Introduction
What is the uniqueness of Christian experience of God or what make the Christian different from the other religions? The answer is that the Christian experience is based on the supernatural revelation, while the others are based on natural revelation.
According to Paul Tillich, Theology of revelation is a systematic reflection of Church’s experience and understanding of God who reveled Himself in Jesus Christ. Therefor revelation is Christocentric. Revelation is a personal self disclosure of God in his Word (Heb 1, 1-2). There is a personal character of God’s revelation. In revelation, God is not an ‘it’ but an ‘I’ and a ‘Thou’.
Revelation is the object and content of Theology. According to K. Rahner, “Theology is the conscious and methodical explanation and explication of the divine revelation received and grasped in faith in Christ. Theology deals with revealing God and believing man. Faith and revelation go together i.e., faith is the response to divine revelation.
The divine plan of revelation involves a specific divine pedagogy. God communicated himself to man gradually. He prepares man to welcome the perfect manifestation in the person and mission of the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Revelation is teleologically oriented towards Christ, the omega point.
1 Basic Notions Regarding Revelation
1.1 Etymological Meaning of Revelation
Velum means Veil or Curtain. Velare means to cover up. Revelare means to remove the curtain. Revelation means removing the veil or curtain. God comes freely out of his hiddenness. Revelation is the supernatural manifestation by God of Himself and the divine plan of salvation. In Greek it is apokalypsis and in Latin revelatio.
1.2 Other expressions of Revelation
1, logos – word of God
2, epiphaneia – appearances
3, gnosis – knowledge
4, phanerosis – manifestation
5, aletheia – truth
1.3 Relation between revelation and faith
St. Anselm defines theology as faith seeking understanding. Faith and revelation go together i.e., faith is the response to divine revelation. Revelation is the content of faith. Revelation is a must for faith. Revelation is disclosure of something hidden.
1.4 Revelation as Self Communion of God
There are two approaches to revelation. They are propositional approach and personalistic approach.
1.4.1 Propositional approach
Here revelation is more understood as proposition, statements of truth, creeds, doctrines or dogmas. It is more intellectual. Revelation is understood here as the answers given to intellectual questions. In propositional approach, revelation is more connected with believing. Revelation is a dogma to be believed.
1.4.2 Personalistic approach
Today revelation is seen by a more personalistic (subjectivistic) approach based on experience. Man is not satisfied by knowing something. For the people who knew the death of Jesus, it is like the death of Socrates. But to see Jesus’ death as sacrifice, it must be interpreted in relation to my life. So factual statements must become value statements. It happens only when ‘I’ enter into ‘it’.
Modern theology calls revelation as self communion of God. It is based on the personalistic approach. Here we cannot ask the question what is revealed, but who is revealed. In this personalistic approach, we cannot understand revelation by intellect alone. No one can speak about God, except God himself.
Interpersonal relation in DV is depicted in the term ‘dialogue’. What God communicates in dialogue is not knowledge or doctrine, but his life. It is a call to be in communion with God and to share in divine life. Revelation is God’s self gift. Revelation is personal as I – Thou relationship. This self communication is out of God’s love for man and it shows his concern for revelation.
1.5 Progressive nature of revelation
The progressive nature of revelation is evident from the Bible itself. NT is the continuation of OT. NT is the fulfillment of the OT prophesies. This progressive nature is through history of salvation.
1.6 Revelation and Tradition
Revelation is the supernatural manifestation by God Himself and the decrees of His will. This manifestation is contained in tradition that comes from Christ through the Apostles and in scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit. Apostles testified that revelation has reached its climax in Jesus Christ. It does not mean that revelation is not further clarified. Here our understanding of the divine revelation is increased. It is the right meaning of tradition.
1.7 Revelation and Theology
Theology is the study and interpretation of revelation. There are so many mediators or media for divine revelations. Mediators can be any natural object or natural events. Historical events become events of revelation or salvation through interpretation. In OT prophets interpreted the historical events and in NT, the Apostles. Revelation becomes through interpretation. Theology can never go beyond authentic revelation.
