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Documents of the Second Vatican Council

Dei Verbum: On Divine Revelation

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Carta Encíclica (37): Dei Verbum

Os Concílios Tridentino e Vaticano I entende propor a genuína doutrina sobre a revelação divina e a sua transmissão, para que, ouvindo o anúncio da salvação, o mundo inteiro acredite, acreditando espere, esperando ame.

27 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1964

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Second Vatican Council

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The Second Vatican Council (Latin: Concilium Oecumenicum Vaticanum Secundum, informally known as Vatican II) addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first ecumenical council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The council, through the Holy See, formally opened under the pontificate of Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8th December 1965.

Several changes resulted from the council, including the renewal of consecrated life with a revised charism, ecumenical efforts towards dialogue with other religions, and the call to holiness for everyone including the laity, according to Pope Paul VI "the most characteristic and ultimate purpose of the teachings of the Council".

According to Pope Benedict XVI, the most important and essential message of the council is "the Paschal Mystery as the center of what it is to be Christian and therefore of the Christian life, the Christian year, the Christian seasons". Other changes which followed the council included the widespread use of vernacular languages in the Mass instead of Latin, the subtle disuse of ornate clerical regalia, the revision of Eucharistic prayers, the abbreviation of the liturgical calendar, the ability to celebrate the Mass versus populum (with the officiant facing the congregation), as well as ad orientem (facing the "East" and the Crucifix), and modern aesthetic changes encompassing contemporary Catholic liturgical music and artwork, many of which remain divisive among the Catholic faithful.

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Profile Image for booklady.
2,739 reviews178 followers
September 21, 2008
As a lover of the written word and the Sacred Word above all, I am ashamed that I've taken so long to read this short and supremely succinct document from the Second Vatican Council on Divine Revelation. In the words of the synod: "Hearing the word of God reverently and proclaiming it confidently . . . (the Council sought) to set forth the authentic teaching on divine revelation and its transmission. For it wants the whole world to hear the summons to salvation, so that through hearing it may believe, through belief it may hope, and through hope it may come to come to love."¹

In Dei Verbum, we not only see the centrality of 'the Living Word of God preserved in the church the Apostles left bishops as their successors, "handing over" to them "the authority to teach in their own place."³ This sacred tradition, therefore, and Sacred Scripture of both the Old and New Testaments are like a mirror in which the pilgrim Church on earth looks at God, from whom she has received everything, until she is brought finally to see Him as He is, face to face (see 1 John 3:2).' As my instructor for "Post-Conciliar Catholicism" class says, "God speaks one language and it's the language of Life." The Holy Spirit spoke -- and speaks -- to us through the Sacred Scriptures, but God does not limit Himself to a book or books, however Divine. His Word is living and breathing, both in on-going exegesis and constantly expanding/deepening body of wisdom regarding Sacred Scripture, as well as the living river of History and Tradition. There was no Bible at Pentecost; the Church was born with fire and water, but no book. It was formed by the Holy Spirit from the living witness of the Apostles and the believers they baptized that day. And so the Church will always consist of believers.

Yet we also now have the added gift of the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ.

And in the most famous words from this document: 'The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the "excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:8). "For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ."(5) Therefore, they should gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text itself, whether it be through the liturgy, rich in the divine word, or through devotional reading, or through instructions suitable for the purpose and other aids which, in our time, with approval and active support of the shepherds of the Church, are commendably spread everywhere. And let them remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and man may talk together; for "we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine saying."(6)'

1. cf. St. Augustine, "De Catechizandis Rudibus," C.IV 8: PL. 40, 316.

3. cf. Leo XIII, encyclical "Providentissmus Deus:" EB 114; Benedict XV, encyclical "Spiritus Paraclitus:" EB 483.

5. St. Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah, Prol.: PL 24,17. cf. Benedict XV, encyclical "Spiritus Paraclitus:" EB 475-480; Pius XII, encyclical "Divino Afflante Spiritu:" EB 544.

