Theo.: THE ACTUALIZATION AND INCULTURATION IN BIBLE'S INTERPRETATION (Part III)

    The significance of discovering the ACTUALIZATION and INCULTURATION in the Bible's Interpretation, according to the instructions of the Pontifical Biblical Commission (PBC) (1), keeps Christians in true Faith of the Catholic. Given the importance of these documents, I humbly suggest that the writings be presented in small sections, with attached examples. Hope that it will remain fruitful for a few Christians.

Part I: ACTUALIZATION

1. The principles for actualizing the Holy Bible

Read HERE

2. Methods for Actualization in Bible's Interpretation

Read HERE

3. Limitations in reading and interpretation/ explain Bible

    PBC elucidates, in the final Part of Actualization, the limitations in reading and interpreting/explaining the Bible. This is not the absolute borders of the Holy Bible, because it "can at the same time both relativize and enrich the value systems and norms of behavior of each generation." However, the problem lies in readers' self-explanation based on their concrete circumstances, without prioritized methodologies for actualization. Significantly, many laypeople use incorrect methods of Bible interpretation, resulting in unintended consequences for religious life. Therefore, discussing the limitations of this topic is vital.

   Most of all borders, Christians need to "avoid tendentious interpretations, that is, readings which, instead of being docile to the text make use of it only for their own narrow purposes". Reading the tendentious interpretations, Christians are prone to misinterpret the true message as a fake one, depending on the Church's teachings or their individual emotions. Sometimes, some people intentionally manipulate the narrative to their own advantage. For example, some Catholic men and women choose only prayers at home and do not pay attention to the mass because they remember Jesus's words: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." (Matthew 9:13). They even, to the point, deny Sacraments and critique Pastors, and other Christians.

 Furthermore, it is really significant to remember that: "Actualization loses all validity if it is grounded in theoretical principles which are at variance with the fundamental orientations of the biblical text." These phenomena are not uncommon and, starkly, many movements of Christians cause misinformation across political, social, and economic sectors in the name of the Church. For instance, there are calls for street protests against the government, but attendees do not understand the initiators' purpose, so they are lured into underground organizations with unclear purposes at street protests.

   Last but not least, the Christians refuse "every attempt at actualization set in a direction contrary to evangelical justice and charity." So, the fruitfulness of the Bible is recognized through the practical lives of Christians, as PBC underscores, not "use of the Bible to justify racial segregation, anti-Semitism or sexism whether on the part of men or of women." This is a persistent and problematic issue that many Christians express contempt for LGBTQ individuals and, even, exclude them from human dignity for their marriages are not recognized, "the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man... Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh" (Genesis 2: 23-24).

   The Church hopes that all Christians actualize the biblical message through "a correct interpretation of the text" and remain conscious that all are in "the living tradition, under the guidance of the church's magisterium." By this true actualization, the Holy Bible reaches “the ears and hearts of people of our own time.”

Author: Little Stream

Photo: Moon

Note: 

(1) https://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/PBC_Interp-FullText.htm#Sec3