1.8 Different types of Revelation
1.8.1 Active and Objective Revelation
Active revelation is a process of God’s self revelation extending over a long period in history.
Objective revelation is the content or deposit of knowledge or wisdom etc which is the result of God’s manifestation.
1.8.2 Immediate and Mediate Revelation
Immediate revelation is the revelation received by men directly from God. Christ is the only direct mediator.
Mediate revelation mans revelation handed down by the first recipients to latter generations i.e. handed down through generations.
1.8.3 Natural and Supernatural Revelation
Natural revelation can be understood as the manifestation of God through the regular order of nature i.e. through the modes of nature.
Supernatural revelation – Natural revelation is not sufficient, a confirmation of it is needed. Supernatural revelation confirms natural revelation. Divine realities can be more clearly understood by the light of faith than by the light of reason.
1.8.4 General and Special revelation
General revelation is through reason. Special revelation is through faith. Special revelation is an affirmation and negation of general revelation.
1.8.5 Public and Private Revelation
Public revelation means official. This revelation is for all human beings. Every person is bound with public revelation in Christ
Private revelation is for an individual or group to make relevant the significance of Christ event. The aim of private revelation is to clarify the purpose of public revelation or Christ event in a particular period. Public revelation is meant for all believers of a community whereas private revelation is given to a person or community. Public revelation takes its origin and is concerned with the person of Jesus Christ as God’s definitive revelation to mankind.
2 Biblical basis of Revelation
There is a progressive growth in the biblical basis of revelation. Bible gives us a progressive growth of revelation of salvation history.
Supernatural revelation takes place in history. It is through the ‘Word’, God spoke in history. The word announces divine plan of salvation and demands a response from our part. Israel was the spokesmen to his revelation. OT history of revelation begins with the word of creation and ends with the word made flesh.
2.1 Old Testament Revelation
It was not easy even for Israel to understand certain historical events as salvific. The key to understand historical event as part of revelation is the word of God which is interpreted on behalf of God by the prophets and law. Law and prophets ate the two important forms of historical revelation in OT. God reveals himself through His mediator – Prophet. The history of Israel is constituted by a series of divine interventions. So history of Israel is salvation history.
2.1.1 Different sages of OT revelation
These stages are studied basing on thematically or according to different books. They are,
2.1.1.1 Creation
The OT begins with the account of creation (Gen 1&2). This can be considered as the beginning of history. Creation is taken place through word that God uttered: let there be. Creation took place by the word of the Lord. (Wis 9, 1 ff)
What does the term Word mean?
Word is the medium to communicate. It contains and expresses and idea. Word is the within of things. Word also reflects the personality of reality to a person who utters the word. Dabar has two meanings – 1, idea & 2, breath (ruah). When a person utters a word, it not only expresses an idea but a power comes out also. So when God spoke, His power was expressed in creation. Divine word never returns without effect. The whole creation is the concrete self-communication of God. Among creation we see a special creation i.e. man (in His own image and likeness). Man is made the Lord of universe to take care, exercise power over universe because man participates in the very being of God. Man is created not merely by the word but God acted out the word, breathing the life into man. Man is given a very special share of God’s power.
2.1.1.2 Call of Abraham
Historical level begins with Abraham and Moses. The promise is given in chapter12 and making of covenant in chapter 15. The events between creation and call of Abraham are only preparation for the call. The call of Abraham was to constitute a people. So the OT is the history of people of the Israel constituted by means of Abraham.
2.1.1.3 Election
Election is making a people, that is done through covenant. The covenant is the center of all things Yahweh made with Israel. The covenant people accept Yahweh as their God. They became God’s people. Covenant has obligations. It demands certain things. God will always fulfill his promise; people have to fulfill their parts.
