DECISIONS ON THE PENTATEUCH

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12593, 8 September 1906, Page 13

DECISIONS ON THE PENTATEUCH

The Biblical Commission moveg slowly (says the Home correspondent of the English "Tablet"), co elowly that its published decisions average rather less than ono a year; tho Biblical Commission is cautious—co cautious that hitherto its decisions have been little more than a succinct negative to certain theories advanced to solve some grave Biblical difficulties. But the Biblical Commiiwion has just published fivo answers to five very important queeu tionfl, and it has in four oa.sos replied with an affirmative, which will greatly relievo students of tho Scriptures. The important document ira question runs thus: To the following doubts proposed to tho Pontifical Commission: on Biblical Studies, tho foflowing answers have been given, '1. Whether tho arguments, amassed by critics to impugn the Mos«;* authenticity of tho Sacred Books kiifcvn as the Pentateuch are of sufficient weight, notwithstanding tho very many" evidences to the contrary contained in both TcrWments taken collectively, the perpetual agreement of the Hebrow people, end tho constant tradition of tho Church as well as the proofs furnished by internal criticism of tho text, to justify the statement that theee books have not Moses for their author, but hare been compiled from sources for the most part posterior to tho.time of Moses !•* "Answer: No. '"2. "Whether the Mosaic authenticity of the Pentateuch necresirily postulates i redaction of the whole, work in tho Ncnso that it must bo absolutely held that Moses wrote with his own hand or dictated to amanuenses all nnd everything contained in it; or whether it is possible to admit tho hypothesis of thr»o who think that. Mo.-es conceived the work under the influence of divine inspiration, <und then entrusted tho writing of it to some other person or persons, hut in such manner that tiny faithfully rendered his moaninu, wrote nothing contrary to his will, and omitted nothing; and that tho work thus formed, approved by Moses ns the principal and inspired author, \vji> made- public under his name? "Aniwer: No, to the first; Yes, to the M'cond. "i 5. Whether it can be conceded, without, prejudice to the Mosnic authenticity of the Pentateuch, that Most® in his work used tourccs, ie., written iiociuiK'iitis or oral traditions, from which, to .suit hifi fipccifll pnrpr#o and under the influence of divine inspiration. lu> fomt' things and inwrted tlicm in his own work, either vvrUnllv or in substance, eunimarieod' or .aiiiplifii-d? ''Answer: Yes. ''4. Whotlwr. granted tho sulistantwa Mosaic ii'ithenticity nnd the integrity "t tho Pi-nUtouch.'it may lx.« admitted thnt in tlip Idng course of agr« wnif modifications have been introduced into

it, each as additions after the death of Mosis, either inserted by an inspired author or a+tached to the text as glosses or interpretations; words and forms translated from the ancient language to the more recent language; and, finally. faulty Teadinjss to bo ascribed to tho error of ememienses, concerning which it is lawful to investigate and judge according to the lawn of criticism ? "Answer: Yea; due regard being pai<l to the judgment of the Church." An Italian paper publishes this announcement with the following addition :-—"The secretaries having reported as above to hie Holiness on June 27, 1900, his Holiness approved five fore going answers and ordered tho publication of them."