Revelation: this is really supernatural!

SUPERNATURAL REVELATION : 

SUPERNATURAL REVELATION RE –VELARE Remove the veil

Answer these questions : 

Answer these questions 1. What is Revelation? 2. What has God revealed to us? 3. Why? 4. Do we find in the Bible the whole Revelation? 5. Who is allowed to interpret the Bible?

1. What is Revelation? : 

1. What is Revelation? Revelation is the manifestation of God to man: in 2 “books”: the Bible & the Universe. It is supernatural (beyond the natural one) It is like a container sent by God to us. You can accept it, or refuse it. The Church is the deposit: The Port. God reveals with words and deeds (in history)

2. What has God revealed to us? : 

2. What has God revealed to us? TWO FUNCTIONS: 1. Teaching; to know truths about God and the world (i.e. origin of the world), and ourselves. 2. Salvific function (to participate in God’s life): from Earth to Heaven.

3. Why? : 

3. Why? It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom, to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his will. It’s convenient due to weakness of our reason & will To know the Invisible God, the fullness of his love. 2 Books: Bible & World. To know natural (Creation) and supernatural truths (the Trinity). Does the Bible teach sciences? No.

4. Do we find in the Bible the whole Revelation? : 

4. Do we find in the Bible the whole Revelation? Stages of revelation: Creation Fall Promise of salvation Covenants (Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, etc) Prophets Jesus Christ: Fullness and completion of revelation. It will never be superseded.

Credibility in Jesus Christ : 

Credibility in Jesus Christ Still faith is needed: man’s response to God, to Christ, who reveals himself. His life His teachings His miracles His resurrection HE IS GOD (and Man) Hebrews 1:1-2: “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our Fathers by the Prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son”.

5. Who is allowed to interpret the Bible? : 

5. Who is allowed to interpret the Bible? A) The Bible is written in the context of a tradition. For 27 years it was just oral tradition. Sacred Scriptures and Tradition constitute a single sacred deposit of the Word of God. B) The whole preaching reached each person and a Community, the Church. C) Holy Spirit inspires the oral and written tradition and preaching. The same Holy Spirit acts in the Church.

Transmission of the divine Revelation : 

Transmission of the divine Revelation Sacred Scriptures: the speech of God into writing (first, oral). Hagiographer Tradition. TRADITIO. Fathers of the Church (holy life, ancient times, sound doctrine, moral unanimity) Magisterium (teaching) of the Church.

Correct interpretation: Sola Scriptura? : 

Correct interpretation: Sola Scriptura? THE OFFICE OF THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE CHURCH: Within the living tradition of the Church Take the Sacred Scripture as a whole (unity) Considering the analogy of faith (cohesion of truths among themselves) Unity among Magisterium, Sacred Scriptures and Tradition. IMMUTABILITY of the deposit of revelation Dogmas (revealed truths which the Church defines as such).