2.1.1.4 Judgment of people
Judgment is made not by Yahweh but people brought it as themselves because they were not faithful to covenant. They suffered many calamities both natural and spiritual. The non obedience to covenant is relay the judgment. The Assyrian exile and Babylonian exile are the consequences of their disobedience. Prophets warned people and interpreted these calamities as punishment of Yahweh for their disobedience.
2.1.1.5 Promise of Restoration
Promise is the new and definitive intervention of Yahweh to people. Post exilic prophets spoke about restoration of Yahweh – people relation. Eg. Jer 31, 31-32: a new covenant which is superior to old one. The history of Israel is the reflection of word of God and the revelation of God is always continuing – on going process.
These stages are also called:
1. Patriarchal revelation - Manifestation of theophanies. God’s own personal manifestation to fathers.
2. Sinaic covenant - Content is the lordship of Yahweh. Purpose of this covenant is salvation.
3. Prophets- During the prophets, they reminded the people to keep the covenant.
4. Deuteronomic period- law is a manifestation of God’s will. This period emphasize the need to observe the law. God judges according to man’s obedience or disobedience. Law becomes inner reality.
5. Historical Literature: This literature is a history of salvation. History has been directed by word of God. History is intelligible through the word of God. Important event is the prophecy of Nathan. Here comes the covenant of the establishment of a messianic kingdom and Davidic dynasty becomes the center of salvation. The hope of Israel is eschatological.
6. Exilic Period - The prophetic word becomes the written word. Eat scroll and preach the content of it. After the destruction of Jerusalem the word punishment becomes the word of promise.
7. Duetero - Isaiah - word of God is dynamic and makes history intelligible. It is through the word that Yahweh creates earth. So creation acknowledges his sovereignty. The word guides history. The word is the beginning and the end. The fulfillment of earlier prophesies like deliverance form exile is a guarantee for future things. The infallible efficacy of the word of God is indicated by Is 55.
8. Sapiential Literature - This literature is used as an instrument of revelation. Human experience is made of by God who revealed himself to man to direct his life with prudence. Human experience interpreted by faith in Yahweh is the source of this book. God has the fullness of wisdom which he communicates to man. The wise man will order his life according to God’s law. Wisdom is identified with the word of God creator revealer.
9. Psalms: Psalm is an answer to revelation. It is also a revelation of man’s understanding of God. The nature of God revealed through prophet is reflected in these prayers.
2.1.2 Modes of Revelation in OT
We speaks of two modes or manner how God reveals
2.1.2.1 Divine intervention or Encounter
2.1.2.1.1 Nature
We find this intervention first in nature. Nature is an extension of the idea that creation or creatures are reflections of God. Various phenomena of nature are used by God through which God encounters man to help or punish him. God is not distinct but is accessible. The nearness of God is expressed through these natural phenomena.
2.1.2.1.2 In Human Form
It is divine manifestation in human form. It also describes God’s immanence (Gen 18, 1-2). God appeared as three men in Gen 32, 24-30. Man can encounter God directly but not at the expense of His transcendence.
2.1.2.1.3 Spiritualized Forms of Theophany
Spiritualized form is an indirect manifestation of God, eg. the angel of the Lord. All the narrations of theophany express the personal presence of God in his revealing activity. One of the spiritualized forms is Malak Yahweh. Another spiritualized form is Kabod Yahweh. Kabod means glory. Kabod is the experience of the mighty presence of God. Another one is Panim Yahweh. Panim means face. The face of God is the revelation of grace of God. Face signifies a direct encounter with God. Another one is Shem Yahweh. Shem means name, title etc.
2.1.2.1.4 God’s self manifestation through the spirit and the word.
The spirit of God is the divine life principle and power. Spirit is first of all an agent through whom God acts and intervenes in history. Secondly spirit is the guide and protector of people. The spirit is also the instructor and teacher of people. God enables people to lead and judge by the power of the spirit. Spirit is the saving power of God, cooperating in the universe.
