Pius X, 1903-1914

2008. 8. They are to be considered free of all blame who consider of no account the reprobations published by the Sacred Congregation of the Index, or by other Sacred Roman Congregations.

2009. 9. They display excessive simplicity or ignorance, who believe that God is truly the author of the Sacred Scripture.

2010. 10. The inspiration of the books of the Old Testament consists in this; that the Israelite writers have handed down religious doctrines under a peculiar aspect which is little known, or not known at all to the Gentiles.

2011. 11. Divine inspiration does not so extend to all Sacred Scripture that it fortifies each and every part of it against all error.

2012. 12. The exegete, if he wishes to apply himself advantageously to Biblical studies, should divest himself especially of any preconceived opinion about the supernatural origin of Sacred Scripture, and should interpret it just as he would other merely human documents.

2013. 13. The Evangelists themselves and the Christians of the second and third generation have artificially distributed the parables of the Gospels, and thus have given a reason for the small fruit of the preaching of Christ among the Jews.

2014. 14. In many narratives the Evangelists related not so much what is true, as what they thought to be more profitable for the reader, although false.

2015. 15. The Gospels up to the time of the defining and establishment of the canon have been augmented continually by additions and corrections; hence, there has remained in them only a slight and uncertain trace of the doctrine of Christ.

2016. 16. The narrations of John are not properly history, but the mystical contemplation of the Gospel; the discourses contained in his Gospel are theological meditations on the mystery of salvation, devoid of historical truth.

2017. 17. The Fourth Gospel exaggerated miracles, not only that the extraordinary might stand out more, but also that they might become more suitable for signifying the work and glory of the Word Incarnate.

2018. 18. John, indeed, claims for himself the character of a witness concerning Christ; but in reality he is nothing but a distinguished witness of the Christian life, or of the life of the Christian Church at the end of the first century.

2019. 19. Heterodox exegetes have more faithfully expressed the true sense of Scripture than Catholic exegetes.

2020. 20. Revelation could have been nothing other than the consciousness acquired by man of his relation to God.

2021. 21. Revelation, constituting the object of Catholic faith, was not completed with the apostles.

2022. 22. The dogmas which the Church professes as revealed are not truths