6. St. Ambrose, On the Duties of Ministers I, 20,88: PL l6,50.

Profile Image for Manny.
113 reviews71 followers
May 24, 2022
What an important Church document. And for a Papal document, how easy to read. This document from Vatican II is on the nature of divine revelation, that is, how God made Himself known in the world, how that manifestation was written in inspired texts we call scripture, how that those scriptures are understood by the Church through the eyes of tradition, how the Church preserves that understanding, and how she promulgates it to the world. All in about nine or ten pages. Two quotes which sum up the document, from paragraphs 21 and 24:

The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God's word and of Christ's body….Therefore, like the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture. (21)

For the Sacred Scriptures contain the word of God and since they are inspired, really are the word of God; and so the study of the sacred page is, as it were, the soul of sacred theology. By the same word of Scripture the ministry of the word also, that is, pastoral preaching, catechetics and all Christian instruction, in which the liturgical homily must hold the foremost place, is nourished in a healthy way and flourishes in a holy way. (24)


If you are only going to read one papal document, read this one. All thoughtful Catholics should read Dei Verbum because the Bible is a Catholic book, and you should understand why it exists and how the Catholic Church preserves the Apostolic teaching from sacred scripture.
Profile Image for Nick Anderson.
42 reviews6 followers
October 29, 2025
Now I know all about this Dave Airboom guy Fr Mike keeps talking about in Catechism in a Year.

“[The Church] has ever considered, and considers, Holy Scripture to be, together with sacred Tradition, the supreme rule of her faith. Inspired as they are by God, and set down once and for all in writing, the Scriptures communicate unchangeably the word of God, and cause to resound in the words of prophets and apostles the voice of the Holy Spirit. All the Church's preaching, therefore, like the Christian religion itself, must be nourished and directed by holy Scripture.”
Profile Image for Samuel .
244 reviews26 followers
August 8, 2022
O čom je Dei Verbum?
Konštitúcia rozoberá dôležitú otázku pre každého kresťana - čo je to Zjavenie a o čom hovoríme, keď hovoríme, že naše náboženstvo je zjavené. Ak by som mal v skratke a možno trochu zavádzajúco zhrnúť, čo je to Zjavenie, tak poviem, že je to stretnutie človeka s Bohom, pričom je to Boh, ktorý prichádza za človekom.

Prečo som to čítal?
Jednak ma samozrejme zaujala vyššie položená otázka, jednak sme to mali čítať v kurze Teológia pre mladých.

Myšlienky z Dei Verbum
Týmto zjavením sa neviditeľný Boh vo svojej nesmiernej láske prihovára ľuďom ako priateľom a stýka sa s nimi , aby ich pozval a prijal do spoločenstva so sebou.

Najhlbšia pravda o Bohu, ako aj o ľudskej spáse nám týmto zjavením žiari v Kristovi, ktorý je prostredníkom a zároveň plnosťou celého Zjavenia

Boh dáva ľuďom vo stvorených veciach trvalé svedectvo o sebe.

Po Páde však vzbudil v ľuďoch nádej na spásu prisľúbením vykúpenia a ustavične sa staral o ľudstvo, aby všetkým, ktorí vytrvalým konaním dobra hľadajú spásu, daroval večný život.

Preto kresťanský poriadok spásy (oeconomia christiana), ako nová a definitívna zmluva, nikdy nepominie a pred slávnym zjavením nášho Pána Ježiša Krista už nemožno očakávať nijaké nové verejné zjavenie.

Aby sa však chápanie Zjavenia čoraz väčšmi prehlbovalo, ten istý Duch Svätý ustavične zdokonaľuje vieru svojimi darmi.

Svojím zjavením chcel Boh ukázať a dať poznať samého seba a večné rozhodnutie svojej vôle spasiť človeka, „aby ho urobil účastným božských dobier, ktoré presahujú každú ľudskú predstavu“.

