About the Three Worlds of the Text

The ‘Three Worlds of the Text’ is an approach to studying and understanding scripture that recognises scripture as more than simply words on a page. In order to interpret the words on the page we need to know something about where the scripture text has come from, what the words meant in their original context and how the text is used and interpreted in today’s world.

• Examining the world BEHIND the text provides context about culture and history (Historical-Cultural criticism)
• The world OF the text provides context about the genre of the writing (Narrative criticism)
• The world IN FRONT OF the text provides context about interpretation over time and use of the text within religious communities.

 

Questions for studying the Three Worlds of the Text

World BEHIND the text

1.How is an understanding of this text influenced by what we can learn about its context?

• What can we learn about the cultural world of the time in which the text was created? e.g. the significance of ‘the land’ of Israel; values, customs and beliefs; reference to festivals or heroes; status of individuals; demography; social hierarchy and relationships between characters and peoples; purity codes; moral codes; understanding of God; relationship with other cultures/people.

2.How is an understanding of this text influenced by the community that produced this text?

• What can we learn about the community for whom this text was originally created? 
• What was happening at this time in history in the community for which the text was written? Where is it on the timeline of Revelation History?
• Who authored, edited and/or translated this text? Is there more than one author? Is it the work of an individual or a community? Is it possible to establish authorship at all? Does the author draw on other texts in creating this one?
• Why was the text created?
• Why has the author chosen specific words or phrases?
• What messages might the text have conveyed to its original audience?

3.How is an understanding of this text influenced by what can we learn about its development and communication across time?

• Is there an oral tradition evident? When was the text first put into written form? In what language was the text first set down? Do these factors affect the meaning of the text for its original audience?
• Were there any historical or cultural events that caused the text to be edited or translated across time?

World OF the text

1.How is an understanding of this text influenced by what is actually in it?

• Who are the characters in the text? 
• What happens in this text? 
• Where does the story take place? 
• What text features are in the text? e.g. imagery, metaphor, simile, repetition, contrast, symbol, vocabulary, voice, treatment of sources, grammar and/or style.
• What is the most memorable or central scene in this text? Why is this scene central?
• What key words or phrases, or interesting, new or difficult ideas need further exploration? What Biblical tools can be used to find this information? e.g. Biblical commentaries, Biblical dictionaries, Biblical atlases, annotated Bibles, online Bible search engines.
• What evidence can we find in the text of the historical, social, cultural, political and religious life of the time?
• Who speaks and who is silenced?

• Can the original language in which the text was written help with understanding the text? Do other English translations give a clue to this? Can concordances and online homilies on the text help?

2.How is an understanding of this text influenced by its type and structure?

• Is there a particular structure to this text? Why was it structured in this way? 
• How do different parts of the text relate to each other?
• What clues or text features help the reader to identify the type of text? e.g. greeting in a letter; sense of touch in a healing miracle; evocative language in a psalm.
• Why has the author chosen this style or form of writing to convey the message?

3.How is an understanding of this text influenced by what we can learn about it from its connections with other Biblical texts?

• What comes before and after this text?
• Is the text attested to (referenced) in other gospels or books of the Bible?
• Is this text used for different purposes in other books of the Bible?
• Is this text drawn from or connected to texts in other books of the Bible?

World IN FRONT OF the text

1. For whom might this text be relevant today?

• What are some messages from or about God that modern believers can take from this text in their time and place?
• Is there anything in this text that might be open to challenge or questioning by a modern reader?
• ·What factors make it possible for modern readers to bring to this text interpretations not intended by the author? 

• How might gender, culture or life experience, including experiences with religion or religious groups, affect the way a modern reader might respond to the text? How can the experience of the reader add to the richness of interpretation? 

2.How might a modern reader gain a deeper awareness of this text?

• How might the following help the reader better appreciate the text’s relevance and application for today?
• Exploration of different translation/s of the text?
• Substitution of alternate images/metaphors? 
• Knowledge of background or contexts of the text? 
• Exploration of the rich tradition of the Church?
• Application of Biblical criticism (e.g. form criticism, narrative criticism, socio-historical criticism, rhetorical criticism)?

• Can a line be drawn between reliable and unreliable modern interpretations of the text?

• Does the Church have a specific teaching about the meaning of this text?

3.How might this text be used/applied in contemporary contexts?

• In liturgy?
• For personal spiritual reflection (e.g. Lectio)?
• To inspire action for justice?
• To reassure?
• To console?
• In prayer?
• To challenge the status quo?
• To invite to belief?
• Rewritten to engage a particular audience?