Word of God – Word of God is a major theme in Theology of revelation. Firstly we see the word of God in creation. Revelation takes place through words. The word is the expression of God’s will and plan for the world. The second aspect where we see word is word in history. History is the means and object of revelation. Meaning of history is interpreted by the word of God often through prophets; thus historical events become salvation events. Next where we find word is in commandments. Commandment means Word of God or Will of God. Another area where we see word is in prophets. Word comes to us through the mediation or instrumentality of prophets. It is the word of God which enables prophets to teach and preach. Prophets are given insights about the meaning of events.
2.1.2.2 The mode of Divine Speaking
Mode of divine speaking is found in many ways of God’s thinking. God directly speaks to an individual (Gen 3, 9 – 13). Then God speaks through an intermediary. Normally these intermediaries are prophets. Prophets are the spokespersons of God. Prophets received the word of God not to keep it but to speak it, transmit it, publish it and announce it.
2.1.3 Object and Purpose of revelation in OT
Revelation is the self manifestation of God himself. So the object or content of revelation is God Himself and revelation of his plan of salvation. Salvation is the other object or aspect of OT revelation.
The purpose of Revelation is to know Yahweh. To know Yahweh means an existential understanding of reality. By knowing Yahweh we must come to obedience and trust in Yahweh. The special purpose of revelation is that Israel should accept and acknowledge Yahweh as their only God. The purpose of revelation is also salvation of man.
2.1.4 The Authenticity of Divine Revelation
Knowledge in revelation is not objective knowledge but is qualified as intuitive knowledge, i.e. knowledge about a person. Intuitive knowledge cannot be proved objectively. Knowledge of God is intuitive and cannot be proved objectively. Intuitive knowledge is greater than objective knowledge. Cult is the means by which past events are experienced.
2.2 New Testament Revelation
New Testament Revelation is the final stage or fulfillment of divine revelation. It is Christocentric. It is final stage not because it happens at the end but because that Christ recapitulates the whole of divine revelation.
2.2.1 Christ as the Revealer According to the letter of Hebrews
The Letter to Hebrews presents Christ as the eschatological revealer. It also gives us a comparison between OT and NT. Hebrew presents the excellence of Christ as mediator. His superiority of his priesthood is over OT priesthood. Christ is superior to angels and Moses. It is related to the history of the concept of revelation. Since the son himself spoke, we take it seriously.
Heb 1,1-2 is the essential character of Biblical revelation. (Write the sentence)
A. God spoke (locus dei): Revelation is speech of God. It is the self communication of God. It is the divine initiative. God, being the Summum Bonum, diffuses himself. So self communication of God is his nature itself.
B. Other Means: God’s ways of revelation is various like words, dreams, symbolic actions, visions, etc. Even the ass of Baalam was an agent of revelation. God used many persons as means of revelation especially prophets. Not only human beings but other creatures were used by God.
C. In those days: Contrast with OT and NT. In OT, the modes were prophets and law.
D. Through His Son: “The revelation through Christ is the new and definitive covenant”. The mediator of the new covenant is the Son of God Himself. No one knows Father except through the Son (1Jn 1, 18) - It is He who reveals in New Testament. It is the definitiveness of the new covenant.
E. To us: In those days, revelation was to fathers. Today it is for all men. All have to listen to the revelation for our salvation.
F. “Last Days”- this term shows that revelation has a history. Revelation that starts with creation must be explained. God spoke: Word reveals the inner reality of God Himself.
G. Through Son: Only the Son is the eschatological reveler. It is not in the sense that it is the last in a series of revelation. But he is the definite and perfect reveler. Man cannot see God directly. Now man sees God through Son. How do we come to believe in Son and his teachings? We need internal inspiration to confess the personality of Jesus: Jesus tells to Peter when he confessed Jesus as Christ: “It is my heavenly Father who revealed it to you”. So Christian faith is a gift of God. But only if there is an internal disposition. Father reveals the Messiahship and Sonship of Jesus. Son testifies to the Father. It is mutual witnessing. “Holy Spirit will teach everything what I have taught”. H. Spirit teaches nothing new from what is revealed in Christ. Just as humanity of Christ is an instrument of Word of God, the visible structure of Church is the instrument of H. Spirit. It is the close relationship between H. Spirit and Church. Since Church is a divine and human reality, it is constituted also of sinners.
