Napiórkowski, Andrzej2026-04-242026-04-242026"Verbum Vitae", 2026, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 37-522451-280Xhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12153/9545This article analyzes the approaches to interpreting Revelation found in the documents of the last three councils: Trent, Vatican I, and Vatican II. The analysis was carried out using the following methods: comparative, historical-hermeneutical (Formgeschichte/Formkritik). In contrast to the scholastic, polemical, and apologetic methods of earlier councils, the Second Vatican Council departed from the dogmatic style of teaching, emphasizing a positive description of the Church, its self-understanding, and its relationship with the world, while avoiding condemnation and negation. An analysis of the conciliar texts reveals two great ecclesial traditions: legal (Tridentine, Vatican I) and pastoral-dialogical invitation (Vatican II). What we are dealing with here is an organic process of development in the understanding of the doctrine of faith.enAttribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/Council of TrentFirst Vatican CouncilSecond Vatican Counciltheological methodshermeneuticsdoctrinal continuitystructure and composition of conciliar documentsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article10.31743/vv.19106