Commentaries for Prep texts

Genesis 1:1-2: 4a – The First Creation Story

Genesis 2:4b-9; 15-25 – The Second Creation Story 

Genesis 37:1-36, 39:1-6, 41:15-44, 41:53-57, 42-26 – Joseph

1 Samuel 17:1-49 – David & Goliath

Matthew 1:18-25 – Announcement to Joseph

Mark 16:1-8 – Jesus’ Resurrection

Luke 2:1-7 – The birth of Jesus

Luke 11:1-4​ – The Lord’s Prayer

​Luke 10:29-37 – The Good Samaritan

Luke 17:11-18 – Ten Lepers

All Prep Year - core and complementary scripture texts pdf

 

Commentaries for Yr 1 texts

​Genesis 2:4b-8 15-23 – The Second Creation Story

Genesis 6:13-9:1 – Noah and the Ark

Exodus 3:8-17 – Moses

Matthew 4:18-22 – Jesus Calls Peter, Andrew, James and John

Matthew 26:17-19 - Passover

Mark 1:9-11 – The Baptism of Jesus

Mark 3:13-19 – Calling the Twelve

Mark 14:22-25 – The Last Supper

Luke 2:41-47 – Jesus in the Temple

Luke 1:26-28 – Announcement to Mary

Luke 1:39-42 – Mary Visits Elizabeth 

All Year One - core and complementary scripture texts pdf 

 

Commentaries for Yr 2 texts

Genesis 1:1-2: 4a – The First Creation Story

Genesis 2:4b-9; 15-25 – The Second Creation Story

Genesis 9:8-17 – Sustainers of Creation

​Genesis 17:1-8; 15-19; 21-22 – God’s Promise to Abraham & Sarah

​Matthew 18:21-35 – The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 20:29-34 – Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

​Matthew 22:34-40 – The Greatest Commandment

Luke 10:25-37 – The Good Samaritan

Luke 13:10-13 – Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman

Luke 15:11-31 – The Lost Son

Luke 17:3-4 – Jesus teaches about forgiving others

Luke 19:1-10 - Zacchaeus

John 6:16-21 – Jesus Walks on Water

All Year Two - core and complementary scripture texts pdf

 

Commentaries for Yr 3 texts

Genesis 28:10-22 – God’s Promise to Jacob

Psalm 23 – The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalm 28:1, 6-9 – Psalms of Thanksgiving and Praise

Isaiah 49:15-16 – "I will never forget you"

Matthew 1:18-2:12 – The Infancy Narratives

Matthew 5:3-11 – The Sermon on the Mount (The Beatitudes)

Luke 4:16-21 – Jesus’ Mission

Luke 6:20-26 – The Beatitudes 

All Year Three - core and complementary scripture texts pdf

 

Commentaries for Yr 4 texts

Genesis 1:1-2: 4a – The First Creation Story

Exodus 20:1-17 – The Ten Commandments (Decalogue)

Deuteronomy 5:1-21 – The Ten Commandments

Psalm 148 – Psalms of Praise

Matthew 3:13-17 – The Baptism of Jesus

Luke 3:21-23 – The Baptism of Jesus

Mark 1:9-11​ – The Baptism of Jesus

Mark 10:46-52 – Giving Sight to a Blind Man at Jericho

​Luke 10:25-37 – The Good Samaritan

Luke​ 18:35-43 - Giving Sight to a Blind Man at Jericho

Acts 2:42-47 – Life Among the Believers

Acts 4:32-37 - Life Among the Believers

All Year Four - core and complementary scripture texts pdf

 

Commentaries for Yr 5 texts

Leviticus 19:1-3, 9-18 – The Decalogue

Numbers 15:37-41 – The Shema (Hear, O Israel)

Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21 – The Shema (Hear, O Israel)

Matthew 1:18-25 – Announcement to Joseph

Matthew 2:1-12 – The Visit of the Magi (Wise Men)

Matthew 2:13-15 – Flight to Egypt

Matthew 5:1-12 – The Sermon on the Mount (The Beatitudes)

Luke 1:26-38 – Announcement to Mary

Luke 1:39-45 – Mary Visits Elizabeth

Luke 1:46-56 – Magnificat (Mary’s Song of Praise)

Luke 2:1-14 – The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:15-20 - Visit of the Magi (Wise Men)

Luke 6:20-36 – The Beatitudes

John 15:9-17 – The Father’s Love

Acts 2:1-15 - Pentecost

1 Corinthians 2:9-13 – The Spirit of God

Galatians 5:22-23 – Fruits of the Spirit 

All Year Five - core and complementary scripture texts pdf

 

Commentaries for Yr 6 texts

Leviticus 23:1-44 - Significance of celebrations in the lives of believers

1 Samuel 3:1-4:1a – The Call of Samuel

Matthew 5:17 – What did Jesus come to do?

