The biblical text which we study is two or three thousand years old; its language is very different from that which we speak today: theology essay, TCD, Ireland

“I want to insist here on something which may seem obvious, but which is not always taken into account: the biblical text which we study is two or three thousand years old; its language is very different from that which we speak today. Even if we think we understand the words translated into our own language, this does not mean that we correctly understand what the sacred author wished to say. … The central message is what the author primarily wanted to communicate; this calls for recognizing not only the author’s ideas but also the effect that he wanted to produce.

If a text was written to console, it should not be used to correct errors; if it was written as an exhortation, it should not be employed to teach doctrine; if it was written to teach something about God, it should not be used to expound various theological opinions; if it was written as a summons to praise or missionary outreach, let us not use it to talk about the latest news.” Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, #147 Bearing in mind the above quote, examine a biblical passage you have studied on the course through the lens of the three worlds of the text:

• How does engagement with the World of the Text and the World behind the Text enhance a reading of the passage in question?
• The World Before the Text: How do these methods of approaching the biblical text assist those who read the Bible in pastoral settings?
• How might they assist the teacher in a primary school in 2024?

Word count: 1,000 words Your essay might include (a) a contemporary perspective on biblical interpretation (b) key social issues raised by the text.