Posvätná Tradícia a Sväté písmo teda navzájom úzko súvisia a sú spojené. Veď obe vyvierajú z toho istého božského prameňa, určitým spôsobom splývajú v jedno a smerujú k tomu istému cieľu. Sväté písmo je totiž Božie slovo, keďže bolo napísané z vnuknutia Ducha Svätého; a posvätná Tradícia zasa Božie slovo, ktoré Kristus Pán a Duch Svätý zveril apoštolom, neporušene odovzdáva ich nástupcom, aby ho, osvietení Duchom pravdy, svojou kazateľskou činnosťou verne zachovávali, vysvetľovali a šírili. A tak Cirkev nečerpá istotu o všetkom, čo bolo zjavené, iba zo Svätého písma. Preto treba oboje prijímať a vážiť si s rovnakou úctou.

Učiteľský úrad však nie je nad Božím slovom, ale mu slúži, lebo učí iba to, čo bolo odovzdané, lebo z Božieho poverenia a pomocou Ducha Svätého nábožne počúva, sväto zachováva a verne vykladá, a z tohto jediného pokladu viery čerpá všetko, čo predkladá veriť ako zjavené Bohom.

Všetko, čo tvrdia inšpirovaní autori, čiže svätopisci, sa má pokladať za tvrdenie Ducha Svätého, treba vyhlásiť, že knihy Písma isto, verne a bez omylu učia pravdu, ktorú Boh chcel mať zaznačenú v posvätných knihách na našu spásu.

Keďže vo Svätom písme Boh prehovoril prostredníctvom ľudí a ľudským spôsobom, aby vykladač Svätého písma dobre pochopil, čo nám chcel Boh povedať, musí pozorne skúmať, čo vlastne mali svätopisci v úmysle vyjadriť a čo Boh uznal za dobré zjaviť ich slovami.

Božie slová vyjadrené ľudskými jazykmi sa stali podobnými ľudskej reči, tak ako sa kedysi Slovo večného Otca stalo podobné ľuďom, keď si vzalo krehké ľudské telo.

STARÝ ZÁKON: A Boží plán spásy, ktorý predpovedali, vyrozprávali a vysvetlili posvätní autori, nachádza sa ako pravé Božie slovo v knihách Starého zákona. Práve preto majú tieto Bohom inšpirované knihy trvácu hodnotu: „A všetko, čo bolo kedysi napísané, bolo napísané nám na poučenie, aby sme skrze trpezlivosť a útechu z Písma mali nádej"

Teda knihy Starého zákona, primerane stavu ľudstva v časoch, ktoré predchádzali vykúpeniu uskutočnenému Kristom, všetkým dávajú poznať Boha a človeka, ale aj akým spôsobom spravodlivý a milosrdný Boh zaobchodí s ľuďmi. Tieto knihy, hoci obsahujú aj nedokonalé a prechodné veci, umožňujú pochopiť pravú Božiu pedagogiku.

Kresťania majú tieto knihy nábožne prijímať, lebo vyjadrujú živý zmysel pre Boha, je v nich uložené vznešené učenie o Bohu a spásonosná múdrosť o živote človeka i obdivuhodné poklady modlitieb, a napokon sa v nich skrýva tajomstvo našej spásy.

V Starom zákone sa skrýva Nový a v Novom zákone sa odhaľuje Starý.

NOVÝ ZÁKON: Svätopisci napísali štyri evanjeliá tak, že niečo vybrali z mnohých vecí, ktoré boli ústne alebo už aj písomne odovzdané, niečo stručne zhrnuli alebo vysvetlili so zreteľom na stav cirkví, pričom ponechali kazateľskú formu, ale vždy tak, aby nám o Ježišovi podali pravdivé a úprimné údaje.

Čo si o tom myslím?
Je to jasné, stručné a v niečom aj veľmi prelomové. Tu sa podelím o pár (nielen) mojich postrehov z tejto konštitúcie. Pod Zjavením cirkev nemá na mysli odhalenie súboru mysterióznych nadprirodzených právd, ktoré človek musí bezvýhradne prijať;

Zjavenie je Božie odhalenie seba samého. Personalistický model Zjavenia hovorí, že zjavenie je výslovne osobnou záležitosťou, doslova stretnutím medzi Bohom a človekom.

