How to Interpret Scripture: The Senses of Scripture

To better understand Scripture, we must consider its literal and spiritual senses.

Day 1 & 2

Three Criteria for Interpreting Scripture: Guidelines given to us by the Church to help ensure that our interpretation of Scripture does not stray from the truth. First, we must look closely at the content and unity of the whole Scripture. Second, we must read Scripture within the Living Tradition of the Church. Third, we must be attentive to the analogy of the faith.
Senses of Scripture: The various meanings of the Scripture text. We must consider the literal sense, which refers to what the human author intended to say, and the spiritual sense, which refers to the truth God wanted to communicate. (136-137)
Typology: The study of how a person or thing in the Old Testament foreshadows or prefigures the fulfillment of God’s plan in the person of Christ. The earlier person or thing is a “type” for person or thing in the New Testament.