Catechism of St Pius X - On the Virtues and Vices - On Holy Scripture

On Holy Scripture

19 Q. Where are the truths which God has revealed contained?
 
A. The truths which God has revealed are contained in Holy Scripture and in Tradition.

20 Q. What is Holy Scripture?
 
A. Holy Scripture is the collection of books written under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, by the Prophets and the Hagiographers, the Apostles and the Evangelists. These books have been received by the Church as inspired.

21 Q. How is Holy Scripture divided?
 
A. Holy Scripture is divided into two parts, the Old and the New Testament.

22 Q. What is the Old Testament?
 
A. The Old Testament comprises the inspired books written before the coming of Jesus Christ.

23 Q. What is the New Testament?
 
A. The New Testament comprises the inspired books written after the coming of Jesus Christ.

24 Q. What is the common name for Holy Scripture?
 
A. The common name for Holy Scripture is the Holy Bible.

25 Q. What is the meaning of the word Bible?
 
A. The word Bible means the collection of holy books, the Book par excellence, the book of books, the book inspired by God.

26 Q. Why is Holy Scripture called the book “par excellence”?
 
A. Holy Scripture is so called because of the surpassing merit of the content as well as the author who inspired it.

27 Q. Can there be any error in Holy Scripture?
 
A. There cannot be any error in Holy Scripture since indeed it is inspired by God. The Author of all of the books is God Himself. This does not prevent that in copies and translations that have been made, some errors on the part of the copyists or translators may have crept into it.

28 Q. Is the reading of the Bible necessary to all Christians?
 
A. The reading of the Bible is not necessary to all Christians since they are instructed by the Church; however its reading is very useful and recommended to all.

29 Q. May any translation of the Bible, in the vernacular, be read?
 
A. We can read those translations of the Bible in the vernacular which have been acknowledged as faithful by the Catholic Church and which have explanations also approved by the Church.

30 Q. Why may we only read translations of the Bible approved by the Church?
 
A. We may only read translations of the Bible approved by the Church because she alone is the lawful guardian of the Bible.

31 Q. Through which means can we know the true meaning of the Holy Scripture?
 
A. We can only know the true meaning of Holy Scripture through the Church’s interpretation, because she alone is secure against error in that interpretation.

32 Q. What should a Christian do who has been given a Bible by a Protestant or by an agent of the Protestants?
 
A. A Christian to whom a Bible has been offered by a Protestant or an agent of the Protestants should reject it with disgust, because it is forbidden by the Church. If it was accepted by inadvertence, it must be burnt as soon as possible or handed in to the Parish Priest.

33 Q. Why does the Church forbid Protestant Bibles?
 
A. The Church forbids Protestant Bibles because, either they have been altered and contain errors, or not having her approbation and footnotes explaining the obscure meanings, they may be harmful to the Faith. It is for that same reason that the Church even forbids translations of the Holy Scriptures already approved by her which have been reprinted without the footnotes approved by her.

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