Gymnobiblism
Encyclopedia
Gymnobiblism is the opinion that the bare text of the Bible
, without commentary, may be safely given to the unlearned as a sufficient guide to religious truth.
's translation of the New Testament
into the German
vernacular but his proposition was condemned by the Catholic Church at the Council of Trent
, which held that the Sacred Scriptures
may not be isolated from Sacred Tradition
and the teaching authority of the Pope acting in concert with the bishops of the Church.
. His successor Pius IX also privileged the use of the Vulgata and banned vernacular versions of the scriptures. These policies were largely maintained by Popes Leo XIII, Pius X and Pius XII, who required a proper catechism
before catechumens could make a proper use of the Bible.
. Neverheless, the Church's rule of faith
, as expressed in the conciliar constitution Dei Verbum
, maintains that Scripture must be taught in accordance with the teaching norms of the sacred Magisterium
. Catholic doctrine holds that religious truth is found within the Church and not necessarily through the anonymous reading of holy books.
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, without commentary, may be safely given to the unlearned as a sufficient guide to religious truth.
Martin Luther
Gymnobiblism was the guiding principle for Martin LutherMartin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
's translation of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
into the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
vernacular but his proposition was condemned by the Catholic Church at the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
, which held that the Sacred Scriptures
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
may not be isolated from Sacred Tradition
Sacred Tradition
Sacred Tradition or Holy Tradition is a theological term used in some Christian traditions, primarily in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox traditions, to refer to the fundamental basis of church authority....
and the teaching authority of the Pope acting in concert with the bishops of the Church.
Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI was opposed to gymnobiblism and established policies that were critical of biblical societiesBible society
A Bible society is a non-profit organization devoted to translating, publishing, distributing the Bible at affordable costs and advocating its credibility and trustworthiness in contemporary cultural life...
. His successor Pius IX also privileged the use of the Vulgata and banned vernacular versions of the scriptures. These policies were largely maintained by Popes Leo XIII, Pius X and Pius XII, who required a proper catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
before catechumens could make a proper use of the Bible.
Second Vatican Council
The Catholic Church's stance on gymnobiblism has somewhat softened since the Second Vatican CouncilSecond Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. Neverheless, the Church's rule of faith
Rule of Faith
The rule of faith or analogy of faith is a phrase rooted in the Apostle Paul's admonition to the Christians in Rome in the Epistle to the Romans 12:6, which says, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith."...
, as expressed in the conciliar constitution Dei Verbum
Dei Verbum
Dei Verbum was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965, following approval by the assembled bishops by a vote of 2,344 to 6.23...
, maintains that Scripture must be taught in accordance with the teaching norms of the sacred Magisterium
Magisterium
In the Catholic Church the Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church. This authority is understood to be embodied in the episcopacy, which is the aggregation of the current bishops of the Church in union with the Pope, led by the Bishop of Rome , who has authority over the bishops,...
. Catholic doctrine holds that religious truth is found within the Church and not necessarily through the anonymous reading of holy books.