And God has always communicated his wonders in using language and experience of men.

1. ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL IITO MEMBERS OF THE Pontifical Biblical CommissionThursday, April 26, 1979Biblical Sciences: Teaching Office of the ChurchCardinal,Monsignor Secretary,My dear Friends,

2. Five years ago, my venerable predecessor Pope Paul VI wanted to send you encouragement, at the first plenary session that you held after you have given it new standards of organization by the Motu proprio "sedula Cura". I also feel a very special joy to welcome you to my turn today at the first meeting of this new five-year, and especially welcome your new members.

3. This is not the time to develop your responsibility to God and the Church: you are well aware. Indeed, despite the technical complexity and the growing Bible studies, their purpose remains open to the Christian people the source of living water contained within Scripture, and the subject you are studying this year, which covers the insertion of cultural revelation gives new evidence.

4. The theme you are dealing with is of great importance because it concerns the very methodology of biblical revelation in its realization. The term "acculturation" or "inculturation" may well be a neologism, it expresses very well one component of the great mystery of the Incarnation. We know, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" [Io. 1, 14.]; And seeing Jesus Christ, "the carpenter's son" [Matt. 13, 55.], We can contemplate the glory of God [Cf. Io. 1, 14.].

5. Well, the same Word of God had done before human language, assuming the ways of expression of various cultures, from Abraham to the seer of the Apocalypse, offered the adorable mystery of the saving love of God opportunity to make accessible and understandable for generations, despite the diversity of their multiple historical situations. Thus, "repeatedly and in many ways" [Hebr. 1 1.], God has been in contact with men and, in his benevolent and unfathomable condescension, he interacted with them through the prophets, apostles, sacred writings, and especially by the Son of Man.

6. And God has always communicated his wonders in using language and experience of men. The Mesopotamian cultures, those of Egypt, Canaan, Persia, the Hellenic culture and for the New Testament, Greco-Roman culture and that of late Judaism, served, day after day, the revelation of its ineffable mystery of him, as illustrated by your current plenary session.

7. These considerations, however, you know, brings the problem of the historical formation of the biblical language, which is somehow linked to changementes occurred during the long succession of centuries during which the written word gave birth to the sacred books. But it is precisely here that affirms the paradox of the announcement revealed and announced specifically that Christian people and historically contingent events become bearers of a message transcendent and absolute.

8. The clay vessels can break, but the treasure they contain remains full and incorruptible [Cf. 2 Cor. 4, 7.]. And as the weakness of Jesus of Nazareth and his Cross has deployed the redemptive power of God [Ibid. 13, 4.], So in the fragility of human speech proves effective unexpected that makes "sharper than any two-edged sword" [Hebr. 4, 12.]. That's why we get the first generations of Christians throughout the Canon of Holy Scripture, became the reference point and standard of faith and life of the Church of all times.

9. It evidently belongs to science and biblical hermeneutical methods to distinguish between what is spent and which must always keep its value. But this is an operation that requires an extremely acute sensitivity, not only on scientific and theoretical, but also and especially at the Church and life.

10. Two consequences flow from this, which are both different and complementary. The first concerns the high value crops if they, in the biblical story, have already been judged capable of being vehicles of the Word of God, because it is inserted in them something very positive, which is already present in the germ of the divine Logos. Similarly, today announced the Church is not afraid to use the contemporary cultural expressions: they are thus, by analogy with Christ's humanity, as it called to participate in the dignity Word of God itself.

11. We must add, however, secondly, that we see manifest and the purely instrumental cultures that, under the influence of a very significant historical developments are subject to strong changes: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God remains forever “ [Is. 40, 8.]. Define the relationship existing between changes in culture and the constant revelation is precisely the task difficult but exciting, biblical studies as the life of the Church.

12. In this task, you've undoubtedly Brothers and beloved son of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, the bulk, and you are closely associated with the Magisterium of the Church. This leads me to draw your attention to one point. The Motu proprio "sedula Cura" specifically, when dealing with the purpose of your Committee, it must provide the assistance of its work to the Magisterium of the Church.

13. I would point out very specifically that your work is the opportunity to show how the search more precise, the more technical, does not remain locked in itself, but may be useful to the bodies of the Holy See who are faced with such difficult problems of evangelization, that is to say the actual conditions of insertion of shut in evangelical attitudes and new cultures.

14. In this perspective, the fundamental obligation of fidelity to the Magisterium takes its full extent. "God has given the Scriptures to the Church and not the trial of Private Company Express Group specialists" [Cf. Paul VI Sedula Cura§ 3.]. It is indeed faithful to the spiritual function given by Christ to his Church, he is faithful to the mission.

15. Scholars are among the first ministers of the Word of God. I am sure, my dear friends, your example will show that so distinguished the union of scientific expertise that you recognize your peers and the sense of spiritual refinement shows that in Scripture the Word of God entrusted to his Church.

16. May the Lord guide your efforts and the Holy Spirit enlighten you! To me, saying my confidence, and how the Church is counting on you, I give you my heart the Apostolic Blessing.