Pontifical Biblical Commission study puts human person in new light

The biblical anthropological looks at human greatness and fallibility

Adam and Eve after eating the forbidden fruit. The Byzantine mosaic from the 12th century, in the Palatine Chapel of Palermo, Italy. Alfredo Dagli Orti

The Pontifical Biblical Commission (PBC) has published a new study on the anthropological vision of Scripture.

The scriptural understanding of the concept of man is entitled "What is man? An itinerary of biblical anthropology".

The biblical anthropological document thus touches upon Creation, sexuality, marriage and ecology.

With more than 300 pages, the latest PBC document deals with one of the most disputed subjects between the Catholic Church and the scientific community -- biblical anthropology, which starts with Creation.

The document, available only in Italian currently, is reported to be an authoritative reflection on certain biblical subjects over which theologians often clash with each other.

Richness of the text

"We wanted to show what Scripture really says," explained Jesuit Pietro Bovati, secretary of the PBC, who headed the study group.

Theological discussions on certain subjects fail to make progress as theologians cite here and there some texts that he considers useful to advance his argument, Father Bovati said.

"We therefore suggest not to take the Scripture as a repertoire of isolated affirmations, but to take into account the value of affirmations in their fundamental context," continued the professor of Old Testament at the Pontifical Biblical Institute.

"Contrary to a simplistic reading, we wanted to emphasize the richness of the biblical text through which God gradually reveals himself and therefore it has to be taken as a whole," added Father Pierre Debergé, one of four members entrusted with document drafting.

The motive is "not to publish a treatise where "the Bible says this or that" but to offer a "biblical anthropology itinerary", beginning with Creation and running through the Apocalypse.

'Sin of Sodom'

The study sees the concept of the human person in a new light which underlines both human greatness and fallibility. Above all, it is all about the revelation of a God who is the savior, he summarized.

Some of the conclusions of the study run counter to the fundamentalist readings of the Bible.

The document offers a detailed study of the "sin of Sodom" -- homosexuality.

According to the study, "the Bible does not speak of sexual inclination towards a person of the same sex, but only of homosexual acts".

"You have to see what's at stake. For the Bible, it is a question of defending the fundamental difference inscribed at the heart of Creation. Therefore, when St Paul speaks of 'unnatural' acts, it is necessary to see a biological vision but not to go beyond it," explained Father Debergé.

The document also opens up theological and pastoral avenues far from a biased view of the biblical text, both on homosexuality and divorce.

"The spouse who, noting that the conjugal relationship is no longer an expression of love, decides to separate from those who threaten the peace or life of his family members, does not then pose an act contrary to marriage. On the contrary, he paradoxically attests to the beauty and holiness of the bond, precisely by noting that it does not fully realize its meaning in conditions of injustice and infamy."

Beyond sexuality

The PBC study concludes that "biblical teaching leaves the field open to moral theology and pastoral care" and that this "requires wisdom and mercy on the part of those who interpret Jesus' message and their desire for good."

On the question of women, the PBC offers an unexpected view, refusing to draw from the biblical text any subordination by men.

But PBC's thinking goes far beyond sexuality.

"We are also interested in how the human being receives Creation," explained Father Debergé.

To study the "dominant" man, we have to ask ourselves the question of ecology, Father Debergé said.

Hence, the reflection on food and politics.