The Fathers on the Biblical Word

Abstract

Only now are we acknowledging neglect in our attention to the Fathers' understanding of Scripture. In overcoming this neglect, we are indebted to contemporary developments in biblical studies, anthropology and linguistic theory. But the lacuna is due also in part to the Fathers' own uncertainty as to whether in the Scriptures they were encountering a living Word or a derivative text with a life of its own, or even a history book or encyclopedia. We are led to ask, Does the Word still speak to us the scriptural text?