Bernard Orchard OSB

A Catholic Bible Companion on Holy Scripture, OT Bernard Orchard OSB

The Catholic Bible Companion is the result of nine years' work by a group of some 49 scholars, who believe that biblical learning must be integrated with traditional Christianity if it is to bear any spiritual message or fruit for modern society. Their endeavor has been to sum up the results of international scholarship during the last fifty years, and put them at the disposal not only of Catholics but also of all those who respect and would be glad to know more of the Catholic Church's teaching on Scripture and of the way in which her members interpret it. The Catholic Bible Companion thus fills a gap in English theological literature by providing a critical survey of modern biblical knowledge from the standpoint of all those, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, who accept the full doctrine of biblical inspiration. Those who deny in greater or lesser degree the objective truthfulness and the divine inspiration of the Bible have had ample opportunities for stating their views. It is desirable, bearing in mind the recent advances in biblical science, that there should be a more widespread knowledge and appreciation of the viewpoint of the religious body which gave us the Bible and claims it for her very own. Thus we venture to hope that this Bible Companion will help to restore the Bible to its true place in the culture and worship of the English-speaking nations. Catholic and non-Catholic, the alternatives have been stated, although the scope and character of this Summa Commentary as well as considerations of space have precluded any extensive exposition of some of the more recently expressed views in Old Testament and New Testament criticism. Discussion of the main unorthodox positions has been relegated for the most part to these introductory articles. The preferences of individual contributors have naturally resulted in divergences on particular points of exegesis and on such matters as chronology, the interpretation of some Old Testament books, authorship in the Pentateuch, the synoptic problem and eschatology.