Konštitúcia sa vzďaľuje od mechanistického chápania vzniku Písma na spôsob diktátu Ducha Svätého svätopiscom (diktát vs. vnuknutie Ducha Svätého). Zároveň je dôležité povedať, že Cirkev sa neopiera len o Písmo. Učí, že to, čo je vyjadrené a zachované v Písme, bolo napísané z vnuknutia Ducha Svätého, čo znamená, že autorom biblických kníh je Boh, no na jeho napísanie si vyvolil ľudí – svätopiscov –, ktorí ako deti svojej doby, kultúry a jazyka použili svoje schopnosti a dostupné výrazové prostriedky na napísanie toho, čo Boh sám chcel, pričom on sám pôsobil v nich a skrze nich. Tento proces sa nazýva inšpirácia. Dokument o autoroch Biblie hovorí ako o skutočných autoroch, čo je obrovský posun oproti tendencii dominantnej ešte pred koncilom, ako aj v prvých verziách dokumentu, a teda vnímať svätopiscov iba ako pasívne nástroje, ktoré poslušne zapisujú slová diktované Duchom Svätým.

Hovorí o spoľahlivom učení Biblie o spáse človeka. Tento variant nepriamo pripúšťa, že v Písme sa môžu nachádzať nepresnosti, ba aj protirečenia, čo do vedeckej exaktnosti v modernom slova zmysle, pretože Biblia je vo svojom jazyku a predstavách o svete a človeku časovo podmienená, ale nie vo veci Božej ponuky spásy. Z tohto učenia vyplýva, že evanjeliá nepodávajú odpoveď na otázku „Ako to presne bolo?“, ktorá niekedy zaznieva z úst našich študentov na prednáškach. Evanjeliá obsahujú dôležité historické spomienky na Ježiša, ktoré sú však prefiltrované periódou zhruba štyridsať rokov od Ježišovej smrti po ich kompozíciu

Dodatočné zdroje
Text konštitúcie nájdete na stránkach KBS v slovenčine. Tu. Zhrnutie a komentár nájdete na Postoji alebo na tejto hodinovej prednáške na TV LUX TU.
Profile Image for Steven R. McEvoy.
3,783 reviews173 followers
October 28, 2022
This is one of the 16 main documents, it is also in the volume: Vatican Council II: Constitutions, Decrees, Declarations When I was in university I did a Religious Studies Degree with a specialization in Roman Catholic Thought. The three companion volumes were used often:

Vatican Council II: Constitutions, Decrees, Declarations
Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Postconciliar Documents
Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents; Volume II

But I never sat down and read them end to and. The 16 documents contained in that first volume are now available individually as eBook editions. They are available on Kobo, but have disappeared from the Kindle store. With a little hunting I found three different Kindle editions in English not by this publisher, and several under either the name:

Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
Dei Verbum

Of the two combined. A few are just the basic text and there are several others with the text and the commentary. This book is coming up as one of the books of the month in Father Mark Gorings St Mark’s School of Reading. I picked up this eBook edition and another that is not on Good Reads. There are some slight differences in wording. For example:

From this edition:

“Prologue
1. Hearing the word of God reverently and proclaiming it confidently, this holy synod makes its own the words of St John: “We proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us — that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 Jn 1:2-3). Following, then, in the steps of the councils of Trent and Vatican I, this synod wishes to set forth the authentic teaching on divine revelation and its transmission. For it wants the whole world to hear the summons to salvation, so that through hearing it may believe, through belief it may hope, through hope it may come to love.”

From the Vatican Website:

“PREFACE
1. Hearing the word of God with reverence and proclaiming it with faith, the sacred synod takes its direction from these words of St. John: "We announce to you the eternal life which dwelt with the Father and was made visible to us. What we have seen and heard we announce to you, so that you may have fellowship with us and our common fellowship be with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:2-3). Therefore, following in the footsteps of the Council of Trent and of the First Vatican Council, this present council wishes to set forth authentic doctrine on divine revelation and how it is handed on, so that by hearing the message of salvation the whole world may believe, by believing it may hope, and by hoping it may love.”

