The Bible as the Word of God (AQA GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note
Exam code: 8063
Catholic understanding of the Bible as the Word of God
The Bible is known as the “Word of God” because Christians believe that God speaks to his people through the Bible
The Bible is therefore God’s message (or “word”) in the world
Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God, even though it was written by humans over a long period of time
This is because they believe that the Holy Spirit guided the authors of the Bible
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity. It is the guiding presence of God at work in the world today, helping people to know God’s will
The process of the Holy Spirit guiding the authors of the Bible is known as inspiration
Although the authors were inspired by God, they were still humans; they used their own words to record the events and teachings
Christians believe that God speaks through the Bible in several ways
The Bible records the Word of God given by the prophets
The prophets were also inspired by God to pass on his word and message
They taught people how to live and guided them in how to remain faithful to God
Some of the words they spoke were also for the future — they predicted events that later came to pass
The Bible records the teachings and actions of Jesus, who is the Word of God made man
Jesus was the fullest revelation of God’s message to the world
The Bible also contains the epistles, which are the writings of the apostles
At Pentecost, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, who gave them strength to go out and preach God’s word. The epistles are the written accounts of their teachings
The teachings of the Magisterium and the Bible
Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is constantly at work in the world today
The Holy Spirit guided the process of compiling the Canon of Scripture, or deciding which books would be included in the Bible
The Holy Spirit also guides the way in which Christians interpret the message of the Bible for today
In the Catholic Church, this process is believed to happen through the Magisterium
The Magisterium and the Bible
The Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Catholic Church
It is exercised through the people who are the successors of the apostles — the Pope and the Bishops
Because the Bible was written so long ago, it needs to be interpreted in order for its teachings to be applied to a modern age
The Magisterium makes the Bible relevant to the modern world and applies its message to modern issues
Because this process is inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, Catholics trust the teachings of the Magisterium in the same way they trust the Bible
“Sacred Scripture is the word of God … while sacred tradition takes the word of God … and hands it on to their successors in its full purity.” (Dei Verbum 9)
Worked Example
Give two ways in which the Bible is seen as the Word of God.
[2 marks]
Answer:
The Bible is seen as the Word of God because it contains the Word of God given to the prophets. [1 mark]
It is also seen as the Word of God because the Holy Spirit guided the authors of the Bible. [1 mark]
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You may be asked to discuss a statement such as:
“Christians can learn everything they need about God’s Word from the Bible alone.” [12 marks]
While this may be true of some Christians, Catholics would disagree with the statement because of the central role of the Magisterium in interpreting the Bible in their tradition.
Remember that the authority of the Magisterium applies only to members of the Catholic Church. You can explain this in your answer and give reasons why other Christians may say the Bible alone is sufficient authority for them.
You will refer to the authority of the Magisterium throughout the course. Make sure you are familiar with its central role within the Catholic Church.
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