The Scriptures and God's Word
The Scriptures and God's Word The study of Sacred Scripture held a central position in Bonaventure's life-both as a friar and as a theologian. Francis of Assisi's commitment to the evangelical life and genuine admiration for those who mediated the richness of God's word provided inspiration for the reflections presented in this chapter. They come from the prologue of the Breviloquium. As the Latin title suggests, this work, from around 1257, is a "brief discourse" on theology and the essential doctrines of Christianity. For theologians like Bonaventure, the study of theology was identified closely with the study of Sacred
Scripture. The exigencies of theological study, therefore, motivated him to unfold the mysteries of biblical revelation for his young students who, overwhelmed by the apparent uncertainty, disorder and obscurity of the Old and New
Testament authors, sought guidance in interpreting the texts they were required to read.
The prologue of the Breviloquium reminds readers, both yesterday and today, that knowledge of Sacred Scripture is predicated by divine revelation and marked by a dynamic relationship with Christ. Since every word comprising the biblical texts is found in Christ, the Word of God, the study of Scripture requires faith in Christ and serves as a privileged avenue leading to an ever-deepening knowledge of him. The opening prayer from the Letter to the Ephesians, cited by Bonaventure at the beginning of the Breviloquium, introduces this understanding of Sacred Scripture into the context of faith and knowledge of Christ. Just as faith's knowledge is spoken of in
The Scriptures and God's Word terms of breadth, length, height, and depth, so, to, Scripture is said to have these characteristics: it has breadth because it contains legal, historical sapiential, and prophetic books; it has length because it treats history from the time of creation to the final judgment; it has height because it encompasses the heavenly hierarchies; and it has depth because it includes literal, allegorical, moral, and mystical levels of Significance.
Replete with such richness and diversity of meaning, the Book of the Scripture, like the Book of Creation, speaks eloquently of the Word of God.