Inter praecipuas

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Inter praecipuas (Latin: among the special ..) is an encyclical of Pope Gregory XVI. , with which he on May 8, 1844 after Leo XII. (Encyclical Ubi primum , 1824) again criticized the Bible Societies .

Against unauthorized Bible texts

In the introduction, Gregory XVI. the importance of the Holy Scriptures and objected to the emergence of Bible societies, which appeared for the first time in England and which have now spread widely. The Pope viewed the establishment of new Bible societies and their uncontrolled development as a threat to the principles of faith. He called the editors and translators of the Bible who distributed their writings without authorization from the Holy See or the diocesan bishops heretics, and he describes their activity as a crime against the Holy Scriptures. He particularly referred to the 2nd letter of Peter ( 2 Petr 3,17  EU ), because it is written there:

"You now, beloved ones, who know this in advance, take care that you are not dragged away by the delusional delusion of the wicked and fall out of your secure hold."

Against so-called vernacular languages

The use of so-called vernacular languages resulted in his opinion for discrimination of Christians and unbelievers. The Pope justified the aversion and opposition to the Bible Societies with the fact that he was also concerned that the reader, with the multitude of interpretations and linguistic changes, could no longer judge for himself which the true and authorized text of the Holy Scriptures was. Because, he adds, the Council of Trent clearly stated and decided that the preservation of the Holy Scriptures and the tradition of divine commands are in the hands of the pontiff and the bishops appointed by him .

Gregory XVI. particularly condemned the Reina-Valera Bible translation and other translations into Spanish, the French translations widespread in the 15th century, and the Bible translations undertaken by Lutherans and Calvinists .

Web links