The Sacred Scriptures contain the Word of God and, since they are inspired, really are the Word of God. This sacred Synod urges all the Christian faithful to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the “excelling knowledge of Jesus Christ.” “For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” Therefore, [Christians] should gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text itself. And let them remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and [humans] may talk together; for “we speak to him when we pray; we hear him when we read the divine saying.”

—Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation