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Of course, for those who accept the church's claim, the understanding of existence that the biblical writings express is accepted as true and, therefore, as indefinitely more than simply one possibility among others for understanding ourselves. But that the biblical writings, unlike others, not only show me a certain possibility for understanding myself, but, being accepted by me through faith as expressing a true understanding, actually give me existence is an eventuality that cannot be presupposed and followed as a principle of methodical interpretation. That it comes about is – -- in traditional terminology – -- donum Spiritus Sancti, the gift of the Holy Spirit (106). By the same token, the reflective judgment that the understanding of existence expressed in the biblical writings is true is not and cannot be a matter of methodical existentialist interpretation, but, going beyond the limits of any possible interpretation as such, is properly a matter of critical validation and, therefore, must be the business of systematic, rather than historical (or biblical) theology.

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