Other Editon:
“PREFACE
1. Hearing the word of God with reverence and proclaiming it with faith, the sacred synod takes its direction from these words of St. John: "We announce to you the eternal life which dwelt with the Father and was made visible to us. What we have seen and heard we announce to you, so that you may have fellowship with us and our common fellowship be with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:2-3). Therefore, following in the footsteps of the Council of Trent and of the First Vatican Council, this present council wishes to set forth authentic doctrine on divine revelation and how it is handed on, so that by hearing the message of salvation the whole world may believe, by believing it may hope, and by hoping it may love.”

The other version is identical to the official Vatican edition. But this is still a great edition for reading and using for academic purposes. Father Mark had mentioned that this document is often included in the beginning of Catholic Bibles. I checked through a handful of mine and it was only in one. This is a short document, it is just 6 chapters and only 26 paragraphs. The chapters are:

Divine Revelation Itself
The Transmission Of Divine Revelation
Sacred Scripture: Its Divine Inspiration And Its Interpretation
The Old Testament
The New Testament
Sacred Scripture In The Life Of The Church

This is an important document and read. I am glad Father Marked picked it and look forward to his commentary on it over a month. I had not really read any of the Vatican II documents since I finished university a dozen years ago. It was great to read this especially with all the controversy in the Church these days. I recommend you give this little document a read, it is well worth it.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!
Profile Image for Michael Pecha.
25 reviews4 followers
December 10, 2022
A pretty excellent (short) focus on Divine Revelation. Focuses on a few pretty important things:

How to properly understand the interweaving between Tradition + Scripture and how they cannot be separated without damaging the other. (An excellent rebuttal to those who try to overly set Tradition and Scripture against each other i.e. neo-thomists).

The deposit of the faith consisting in both Tradition/Scripture.

The interplay of Tradition/Magisterium/Scripture

The dual authorship of scripture

How to properly understand inerrancy despite historical/geographical error

Renewal of Salvation History

Condescension

Historical-Critical Method

Scripture as the soul of the theology

Highly recommend reading it for yourself, 10/10 theology
Profile Image for Samantha B.
312 reviews43 followers
Read
December 4, 2021
Our pastor actually just did a talk on Divine Revelation that covered a lot of this, but it's always good to hear--the relationship between the Bible, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium; the Church teaching of the inspiration of scripture, the apostolicity of the Gospels, the intertwinedness of the Old & New Testaments, &c.
One thing that I hadn't heard before and I thought was especially interesting was the discussion of the necessity of placing one's intellect & will under obedience to God in an act of faith.
Profile Image for R.H. Naranjo.
Author 3 books12 followers
July 22, 2025
"Como la vida de la Iglesia recibe su incremento de la renovación constante del misterio Eucarístico, así es de esperar un nuevo impulso de la vida espiritual de la acrecida veneración de la palabra de Dios que 'permanece para siempre' (Is., 40,8; cf. 1 Pe., 1,23-25)."
Profile Image for J.T. Therrien.
Author 16 books15 followers
September 27, 2014
The first of four documents promulgated by Pope Paul VI stemming from Vatican II, I did not find anything outstanding in its declarations.

This document reaffirmed the Church's stance regarding Divine Revelation as found in the Bible, tradition, and the magisterium.
Profile Image for Eric.
362 reviews6 followers
September 22, 2016
Exactly as taught.

24. Sacred theology rests on the written word of God, together with sacred tradition, as its primary and perpetual foundation.
Profile Image for Nikki in Niagara.
4,384 reviews172 followers
December 5, 2012
Reason for Reading: This dogmatic constitution is one of the documents of the Second Vatican Council. I am reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church this year and this document is cited for quotations extensively in the first section so I decided to read it in it's entirety. It is not long, 8 printed computer pages of text plus 4 of bibliographic notes. However, this is not easy reading and is slow going yet is satisfying reading in the end. Dei Verbum is Latin for "The Word of God" and thus this document is about God's Word: the Bible.

The document can be found here.

The document is divided into the following chapters:



Preface (1)
Revelation Itself (2–6)
Handing On Divine Revelation (7–10)
Sacred Scripture, Its Inspiration and Divine Interpretation (11–13)
The Old Testament (14–16)
The New Testament (17–20)
Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church (21–26)


Brief summary notes in my own words or "quotes" from the chapters, basically for my own reference but shared here as a record of my reading:


Preface - The present council wishes to show the "authentic doctrine on divine revelation" that the whole world may hear and believe it.


