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=== The literal sense of scripture ===

=== The literal sense of scripture ===

The literal sense of scripture refers to the sense of the words themselves; it is “that which has been expressed directly by the inspired human authors.” It has been variously described as the verbal or grammatical sense, the plain sense, the sense the human author intended, the sense the divine author intended, the historical sense, and even the obvious sense. Underlying these various descriptions is the notion that “the literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture.” However, the literal sense of scripture is not merely limited to the literalistic, which too often obscures, and can even violate the actual meaning of the text (see [[Proof texts]]). The literal sense is discovered by careful and attentive study of the biblical text using all interpretive tools available, such as grammatical aids, archaeological evidence, historical and literary analyses, sociological and anthropological studies, and whatever else can be called upon to expand one’s knowledge of the historical and literary context of the text and thereby gain a better understanding of the literal sense of the biblical text.

The literal sense of scripture refers to the sense of the words themselves; it is “that which has been expressed directly by the inspired human authors.” It has been variously described as the verbal or grammatical sense, the plain sense, the sense the human author intended, the sense the divine author intended, the historical sense, and even the obvious sense. Underlying these various descriptions is the notion that “the literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture.” However, the literal sense of scripture is not merely limited to the literalistic, which too often obscures, and can even violate the actual meaning of the text (see [[Cafeteria Christianity#Proof texts]]). The literal sense is discovered by careful and attentive study of the biblical text using all interpretive tools available, such as grammatical aids, archaeological evidence, historical and literary analyses, sociological and anthropological studies, and whatever else can be called upon to expand one’s knowledge of the historical and literary context of the text and thereby gain a better understanding of the literal sense of the biblical text.

The importance of the literal sense was emphasized by St. [[Thomas Aquinas]] in his recognition that “all the senses are founded on one—the literal—from which alone can any argument be drawn, and not from those intended in allegory.”<ref>Pope Pius XII, ''Divino Afflante Spiritu'' (1943), no. 33, translated National Catholic Welfare Conference, in The Bible Documents: A Parish Resource (Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2001), 22. 2  Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church  (1993), no. 131, in The Bible Documents, 162. 3  Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.) (Washington, DC: Libreria Editrice Vaticana–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2000), no. 116.</ref> This importance was reiterated in [[Pope Pius XII]]’s long delayed exhortation to Catholic biblical scholars: “let the Catholic exegete undertake the task, of all those imposed on him the greatest, that namely of discovering and expounding the genuine meaning of the Sacred Books. In the performance of this task let the interpreters bear in mind that their foremost and greatest endeavor should be to discern and define clearly that sense of the biblical words which is called literal.”<ref>''Divino Afflante Spiritu''</ref>

The importance of the literal sense was emphasized by St. [[Thomas Aquinas]] in his recognition that “all the senses are founded on one—the literal—from which alone can any argument be drawn, and not from those intended in allegory.”<ref>Pope Pius XII, ''Divino Afflante Spiritu'' (1943), no. 33, translated National Catholic Welfare Conference, in The Bible Documents: A Parish Resource (Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2001), 22. 2  Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church  (1993), no. 131, in The Bible Documents, 162. 3  Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.) (Washington, DC: Libreria Editrice Vaticana–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2000), no. 116.</ref> This importance was reiterated in [[Pope Pius XII]]’s long delayed exhortation to Catholic biblical scholars: “let the Catholic exegete undertake the task, of all those imposed on him the greatest, that namely of discovering and expounding the genuine meaning of the Sacred Books. In the performance of this task let the interpreters bear in mind that their foremost and greatest endeavor should be to discern and define clearly that sense of the biblical words which is called literal.”<ref>''Divino Afflante Spiritu''</ref>