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

    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

Read HERE 

Part II: INCULTURATION 

    After underscoring the ACTUALIZATION, PBC continues with INCULTURATION, which mentions to the adaptation of Bible's interpretation in different cultures, socials, and contexts. In this meaning, the Christians who receive Holy Bible with their own characteristics are warranted that their understanding about the Word of the Lord is suitable and, even, exact according to teachings of the Church.

 Theological foundation of inculturation:

    PBC declares the basis of inculturation's theology is that: "The word of God transcends the cultures in which it has found expression and has the capability of being spread in other cultures, in such a way as to be able to reach all human beings in the cultural context in which they live." So, I suggest three small parts for this inculturation process: 

1/ Scripture's translations: 

    The importance of scripture's translation is invaluable because it enables native people in each region to read, understand, reflect on, and apply it to their communal and personal lives. However, it is not only about getting scripture's translation through normal translation methods; PBC emphasizes that this is "translating the inspired Scripture," meaning that this process, without purely human intelligence, is inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

    Human beings are a factor of this process, and it "is always more than a simple transcription of the original text." The reason for the change in meaning in each translated text lies in the cultural context: "Concepts are not identical, and symbols have a different meaning, for they come up against other traditions of thought and other ways of life." For example, the New Testament was proclaimed in Vietnam nearly 500 years ago by evangelists, and it was translated into Vietnamese step by step to serve the Vietnamese community. 

2/ Translation and Interpretation 

    For "the translation of biblical texts cannot ... ensure by itself a thorough inculturation," the condition for knowing and living God's teachings is true interpretation by the Church. "From interpretation, one passes then to other stages of inculturation, which lead to the formation of a local Christian culture, extending to all aspects of life." Hence, all aspects of their lives, such as praying, laboring, social life, customs, laws, art and science, philosophical and theological thinking, are imbued with the Gospel of God. 

  However, how can laypeople interact with the Bible's interpretation? Sometimes the academic style of translations makes them confusing and difficult to understand. The answers to these questions are repeated from the part ACTUALIZATION, where laypeople do not hesitate to ask pastors, of course, in a humble manner, who have the chance to study deeply in the interpretation of the Bible. Besides, attending Holy Bible classes at parishes or dioceses to deepen knowledge of God's Word. 

3/ Mutual process of inculturation: 

     Obviously, the process of inculturation is not "one-way" but "two-way". The culture contributes to the variety and adaptations of the Bible; furthermore, culture becomes a "witness" for the fact that "This diversity is, to be sure, never total. Every authentic culture is, in fact, in its own way the bearer of universal values established by God." On the other hand, culture is enlightened by the Truth of the Gospel, and the fruitfulness of culture, such as human civilization, human behaviors, and progressive society, are aspirations of each culture. 

    Finally, the Bible's interpretation is not a complete process. Therefore, the local churches must "effort to convert this foreign form of biblical inculturation into another form more closely corresponding to the culture of their own land." For the culture and society of each region have been developing, the interpretation process "must be taken up again and again, in relationship to the way in which cultures continue to evolve." 

CONCLUSION 

    This simple study is based on the document "The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church," which was presented by the Pontifical Biblical Commission (PBC) to Pope John Paul II on April 23, 1993. Besides, I offer practical examples for Christians that are easy to read and apply. 

    However, this is a long document on PBC that discusses the Bible's Interpretation. I just extracted the essence of the closest details on ACTUALIZATION and INCULTURATION, using simple vocabulary, for almost all Christians (I especially give it to laypeople who do not have the chance to engage with long, academic documents of PBC). 

    I humbly hope that a little bit of fruitfulness will be created from this tiny endeavor. 

    May God bless you!

Toronto, 12/02/2026

Little Stream

Photo: Moon

Note: 

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