Reading Scripture and Interpreting It

Genesis gives us the words sons of God. A reader may understand them as heavenly beings, descendants of Seth, or powerful rulers. The words belong to Scripture; the identification belongs to interpretation. Remembering that difference is essential to the argument ahead.

Catholic reading receives Scripture within the Church's life and Tradition. Dei Verbum describes Scripture and Tradition as belonging to one deposit of faith, with the Church's teaching office serving the word it has received. This gives the biblical text an authority different from the authority of a historical commentator.

It does not make interpretation unnecessary. We still have to ask how words were used, what kind of writing we are reading, and how a passage relates to the surrounding story. A poem, a genealogy, and a narrative can communicate differently even when all belong to Scripture.

A strong interpretation may explain the wording better than its alternatives. It may also become influential enough to shape centuries of reading. Neither strength nor influence turns the interpreter's explanation into a new line of biblical text.

The practical rule is straightforward. We can say that Genesis reports the sons of God taking wives. We must make an argument when we say who those beings are or how the episode connects to Greek tradition. This lets us favor a reading firmly while keeping the reader aware of what the text itself establishes.