Theories of Inspiration and Catholic Exegesis: Scripture and Criticism in Dialogue with Denis Farkasfalvy

For over a century, interpretive debates have raged over the place of modern historical methods in Catholic interpretation of Scripture, before and after the theological synthesis of Dei Verbum at Vatican II. While such debates often focus on the relation of dogma to certain conclusions of critical scholarship, answers are best sought in the nature of the text itself. Recently, Denis Farkasfalvy has offered helpful contributions to the debates by his theology of inspiration and his development of Dei Verbum’s revelatory-history schema. This article highlights and builds critically on his views of inspiration, agreeing with his call for canon criticism in the church’s theological interpretation. However, against some of his more negative statements about the value of the historical-critical method, I sketch the positive and necessary role of historical-critical work within the theological and canonical task.