Chapter 1 - God revealed Himself to us. In the Old Testament God prepared the way for the promise of the Saviour and the Gospel. Jesus is the eternal Word, "the Word made flesh". Jesus fulfilled revelation through his works, deeds, death and resurrection. No further public revelation will come before the second coming. Man commits himself to God freely and God's divine revelation communicates the decisions regarding eternal salvation. God can be known through the light of human reason.


Chapter 2 - Jesus orally commissioned the Apostles to preach the Gospel to all men. This commission was fulfilled and through the Holy Spirit the message was committed to writing. The Apostles handed over their authority to bishops as their successors. The apostolic tradition is preserved by an "unending succession". Through study and contemplation the Church moves forward in divine truth. Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture are divinely connected. Tradition is the word of God entrusted to Jesus and the Holy Spirit passed on to the Apostles; Scripture is the word of God consigned to writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore it is not from scripture alone that the Church has knowledge of everything that has been revealed. The interpretation of the word of God has been given exclusively to the Church who was given the authority by Jesus Christ. Therefore sacred tradition, sacred scripture and the teaching authority of the Church are linked together as one and cannot stand without each other; they are all under the action of the Holy Spirit working towards the salvation of souls.


Chapter 3 - All scripture, Old and New, was inspired by the Holy Spirit and thus has God as the author. Therefore all scripture must be without error and is divinely inspired and the writings are for the sake of salvation. However, since the word of God was transcribed through humans, in order to see it clearly one must take into account what meaning the sacred writers intended and what God wanted manifested by their words. Also literary forms must be taken into consideration. All texts are written in different literary forms such as historical, prophetic, poetry, etc and one must take into account the customs and characteristics of the social era in which the sacred writers lived. Since this is all taken under the guidance of the Holy Spirit all of scripture must be taken as a whole and it is the duty of the Church to carry on "the divine commission and ministry of guarding and interpreting the word of God."

Chapter 4 - In God's plan of salvation he chose for Himself a people whom he could trust. He entered a covenant with Abraham, then through Moses , with the people of Israel. God spoke to them through words, deeds and the mouths of prophets. The Old Testament, divinely inspired "remain(s) permanently valuable ." The main purpose of the Old Testament is to prepare the way for the coming of the Christ, messiah and redeemer. Even though some parts of the OT have been proven by Jesus to be incomplete or temporary and thus shows the mystery of our salvation. The OT should be read "with reverence".

Chapter 5 - The word was made flesh. "Christ established the Kingdom of God on Earth". The New Testament is a witness of this history. The Gospels have a special importance amongst the scriptures. The four Gospels are of apostolic origin. The four Gospels pass on what Jesus actually taught and did for men to acquire eternal salvation. Each Gospel picks some things from the many but always proclaiming the whole truth.

Chapter 6 - "The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures" and like the Christian religion itself all the preaching of the Church must be nurtured by the Scriptures. The Scriptures should always be easily accessible to all. The Church guided by the Holy Spirit always wants to move ahead to a deeper understanding of the Scriptures and therefore encourages study of the Fathers of the Church. Theology of the written word together with sacred tradition, in the light of faith constantly strengthens and rejuvenates our understanding of the Word. The clergy, including deacons and teachers of the catechism, must diligently read the Scriptures and continue careful study. Translations of the Scriptures should include necessary and appropriate explanations and footnotes so that the Children of the Church can become conversant with the Scripture and distribute the word to others. These footnotes should also be accessible to the non-Christian. Thus through reading and study of the Scripture the word of God may be spread among the nations.
Profile Image for Alan A.
148 reviews2 followers
December 24, 2024
''The Word of God'' is the title of this constitution. In simplicity, the science of Divine Revelation is explained here. For any Non-Catholic who is genuinely and morally convinced of something they've been told or read about what Catholics believe about Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium, then let them read this and compare the facts. But as for those who are Catholics, it's pretty important that we do get to acknowledge what it is that is believed. Dei Verbum is in itself, a compilation of other text on biblical and traditional exegesis.

