Pints With Aquinas Ep. 511

Unlocking the Mysteries of Scripture (Dr. Scott Hahn)

Host: Matt Fradd
Guest: Dr. Scott Hahn
Release Date: February 27, 2025

Overview

This episode features a lively and heartfelt discussion between Matt Fradd and renowned Catholic theologian Dr. Scott Hahn about the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible—a 27-year labor of theological love now complete with both Old and New Testaments. Dr. Hahn shares the inspiration behind the project, reflects on the impact of Study Bibles for faith formation, explores key scriptural questions, and offers practical guidance on how Catholics—beginners and experienced alike—can deepen their relationship with the Word of God.

The core theme: Making Scripture Alive and Accessible—integrating scholarship, faith, tradition, and personal encounter with God’s Word for every generation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Genesis of the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible

• A Project 27 Years in the Making
  • Began in 1997 after Dr. Hahn’s frustration with existing Catholic study Bibles and a call from Fr. Fessio to serve as general editor.
  • "It began with a visit to Thomas Nelson Bible Publishers... but they were all Protestant... there really wasn't anything out there for Catholics.” (Scott Hahn, 02:15)
  • Worked with Curtis Mitch and later a team of Catholic scholars to ensure thorough, faithful commentary.
  • The project expanded from individual gospel volumes to the full Bible, adapting to financial and logistical challenges over two decades.

2. Why This Study Bible Is Unique

• Bridging Scholarship and Faith
  • Integrates clear exegesis, Church Fathers, saints, and magisterial teaching without academic elitism.
  • “We have scholars who contribute... but they believe in the Word of God, they're effective teachers, and they make connections between the Old Testament and the New, Scripture and the sacraments...” (Scott Hahn, 08:07)
• Accessible But Deep
  • Over 23,000 footnotes, topical essays, maps, and charts.
  • Aim: To “pull together... a team of scholars, teachers, writers who can connect the wisdom of God’s word with ordinary Catholics.” (Scott Hahn, 10:59)
  • Not afraid to challenge intellectual trends that minimize or dismiss the supernatural or the tradition of the Church.

3. Personal Formation & Legacy

• Scripture as Life-Changing
  • Dr. Hahn recounts his own teenage conversion rooted in reading a Presbyterian and Harper Study Bible, inspiring him to ensure Catholics had the same resource.
  • “What the Harper Study Bible did to me at 14... it set my heart on fire.” (Scott Hahn, 25:47)
• Spiritual Grandfathering
  • Ongoing formation and humility—students become teachers, including his own son.
  • “It’s so much more fun to be a launching pad than it was to be a rocket.” (Scott Hahn, 00:58 & 41:35)

4. Practical Guidance for Engaging Scripture

• How to Use the Study Bible
  • For beginners, start with the Gospels, particularly Matthew. Take it a chapter at a time, first reading the text, then the footnotes.
  • “Just start off with Matthew. Within the first two chapters, you'll see the historicity... and place yourself in the Gospel scene.” (Scott Hahn, 27:32)
• Daily Habits
  • Matt shares forming the habit of “one chapter a day,” using the commentary and patristic insights as meditation.
  • The Study Bible is structured to allow readers to sip rather than be overwhelmed: “What I've been doing is more like a fire hydrant... what this does is more like a water fountain, you can sip at your own pace.” (Scott Hahn, 55:57)

5. Addressing Key Scriptural Questions

• The Emmaus Effect
  • Study Bible’s impact: hearts burning within, encountering Christ in Scripture (39:54)
• On Scriptural Criticism
  • Differentiates between valuable scholarly methods (historical criticism) and limitations when they become reductionist or dismissive of faith. Critiques the tendency of some academic Catholic texts to question miracles, prophecies, and Magisterium.
  • “Historical criticism is valuable in a limited way... But it's sort of like a colorblind art critic.” (Scott Hahn, 20:58)
• Interpreting Jesus’ Prophecy of His Return
  • Responding to the objection that Jesus wrongly predicted his second coming within his disciples’ lifetimes:
    • Explains prophetic fulfillment as multi-layered—refers both to the Transfiguration (for some disciples) and the destruction of the Temple (70 AD), as well as a final consummation—drawing from patristic and magisterial tradition (43:34-53:00).
    • “If you don't just say, well, it's A and B, because I can't figure out which one. What if A is the Jerusalem Temple... foreshadowing what will happen to the cosmic temple at the end of time?” (Scott Hahn, 51:07)
    • Links sacramental presence (“parousia” = presence) to the Mass, not simply a future event.

