Episode 3 | Analyzing the Church's
Interpretation of the 12

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Episode 3: Prayer & Discussion Guide

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Episode 3 | Analyzing the
​Church's Interpretation of the 12

​This third episode examines the Church’s interpretation of the 12 apostles as the mandate for a male-only priesthood. Part One reviews some basics in biblical interpretation; Part Two investigates the institutional Church’s interpretation of the 12; and Part Three offers reflections on moving forward. This episode covers significant ground, so you may find it helpful to follow the timestamp outline below. By the end of the episode, you will see how the Church constructs its argument, and be able to determine for yourself under the light of the Holy Spirit whether you think it is a valid interpretation of scripture.

​​CHAPTERS
[00:27]  Welcome
[01:25]  Episode overview
[02:22]  Part One: Basics in Biblical Interpretation  
      [03:06]  What is scripture? 
      [09:26]  The purpose of biblical interpretation 
      [11:54]  Two primary methods of approaching interpretation 
      [15:46]  What is needed to do interpretation well?    
      [18:46]  Summary of points 
[19:37]  Opening prayer
[21:01]  Part Two: Analyzing the Church’s Interpretation of the 12 
    [21:11]  What makes a valid interpretation of scripture 
    [25:33]  Evaluation of the Church’s interpretation of the 12
    [25:33]  Summary of the Church’s argument
               [26:52]  Method of interpretation used by the Church
               [27:25]  Analysis of literal sense
               [28:19]  Analysis of spiritual sense
               [30:28]  Analysis of unitive sense
    [32:51]  Conclusions 
    [34:14]  Weaknesses in Church method
               [34:24]  Weakness One: Stripping Jesus of his Jewish identity
                [37:18]  Weakness Two: Failure to explain why only maleness matters
                              [39:47]  Confirmation bias 
                              [42:17]  Fundamentalist interpretations
                [44:43]  Weakness Three: Reading the present into the past
                              [44:43] Anachronism 
                              [48:00] Erasure of women from the Last Supper 
                              [50:59] The challenge of women and biblical interpretation
     [53:08] Summary of this analysis 
[54:35]  Part Three: Moving Forward
     [54:43]  Acknowledging the history of prejudice against women
     [59:28]  An interpretation of the 12 that liberates 

RESOURCES 

Church documents on scripture 

• Dei Verbum, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation from the Second Vatican Council, November 18, 1965
• Providentissimus Deus, On the Study of Holy Scripture, Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, November 18, 1893
• Divino Afflante Spiritu, On Promoting Biblical Studies, Encyclical of Pope Pius XII, September 30, 1943
• Verbum Domini, On the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church, Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI, September 30, 2010
• Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, Pontifical Biblical Commission, April 23, 1993
• The Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture, Pontifical Biblical Commission, February 22, 2014
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, published under Pope John Paul II, October 11, 1992

Church documents on the exclusion of women from priesthood

• Inter Insigniores, On the Question of Admission of Women to the Ministerial Priesthood, Declaration by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, October 15,  1976
• Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone, Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II, May 22, 1994
• Response to the Letter of His Grace the Most Reverend Dr. F.D. Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury, concerning the Ordination of Women to the Priesthood, from Paul VI, November 30, 1975 (p. 599-600 in linked document) 
• Responsum Ad Propositum Dubium Concerning the Teaching Contained in “Ordinatio Sacerdotalis,” Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, October 28, 1995 
• Mulieris Dignitatem, On the Dignity and Vocation of Women, Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II  August 15, 1988

Biblical resources and scholarship 

• Sacra Pagina Series: Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
• Anchor Bible Commentary Series: Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
• HarperCollins Bible Dictionary
• The Revised Standard Version Interlinear Greek-English New Testament
• The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, 1990 edition 

• The Ordination of Women in the Catholic Church, John Wijngaards
• The Ordination of Women in the Catholic Church, John O’Brien
• Wisdom Ways: Introducing Feminist Biblical Interpretation,  Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza
• A Black Theology of Liberation, James H. Cone
• The Prophetic Imagination, Walter Brueggemann 
• Bible of the Oppressed, Elsa Tamez
• “Women and Priesthood” in Concern for the Church, Theological Investigations Vol.XX,  Karl Rahner, SJ
• Women and the Word, Sandra M. Schneiders 
• Private Women, Public Meals: Social Conflict in the Synoptic Tradition, Kathleen E. Corley
• Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, Brant Pitre
• “Bible, liturgy concur: women were there,” Marjorie Reiley Maguire, National Catholic Reporter, June 5, 1998 
• To Each Its Own Meaning, Revised and Expanded: An Introduction to Biblical Criticisms and Their Application, eds. Steven L. McKenzie, Stephen R. Haynes
• Understanding the Bible, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• What is proof-texting?, Biblestudy.org  
• JEDP source theory (a brief look)

Scripture citations 

• Many women traveling with Jesus on his final trip from Galilee to Jerusalem:
  Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41, 47; Luke 8:1-3; 23:49; John 19:25 

 

• Last Supper: Matthew 26:17-35; Mark 14:12-31; Luke 22:7-38; Washing of the feet and Last Supper: John 13:1-30 (into the farewell discourse given at the conclusion of the Last Supper after Judas leaves the table, 13:31-17:26)

Additional Sources 

• Priesthood: A History of the Ordained Ministry in the Roman Catholic Church, Kenan B. Osborne
• Essays on Women in Earliest Christianity, ed. Carroll D. Osburn 
• Trent: What Happened at the Council, John O’Malley
• “Legal-Religious Status of the Jewish Female,” Jewish Women’s Archive
• Significant Numbers in Judaism, MyJewishLearning.com 

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