This revelation is once for all. Christ told Apostles: “You also will be witness to me because you have been with me from the beginning”. The revelation given by Jesus is being perpetuated in the Church through Apostles and their successors. It is the future element of revelation.
2.2.2 Revelation in Synoptic Gospels
Christ is presented as preacher and teacher in Synoptics. The theme of his teaching was the synoptic mystery qualified as kingdom of God. Here salvation is offered in the form of kingdom of God. In synoptic we see people acclaim Jesus as prophet. But Jesus is greater than other prophets. Jesus did not claim the title of a prophet but he sees the destiny of a prophet. The OT rabbis were only interpreters, commending and explaining the teaching of the elders. But Jesus interprets and corrects the law and gives a new meaning to law.
Jesus is also presented as Messiah. The Synoptics proclaimed the messianic faith through the mouth of Peter. The synoptics also present the revelation of Jesus as Son of God. This title is very closely associated with Messiah. Jesus as Son means He has a special or unique relationship with father. None knows the father except me. To know is to have a special relationship which is the basis for the mutual revelation. Father reveals the identity of the son which enables son to reveal the Father in baptism and transfiguration.
In Synoptics, revelation is also the proclamation of the salvation. Faith is accepting this proclamation of salvation. He who believes will be saved. Jesus is revelator in Synoptics. He proclaims the goodness of kingdom and teaches the word of God with a new authority. He reveals the kingdom because he knows the mysteries of the Father. All Gospels end with this missionary command.
2.2.3 St. John on Revelation
John uses the term Logos for revelation. The newness or specialty of John is that he identifies Logos with the Son. The word and wisdom in O.T is not a person. For John Logos is person distinct from Father but is God equal to Father. Word becoming flesh is the uniqueness of Christian tradition. The son is the “inner word of God”. (Jn 1, 18) Christ is the only perfect revealer because of his pre existence as Logos, as son in the Holy Trinity with father and through his incarnation of Logos. His quality of life is rooted in the life of Trinity before and after incarnation. He has permanent relation with the Father.
Jesus revealed by witnessing: To explain the role of Jesus he uses the word witness. Jesus is witness. Jesus speaks what he had seen and heard. Witness has two aspects: A) Communicate the message or knowledge which he reveals based on experience. Jesus had relation with Father. B) His message has a relation to a person - relation to a sender
2.2.4 Acts of the Apostles
Acts is the continuation of synoptics. Jesus commissions Apostles to teach all that he commanded, preach and make disciples. This is the basis of the Acts of the Apostles. Mt. 28 18-20; Mk 16, 16-18. Apostles were commanded to preach only what Jesus taught. The main theme of Jesus was kingdom of God. Since the kingdom of God was fulfilled in Jesus, the theme of Apostles preaching was the person of Jesus himself.
Content of Apostles’ preaching
a) Christ as Lord b) Salvation in Jesus Christ
We find the Apostles continue the revelatory function of Christ through preaching and witnessing. Just as Jesus witnessed the Father, Apostles witnessed Jesus. Between Christ and apostles there was continuity in mission, vision death and Glory. Preaching, teaching and witnessing are the three ways by which they carried out their apostolic mission. Witnessing is regarding resurrection of Christ.
Witnessing and proclaiming that Jesus is the Lord is the content of the Acts of the Apostles. Apostles continue the preaching of Christ according to their Lord’s command until their last breath.
(1) The Salvation in Jesus: Since Jesus is the lord, salvation is only through Jesus. Hence there is no other name by which people can be saved. He is the culmination of the whole prophetic ministry and history. Word of Christ the message of salvation.
