Relation Between the Revelation and the Holy Scripture According to Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI)

Sławomir Zatwardnicki

Faculty of Theology in Wroclaw , Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7597-6604

Abstract

Joseph Ratzinger strongly emphasized the difference between the Revelation and the Holy Scripture. The divine Revelation can not be made equal with the letter of the Bible for in fact it is Christ himself who is the Revelation. The reality of the Revelation considered as an event is previous to the biblical account of this event and deeper than the latter. It means that the Revelation is always greater than the Scriptures themselves. Considering the Revelation and the Scriptures equitable means undermining the essence of the Christian faith which therefore becomes “religion of the Book” instead of being religion of the living Word. Understanding, what the Revelation and what the Holy Scripture is, is also a good starting point for taking into account the role of Tradition.

Keywords:

Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratiznger, Revelation, Holy Scripture, letter, spirit, interpretation, exegesis, Christ, God, man, Mary, Church, Tradition, Dei verbum, the Second Vatican Council, Verbum Domini