Church gives three important points for interpreting and understanding the Bible. She says we should:

1. Be attentive to the content and unity of the whole Scripture (Catechism, 112). It all fits together as a coherent vision, so we shouldn’t just look at selected parts in isolation.

2. Read the Bible within the living tradition of the whole Church (Catechism, 113). The Holy Spirit guides the Church in interpreting Scripture; and we find many examples of how the Saints, Popes, Early Church Fathers and Mothers, and Church Councils have commented on Scripture and its meaning throughout history.

3. Pay attention to the coherence of the truths of faith among themselves and within the whole plan of Revelation” (Catechism, 114). The entire deposit of faith forms a wonderful unity – doctrine sheds light on Scripture, and Scripture on doctrine

Would you like to understand more about the Bible?

You can download our free guide which will give you a timeline of the Bible, and tell you how the Old and New Testaments fit together.

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Download the full introduction to the Bible for free here.

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