The Council of Trent, a pivotal ecumenical council of the Catholic Church held in the mid-16th century, made several definitive pronouncements regarding the Bible, primarily asserting the authority of the Church in its interpretation and establishing the Latin Vulgate as the official text.
Key Decrees on the Bible
The Council's decrees addressed the canon of Scripture, the authenticity of the Vulgate, and the authority of interpretation, shaping Catholic biblical scholarship and practice for centuries.
The Latin Vulgate as Official Text
Among its most significant pronouncements, the Council of Trent formally declared the Latin Vulgate to be the official and authoritative biblical text for the Roman Catholic Church. This decision aimed to standardize the scriptural basis for doctrine, preaching, and theological debate in the face of varying translations and interpretations emerging from the Protestant Reformation.
- Primary Text: The Vulgate, translated by Saint Jerome in the late 4th century, was affirmed as the authentic text for public readings, disputations, sermons, and expositions.
- Acknowledgement of Originals: While elevating the Vulgate, the Council did so without prejudice to the integrity and importance of the original Hebrew and Greek texts from which the Bible was initially written. It recognized their foundational value.
- Preference over Vernacular Translations: A crucial aspect of this decree was the Council's strong preference for the Latin language, explicitly favoring the Vulgate over vernacular translations. This stance was particularly directed at contemporary translations into common languages, such as certain controversial English-language versions, which were perceived as fostering misinterpretations and theological disputes without ecclesiastical oversight. The intent was to maintain doctrinal purity and unity.
Authority and Interpretation of Scripture
The Council of Trent also established clear guidelines regarding the interpretation of the Bible, reinforcing the Church's exclusive role in this domain.
- Church's Exclusive Right: The Council affirmed that it is the sole right of the Church to judge the true sense and interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. This was a direct response to the Protestant principle of sola scriptura (scripture alone) and individual interpretation.
- Prohibition of Private Interpretation: The Council explicitly forbade anyone, relying on their own judgment, to twist the sacred Scriptures according to their own senses. This included interpretations contrary to the sense which Holy Mother Church had held or holds, or contrary to the unanimous consent of the Fathers.
- Tradition Alongside Scripture: Furthermore, the Council affirmed that divine tradition, alongside sacred Scripture, forms the two sources of divine revelation. This meant that interpretations of the Bible must align with the continuous teachings and traditions passed down through the Church.
Summary of Council of Trent's Stance on the Bible
| Aspect | Council's Stance |
|---|---|
| Official Text | Declared the Latin Vulgate as the official and authentic version for the Roman Catholic Church's use in liturgy, study, and doctrine. |
| Original Languages | Acknowledged the importance of the original Hebrew and Greek texts but prioritized the Vulgate for practical and theological use within the Church. |
| Vernacular Versions | Strongly preferred Latin over common language translations, especially those deemed controversial or leading to heretical interpretations, aiming to maintain doctrinal control. |
| Interpretation | Asserted the sole authority of the Catholic Church to interpret the Scriptures, prohibiting private interpretation that deviates from Church teachings or the unanimous consent of the Church Fathers. |
| Canonicity | Reaffirmed the traditional Catholic canon of the Old and New Testaments, including books (like Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, and 1 & 2 Maccabees) that Protestants had excluded or relegated to the Apocrypha. |
The Council's decrees on the Bible significantly shaped the Counter-Reformation and continue to influence Catholic theology and practice concerning Scripture's role and interpretation.
