A review by theologiaviatorum
The Word of God at Vatican II: Exploring Dei Verbum by Ronald D. Witherup

informative fast-paced

4.0

Dei Verbum or The Word of God is one of the Dogmatic Constitutions of Vatican II. This English translation also contains brief commentary on the constitution by Ronald Witherup who is editor of the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible. It is a brief 76 pages with a helpful glossary for technical terms. Dei Verbum is arguably one of the most significant and influential results of the council. It encourages the return to the study of scripture as a central practice for Catholics and Catholicism. It states “[The Church] has always regarded and continues to regard the scriptures, taken together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of its faith ... It follows that all the preaching of the church, as indeed the entire Christian religion, should be nourished and ruled by sacred scripture. In the sacred books the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them. And such is the force and power of the word of God that it is the church’s support and strength, imparting robustness to the faith of its daughters and sons and providing food for their souls” (VI.21). In addition, the constitution discusses inspiration, the relationship between scripture and tradition, as well as the Old and New Testaments. Since Vatican II the Church has experienced a revival in the study of scripture, including the development of biblical resources like The Little Rock Catholic Study Bible. Please God, may this be one more step towards the reunification of the churches.