In this episode, Lennon and Russel explore Dei Verbum—the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation of Vatican II. We dive into the dramatic debates behind the document, the rejection of the first draft (De Fontibus Revelationis), and how John XXIII’s intervention reshaped the Council’s approach to Scripture and Tradition.
We then break down the Constitution chapter by chapter—revelation itself, the transmission of the Word, inspiration and inerrancy, the Old and New Testaments, and Scripture in the life of the Church. Finally, we look at its reception: the dangers of extreme approaches (historical-critical reductionism vs. fundamentalism), and the renewal offered by Pope Benedict XVI’s Verbum Domini.
Recommended Readings
- Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation), Vatican II (1965).
- John W. O’Malley, What Happened at Vatican II (2008).
- Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini (2010).
- Raymond E. Brown, Introduction to the New Testament.
- Scott Hahn, A Father Who Keeps His Promises.
Fr. Lennon mentions an article he wrote as response to Cardinal Cupich’s essay on Tradition vs. Traditionalism, you can read it here.
Recommended Videos to watch after this episode:
- Bishop Barron – 60th Anniversary of Dei Verbum (Word on Fire)
- Bishop Dolan – Introduction to Dei Verbum
- Fr. Mitch Pacwa SJ – Threshold of Hope: Dei Verbum
- Theologians in Conversation: Henri Gagey & Tom O’Loughlin on Vatican II
- John W. O’Malley SJ – What Happened at Vatican II
- Mgr Yvan Mathieu – Vatican II: Dei Verbum
Takeaway
Dei Verbum reminds us that the Bible is not just a book, but God’s living Word transmitted in Scripture and Tradition. For Catholics, to read the Bible is to encounter Christ Himself. As Pope Benedict XVI said, if we rediscover lectio divina, the Church will experience a new springtime of faith.
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