DIVINE REVELATION

GOD’S SELF DISCLOSURE TO MAN

THE CONDITION FOR KNOWING AND LOVING GOD

GOD’S PERSONAL LOVING COMMUNICATION TO MAN

WHO HE IS… HIS PLAN OF SALVATION…

LIMITATION OF HUMAN REASON:

WE MAY KNOW THAT GOD EXISTSBUT WE CANNOT KNOW WHO OR WHAT GOD

IS…

HENCE, GOD COMMUNICATES TO US IN VARIOUS WAYS:

A. EVENTS

1. CREATION: First act of God’s

revelation

2. HISTORY: In the story of our

lives seen through the eyes

of faith

3. PROPHETS: They reveal the

meaning of historical events.

They convey the message of God by reading the signs of

the times.

B. PERSONS

1. JESUS CHRIST The fullness of God’s

revelation

2. CHURCH As we participate in the church, we participate in

revelation

TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION

SO THAT ALL THAT GOD HAD REVEALED FOR THE SALVATION OF MAN SHOULD REMAIN IN THEIR

ENTIRETY THROUGHOUT THE AGES AND BE TRANSMITTED TO ALL GENERATIONS

A. APOSTOLIC TRADITION

1. ORALBY SPOKEN WORD

BY THE EXAMPLE THEY GAVEBY THE INSTITUTIONS THEY

ESTABLISHED

2. WRITINGSBy the APOSTLES and MEN Associated with the apostles who wrote the message of

salvation under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

B. APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION

BISHOPS: SUCCESSORS OF THE APOSTLES THROUGH WHICH THE TEACHING AUTHORITY WAS HANDED DOWN AND THE MESSAGE IS PRESERVED IN A CONTINUOUS LINE OF

SUCCESSION…UNTIL THE END OF TIME

THE TRANSMISSION IS CALLED TRADITION

ACCOMPLISHED IN THE HOLY SPIRITDISTINCT FROM THE SCRIPTURES

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADITION AND SCRIPTURES

1. COMMON SOURCE: JESUS CHRIST

2. THEY ARE TWO DISTINCT MODES OF TRANSMISSION:

SCRIPTURE:Speech of God put down into writing

under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

TRADITION:Transmits in its

entirety the Word of God which has been

entrusted to the apostles

HENCE, BOTH SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION MUST BE ACCEPTED

AND HONORED WITH EQUAL SENTIMENTS OF DEVOTION AND

REVERENCE