6. The Importance of Tradition and the Liturgical Context

• Scripture was written for, proclaimed in, and actualized through the liturgy—the New Testament is first a sacrament before a document (23:14).
• “The New Testament was a sacrament years before it started to become a document... because it's an ecclesial document written for a liturgical context.” (Scott Hahn, 23:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On completion of the Study Bible:
  “The most shocking thing about the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible in my own mind is, is that it's here, that it's in my hands—27 years.”
  — Scott Hahn (04:54)

• On the approach of the Study Bible:
  “It's not like, here's the wisdom of Scott Hahn... it's imbued with the wisdom from the Church.”
  — Matt Fradd (12:59)

• On accessing and connecting to faith:
  “Somebody who's never read the Bible before can pick this up, open it, read it, and get it, and enjoy it.”
  — Scott Hahn (25:46)

• On tradition and the Mass:
  “When it's read and proclaimed in the church in preparation to celebrate the Eucharist, that's where [Scripture] comes to life. That really is its supernatural habitat.”
  — Scott Hahn (23:57)

• On engaging hard Scriptural questions:
  “The fulfillment of the prophecy is initial. The initial fulfillment is in 70 A.D. ... Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words won't pass away—so his words also apply to the passing away of heaven and earth... In the writings of the doctors and the fathers, this sort of thing was the air that they breathed.”
  — Scott Hahn (51:03)

• On teaching and learning:
  “You have your own firstborn son who's become your teacher. It's so much more fun to be a launching pad than it was to be a rocket.”
  — Scott Hahn (00:58, 41:35)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:32–04:54 – Dr. Hahn’s initial reflections, origin of the Study Bible project, early collaborators.
• 07:43–10:59 – Why existing Catholic Study Bibles weren’t enough, integrating faith and scholarship.
• 16:12–20:16 – Overcoming project hurdles, team expansion, and scholarly delegation.
• 20:16–25:47 – The pitfalls of “historical criticism only,” affirming trust in the Word and the Church.
• 25:47–29:05 – Influence on Dr. Hahn’s own faith, why young people especially need a Study Bible.
• 29:05–37:36 – Engaging with Gospel passages: Christ’s finding in the Temple, Marian theology, connecting OT/NT, the Socratic method of Jesus.
• 39:34–41:35 – Reader feedback: the “Emmaus effect” of the new Study Bible, impact across generations.
• 43:16–55:44 – Addressing objections to Scriptural prophecy; double fulfillment in Jesus’ words on his “coming.”
• 55:44–57:44 – How to use the Study Bible, accessing it, legacy for the future.

Where to Get the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible

• St. Paul Center: stpaulcenter.com
• Ignatius Press: via their website
• Full access and bonus material (Emmaus Academy) available through registration at St. Paul Center.

Tone & Closing Thoughts

Dr. Scott Hahn’s palpable joy and humility infuse the episode, while Matt Fradd’s curiosity and humor keep the dialogue engaging and accessible. Together, they demystify both Scripture study and Catholic theological tradition, sparking enthusiasm and offering practical, stepwise advice for listeners at every stage of faith.

As Dr. Hahn succinctly puts it:
"I am so grateful to God for the privilege ... I do feel like this is going to be a legacy of faith and love ... for generations to come." (57:23)

This episode is essential listening for Catholics eager to go deeper into Scripture, discover its unity and sacramental meaning, and be equipped to share it with others—especially the next generation.