(2) Faith according to Acts is accepting the word of God. The Holy Spirit assists the apostolic preaching. The apostolic witness and message handed down to church.
2.2.5 St. Paul on revelation
The word St Paul uses for revelation is mystery. He also use the word Gospel. Gospel is the proclamation of the revealed mystery. For Paul revelation has two dimension: cosmic and Christic.
1) Cosmic- through creation or natural revelation (Rom 1, 18 ff.; 2 14,16)
2) Christic: Christ is the centre of all creation. Col 1, 15-20. He speaks of Christ as the perfect image of God in the first creation. He is the centre of the all creation. Christ is the perfect message of God. He is the center of new creation and every thing is created in and through him. For Paul God is the revealer as in O.T.
The Mystery- for Paul Mystery is God’s plan for salvation for mankind. Mystery has a history; that is hidden in the mind of God but is realized in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Christ is the content of the mystery of God.
Paul also uses the term word (Word of God , word of Jesus- 1Thess 2,13). He also uses word of salvation, word of truth, word of life, word of reconciliation. The purpose of mystery or revelation is for the salvation of man and glory and praise of God. In the Epistle to Ephesus, Mystery becomes an event in Jesus. Mystery is first communicated to a privileged group. Apostles are the foundations of Christ event. So foundation cannot be removed or replaced. Then apostolic succession is the office and teaching to be continued and succeeded.
2.2.5.1 Different stages of Mystery:
Mystery is the revealed will of God.
(a) Hidden long ages.
(b) Access through prophets.
(c) Revealed through Jesus.
2.2.6 Conclusion to New Testament
1. N.T revelation is the fulfillment of revelation. But we cannot limit the fulfillment fully to N.T revelation because it is still accomplished- already not yet- eschatological dimension of revelation. So eastern theology speakes of the hiddenness of God even after revelation.
2. The establishment of New covenant: O.T wascovenant established by animal’s blood but in the new covenant offerer and victim are the same- by the blood of Christ. Interiority is the heart of the new covenant. The offering of the self is the best offering to God.
3. Jesus as messiah: Lordship of messiah is the prophesy of O.T. It was fulfilled in the life and teachings of Christ.
4. Death and resurrection of Jesus: These both are the supreme events in the self revelation of God. Without death and resurrection there is no revelation.
5. Sending of the Holy Spirit: Christ guaranteed Spirit will bring to remembrance all what is taught by Jesus.
6. Sending of Apostles: There is an essential continuity between work of Christ and mission of Apostle. Church is not the continuation of incarnation but the continuation of the incarnated Christ. N.T revelation is called the foundational revelation. Revelation was mediated by the apostles which gave rise to faith and founding of the Church. So Church cannot deviate from this foundation. Church is founded on the foundation of prophets and apostles. Then when is the public revelation closed? Usually it is said that with the death of the last apostle, public revelation stopped. But Karl Rahnner and so as called that even apostles were only mediators so public revelation stopped with paschal mysteries of Christ that is with the sending of Holy Spirit.
3 Dogmatic Evolution on Revelation
3.1 Modernism
Modernism attacked the notions of revelation, faith and dogma. For them, revelation is reduces to subjective human experience. The objective aspect of revelation is not given importance. This was later adopted by Protestants. The Church reacted to it through the decree lamentabili which condemned the articles of modernism. The decree emphasized the objective aspect of revelation. Revelation is a doctrine received from God and given in Scripture.
3.2 Revelation and Council of Trent
Luther’s criticism is the context of this council. The hold of Luther and other major Protestants is that human nature is corrupted. So man by his reason cannot know the divine truth and cannot do good. So the objective manifestation has no effect on man since his reason is wounded. So man is justified not by any external works that is by sacraments etc. but by faith in Jesus Christ. So role of priest, sacraments, mediation of Church etc. were rejected by Luther.
