This is a portion of the lesson we give to our RCIA class on Divine Revelation. It’s a great refresher for every Catholic to study.
- God’s desire to communicate with us comes from His burning love for us (CCC#50). The two ways of knowing about God are through:
- Human _Reason_ : That which we know about God on our own power;
- Divine _Revelation_ : That which we know about God only by His assistance.
- Revelation is God’s free choice to share His life with us (CCC#50). Revelation:
- _Supernaturally_ makes up for what reason lacks – Intimacy with God;
- Moves us past knowing about God and invites us into to a _Relationship_ with Him;
- Reveals God’s _Mystery_, His plan of loving goodness.
- The purpose of God’s plan is to save us, to bring us to heaven (CCC#51-53).
- God’s revelation helps us make a response to love Him _Beyond_ our own ability.
- Revelation includes God’s saving _Words_ and _Deeds_ in history.
- Revelation culminates in the Person and mission of _Jesus_;
- There is no further revelation after the death of the last _Apostle_.
- Christ communicated His plan of salvation to the Apostles through (CCC#75-79; 84-87):
- Scripture, the _Speech_ of God, written under the _Inspiration_ of the Holy Spirit;
- Tradition, the living transmission of the Gospel, includes:
- _Doctrine_ (beliefs);
- _Sacraments_ (worship);
- _Morality_;
- _Prayer_.
- The gift of teaching authority (the _Magisterium_), given to the Apostles and their successors.
The Catholic Understanding of Divine Revelation
| Scripture | Tradition | Magisterium | |
|
Authors |
God
Human Writers Old Testament: Jewish People New Testament: The Apostles |
Christ
The Apostles The Apostles’ Successors (Pope and Bishops) |
Christ and the Holy Spirit |
|
Foundational Scripture Verses |
2 Timothy 3:16
“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” |
2 Thessalonians 2:15
“Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.” |
Matthew 28:18-20
“18. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19.Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” |
|
Includes |
Old Testaments – People of Israel New Testament – Christ and the Church |
Doctrine (see Catechism) Sacraments Morality Prayer |
The Gift of Doctrinal Interpretation |
|
Given To |
The Church | The Church | The Apostles and their successors, the bishops in union with the Pope |
|
Characteristics |
Written
Inspired Inerrant |
Oral
Written Infallible |
Serves Scripture and Tradition
Infallible |
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