Matthew 6:5-15 – The Lord’s Prayer

Luke 11:1-13 – The Lord’s Prayer

Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-49, Matthew 9:18-26 - Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman

Matthew 16:16-17 – Peter’s Declaration of Faith

Matthew 25:31-46 – Works of Mercy

John 1:35-51 -  The First Disciples of Jesus

Acts 17:2-3 – Jesus as Messiah

Acts 2:29-33, 36 – Jesus as Messiah

I Corinthians 11:23-26 – Institution of the Eucharist

Ephesians 1:1 – Communion of Saints

Ephesians 2:19 - Communion of Saints

Ephesians 3:1-21 - Communion of Saints

All Year Six - core and complementary scripture texts pdf

 

Commentaries for Yr 7 texts

Genesis 17:1-22 - God’s Promise to Abraham & Sarah

Exodus 12:1-4 The Story of the Passover

Exodus 13:17-14:30The Deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt

Exodus 20:1-20 – The Ten Commandments

Mark 2:23-28 – Sabbath Laws and Practices

Mark 14:12-26 – The Last Supper

Acts 2:1-4 - Pentecost 

All Year Seven - core and complementary scripture texts pdf

 

Commentaries for Yr 8 texts

2 Samuel 7:8-29 – The Davidic Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34 – The Post-Exile Covenant

Matthew Chapter 5 – Sermon on the Mount (Beatitudes)

Mark 1:9-11 – Baptism of Jesus

Acts 2:1-13 - Pentecost

Acts 2:38 - Baptism

Romans 1:1-7 - Salvation – God’s Saving Plan

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – Themes and Doctrines of the Early Church

Galatians 3:27-29 – One in Christ

All Year Eight - core and complementary scripture texts pdf

 

Commentaries for Yr 9 texts

Genesis 1:1-2:4 – The First Creation Story

Genesis 6:1-9:17; 7:11-16a, 18-21, 24, 8:1-5, 7, 13a, 14-19 – The Flood

Genesis 15:1-21 – God’s Covenant with Abram

Exodus 12:1-30 – The Story of the Passover

Exodus 13:17-14:31 - The Deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 – The Parable of the Weeds

Matthew 25:31-36 – The Last Judgement

Mark 1:29-41 – Jesus Heals Many at Simon’s House

Mark 1:40-45 – Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 2:1-12 – Healing of the Paralysed Man

Luke 5:12-16 – Jesus Cleanses a Leper

John 9:1-39 – A Man Born Blind Receives Sight

Acts 1-12 – The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Romans 1:1-7 – Salvation – God’s Saving Plan

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 – Raised from Death 

All Year Nine - core and complementary scripture texts pdf

 

Commentaries for Yr 10 texts

Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:1-27 – The Shema (Hear, O Israel)

Psalm 104:1-25 – Creator and Provider

Psalm 97:1-7 – Righteous King

Galatians 3:26-29 - Baptism

Galatians 5:13-26, 6:1-9 – Live by the Spirit

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – Themes and Doctrines of the Early Church

Isaiah 49:1-7, 8-13 – The Servant’s Mission

Ephesians 2:4-10 – God’s Love and Mercy

1 John 4:4-12 – God’s Love and Mercy

Colossians 3:12 - God’s Love and Mercy

Matthew 9:35-36 /Mark 6:32-34 - God’s Love and Mercy

1 Corinthians 11:23-28 – The Last Supper

John 13:1-20 – Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Matthew 18:15-20 – Origins of the Church’s Mission and Authority

All Year Ten - core and complementary scripture texts pdf

 

Biblical commentaries

Reliable print commentaries include:

• The New Jerome Biblical Commentary
• Harper’s Biblical Commentary
• The Brisbane Catholic Education Library  (BCE only) has a number of copies of the New Jerome Biblical Commentary and Harpers Biblical Commentary for loan.

Reliable online commentaries include:

• Harpers Biblical Commentary (via logos) – resource for purchase
• Michael Fallon Biblical Commentary

Online biblical resources need to be approached cautiously. Some authors approach Scripture literally and can be considered as an unreliable source by students engaged in academic research using a Catholic Christian approach. Catholics read Scripture contextually. Refer to the Apostolic Exhortation, Verbum Domini, by Pope Benedict XVI – On the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.

Using sources – historical pedagogy