Divino Afflante Spiritus (1943), Pope Pius XII, Bishop of
Rome, 1939-1958
Permitted scholars to use original text of
Scriptures. No claim
was made that
the Vulgate is always an accurate translation,
but that it is free from any errors in faith or
morals. The
scholar must be principally concerned with the
literal sense
of the Scriptures; search out and expound the
spiritual sense;
avoid other figurative senses. Literary criticism
should be
employed. Stated that there are but few texts whose
sense
was determined by the authority of the Church (only
seven
biblical passages have been definitively interpreted
in
defending traditional doctrine and morals--Jn 3:5,
Lk 22:19,
1 Cor 11:24, Jn 20:22, Jn 20:23, Rom 5:12, Ja 5:
14); this
counteracts the frequent misunderstanding that
Catholics
have no freedom interpreting the Scriptures.