I would most certainly recommend reading the works of Dr. Lawrence Feingold and Scott Hahn to expand further into the interpretation and declaration that this document has to give which is in-line with the Catholic faith. The Sacrae Theologiae Summa as well has a section dedicated to this.
31 reviews1 follower
April 26, 2024
What a beautifully written document explaining Sacred Scripture in a way that even non-believers may want read to consider all what is often discussed and debated. What is true? How do we know it to be true? Literal vs historical contexts; Holy Spirit inspired; testimony’s of the Gospels; and so much more.

I have read the Bible all my life and have taken many faith formation classes and I am amazed this document was never used to discuss the nature of God’s written word. It is beautiful (and not difficult or long) to read and even more beautiful to ponder.

Profile Image for Luana Cavalcanti.
227 reviews2 followers
March 25, 2022
Meu grupo de oração ficou de fazer um estudo sobre esse documento e acabou não fazendo.
É bem curtinho mas tem muito conteúdo.
Como o documento afirmou, a Sagrada Tradição e a Sagrada Escritura estão estritamente ligados. E a interpretação delas só foi confiado ao Magistério vivo da Igreja, cuja autoridade é exercida em nome de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo.
É uma leitura bem rápida. Leia para compreender sobre a Revelação.
18 reviews2 followers
May 5, 2022
Los Padres Conciliares manifiestan con gran belleza el significado profundo de la Sagrada Escritura, que no es una mera creación humana ligada a las contingencias de la historia. La Iglesia proclama que la Revelación es verdadera Palabra de un Dios que sale a nuestro encuentro y nos habla en nuestro lenguaje para invitarnos a participar de su Vida Eterna.
3 reviews
November 15, 2021
Excellent explanation of Devine Revelation

Short but concise explanation of the Catholic church's interpretation of Devine Revelation of sacred scripture. Highly recommend for both non-Christians and Christians.(catholic and protestant).
Profile Image for Filip.
421 reviews6 followers
November 6, 2020
Dei Verbum is great document. It reafirms all of the teachings about holy scriptures from before and gives it a new light in modern world.
2 reviews1 follower
October 30, 2022
Read this as a Protestant, and reverted back to Catholicism soon after.

Everyone should read this.
Profile Image for Drea.
2 reviews
August 12, 2025
very easy to read and understand for Christian and non Christian alike, also short so it feels very beginner friendly to study
Profile Image for OSCAR.
513 reviews6 followers
July 3, 2024
Leí dos veces este texto porque lo sentí denso (en realidad no lo es). Fue menester revisarlo varias veces... considero que todo cristiano de buena fe coincidiría en lo principal: que el Nuevo Testamento late en el Viejo Testamento. Lo revolucionario de este documento fue que se conminó a los fieles a leer la Biblia, cuestión vedada para los fieles desde el Concilio de Trento. Evidentemente en el documento se habló de la necesidad de acercar a los feligreses a versiones comentadas del texto sagrado.

Texto breve pero de rico contenido.
Profile Image for Pete Kieffer.
161 reviews33 followers
December 3, 2025
GOD'S WORD

This is a nice summary of Divine Revelation. It covers what it is, what it's for, and its place in the Church. It has nice sections on both the old and new testaments. Short but packs a punch.
Profile Image for Andres Mosquera Salazar.
42 reviews12 followers
August 15, 2013
Dei Verbum: Sobre la Divina Revelación

La constitución más corta del Concilio Vaticano II, pero con un contenido extremadamente importante para todo católico. La interpretación y transmisión de la Sagrada Escritura no puede ser tomada a la ligera. Esta constitución menciona varios factores a tomar en cuenta al momento de querer interpretar la Escritura.

«Quien desconoce la Escritura, desconoce a Jesucristo» San Jerónimo
Profile Image for Brock.
73 reviews3 followers
March 19, 2023
Probably the most important document for our times from the second Vatican council. ‘On the Word of God’
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