Dennis Raymond P. MaturanDe La Salle – College of St.

Benilde 2011

Etymology of Revelation

From Latin a)“revelare”

- to unveilb)“revelatio”

- uncovering

UNDERSTANDING REVELATION

Lesson 1a: Revelation Define Divine revelation as event (words) and

deeds of God in history.Compare and contrast some biblical events

with some of the events in the personal lives of the students.

Create a prayer of gratitude for God’s revelation in one’s life.

Various Meanings of Revelation

1. The act of revealing or disclosing.

2. An astonishing disclosure.

3. God’s disclosure of Himself and His will to His creatures.

4. God relating to man His Truth and Mysteries.

5. The act of removing the mystery or “veil” covering hidden truths about God.

6. It is God ”unveiling” Himself to human beings.

What is Therefore Revelation?It is the disclosure by

God of Himself and His will to the human race by way of communication.

God is the “Communicator” while man is the either the transmitter or intermediary.

Depending on the intermediary, there are two forms of revelation commonly called natural and supernatural.

The Two Forms of Revelation1. Natural (General)

Revelation – it is man knowing by nature and seeking by nature God since he was created by God Himself. (Gk. “Syneidesis”)

2. Supernatural (Divine) Revelation – it is God, specifically telling man, His mysteries which cannot be known by man naturally.

What is Christian Revelation?It is the means by which man knows the divine truths

1. The written font of truth such as the scriptures and…

2. The unwritten tradition, which have come down to us from practices and attendant arguments of history.

3. By this revelation then, the deepest truth about God and man’s salvation is made clear to us in Christ, ho is the Mediator and at the same time the fullness of revelation (DV2).

What is Christian Revelation?4. “To see Jesus is to see the Father” (Jn. 14:19). For this reason, Jesus perfected revelation by fulfilling it through His work of making Himself present and manifesting Himself: through His words and deeds His signs and wonders, but especially through his death and glorious resurrection from the dead and final sending of the Spirit of Truth (DV4)

The Two Methods of Christian RevelationGOD

Source of Truth Revelation

Man Tradition

Oral Tradition Scriptural Tradition

The Three Religions Claiming Revelation1. JUDAISM: Monotheistic

religion of the Jews (Abraham’s descendants).

Israelites relationship with Yahweh as revealed through Moses.

Based upon the Old Testament, rabbis…

The Three Religions Claiming RevelationDivided into the

Sanhedrin, Elders, Pharisees, Scribes, Zealots, Levitical priests and other minor factions.

At present, has a minority of ultra-orthodox Jews known as Hasidic Jews.

The Three Religions Claiming Revelation2. CHRISTIANITY:Faith of both Jews

and Gentiles who embraced Jesus Christ’s teachings and Himself as the fulfillment of the OT promises.

Accepts the Triune as three distinct persons.

The Three Religions Claiming RevelationBeliefs based upon

the Bible (both OT and NT) through Jesus and the Apostles.

United as a Church community.

Divided into three major factions: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism.

The Three Religions Claiming Revelation

3. ISLAM: Literally means

“Submission to God’s will”.

Middle Eastern religion with Allah as the one God as founded by the Prophet Mohammed.

The Three Religions Claiming Revelation

Faith based upon the Qur’an.

Two major factions are the Shi’ite and Sunni groups.

Follows the five Pillars of Islam.

The Three Religions Claiming Revelation

The Five Pillars of Islam:

1. There is one god Allah and Mohammed is his prophet.

2. Pray five times a day facing Meccah

3. Give alms to the poor.

4. Fast during the days of Ramadhan.

5. Pilgrimage to Meccah ar least once for those who are able to.

THE GOD OF REVELATIONThe Seven Holy Names of God

in the OT:a) El – Godb) Elohim – “Gods”c) Shaddai – Almighty d) Adonai – Lorde) Elyon –Most Highf) Qadosh – Most Holyg) JHWH, JHVH- Yahweh – I

Am Who AmIn the NT:- HOLY TRINITY –Triune

God- YESHUA - Yahweh Saves- PARACLETE - Advocate

UNDERSTANDING FAITH

Lesson 1b: Faith1. Distinguish the meaning and necessity of

faith. 2. Create a need for genuine faith in

understanding the relevance of Abraham’s faith and his role as ‘Father of All Nations’.*

3. Express one’s gift of faith through a prayer of trust.

UNDERSTANDING FAITH Fruits of Revelation:1. Liberating Truth2. Reconciling Truth3. Loving Truth Virtues Derived:1. Faith 2. Hope – trust on

God’s promises of hope and mercy

3. Charity – Godly love

ETYMOLOGY OF FAITH

From Latin fides -"trust, faith, confidence, reliance, credence, belief”

From root fidere - "to trust”

ETYMOLOGY OF FAITHIn the Old Testament,

in Hebrew aman it means essentially “steadfastness”

In the New Testament the meanings "to believe" and "belief", for Greek pisteon and pistis, come to the fore.

UNDERSTANDING FAITHFaith is hope and belief

in the goodness or trustworthiness, of a person, concept or entity.

Faith in Christianity is based in and on the work and teaching of Jesus Christ.

Faith is therefore belief, trust and obedience in God.

UNDERSTANDING FAITHI. TRUTH DERIVED.That there is only One

God.That that One God has

Three Divine and Distinct Persons.

That the proper use of images is not absolutely forbidden.

Allows veneration of Mary and the Saints.

UNDERSTANDING FAITHDuties:1. Prayer –

communication with God

2. Worship – Adoration due only to God

Others:1. The Four Acts and Ends

of Prayera) Adoration – latria,

hyperdulia, duliab) Contrition or

Reparationc) Thanksgivingd) Supplication or Petition