Council of Trent came against this. It spoke of two ways of knowing God- natural and supernatural. Trent makes use of the word Gospel for revelation. This Gospel is the doctrine of salvation. This is source of all saving truths and moral disciplines. Trent is explaining holds of using scripture. The Gospel emphasizes the message of salvation. This Gospel was promised by prophets realized through Jesus Christ preached by Apostles handed down to the Church, practiced and preached by Church. The Church is the custodian of the deposit of faith. Gospel is contained in the tradition. This is the main position of the council of Trent.
3.2 Vatican Council 1
Rationalism and Fedeism influenced Vatican council I. Pope Pius IX rejected “rationalism’. Reason has an important role to inquire into the fact of divine revelation. Council formed two constitutions - Dei Filus (son of God) and Pastore Aeternus. Dei Filius has 4 chapters. We speak of the second chapter. Revelation is dealt with reason, tradition ad scripture. Scripture and tradition are the channels through which the revelation is given.
Council spoke about two ways of knowing God. They are the ways of ascending and descending. The ascending way is of natural knowledge by reason. Man by reason ascends to God. in the descending way of revelation, God comes down to us.
3.3 Vatican Council 11 - On Dei Verbum
Dei Verbum is the Vatican document on divine revelation promulgated on 18th Nov. 1965. This document has 26 paragraphs in 6 chapters. The first chapter speaks on revelation itself. Man cannot understand the nature of god by natural reasoning. For knowing God, we need the super natural revelation that is God’s initiative. God wishes man to have access to the Father through Christ in the Holy Spirit for which he reveals Himself through the only Son (Heb 1, 1). The chapter two speaks of the transmission of the divine revelation. Tradition and the scripture are the two channels of revelation. They are closely inter-related and they complement each other and the Church is entrusted on the deposit of the revelation as she is commissioned by Christ. It is after the commandment of Christ, Church transmit the revelation in its integrity to generations. Revelation in its integrity refers to both the O.T. and the N.T. Christ has completed the revelation and there is no scope for a further revelation. What is possible is the interpretation of the revelation. The third chapter speaks about the divine inspiration and the interpretation of the sacred scripture.
The fourth and the fifth chapter speak about the Old Testament and the New Testament respectively. The apostles preached first orally the gospel, as per the commandment of Jesus. The communication of the gospel included the communication of the salvation through word and the sacraments and the office of the Church. The bishops were handed over the authority of teaching by the apostles in their place. The mystery of Christ is perpetuated by the apostles according to the command of the lord. They also fulfilled the command of the lord by making record of the good news under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit either personally or by disciples. Hence we have the two forms of handing on of the divine revelation, the tradition and the scripture. These two are like a mirror in which the pilgrim Church on earth looks at God. There are two ways of transmitting revelation; horizontal and vertical. Vertical transmission is by Christ and the Holy Spirit to the apostles where as horizontal transmission is continued in the Church by the successors of the apostles who are the bishops; hence they have to keep it whole as alive in the Church.
3.3.1 Jesus is the climax of revelation
NT revelation has superiority over OT revelation. OT and NT are different in manner, form, people addressed and the mediator. Jesus is the fulfillment and climax of the OT and NT revelation. Why Christ is the climax of revelation? It is because God has sent His Only Son. This Only Son perfectly reveals the Father. Son is the perfect reveler and the Trinity is the supreme object of revelation.
3.3.2 Christ is the eschatological revealer
Christ is the climax of all revelation. Christ’s second coming will complete the divine revelation. Jesus perfected revelation by fulfilling it through his whole work of making Himself present and manifesting Himself especially through His death, resurrection and finally through sending the spirit.
4. General Conclusion
We have been going through different phases of revelation. God employed various ways to communicate and expose himself. God spoke through the fathers and prophets in the former days and in the later days he spoke through His Son Jesus Christ (Heb 1,1). Thus there is a connection between those OT and NT periods. This revelation is centered in Christ Himself. The phrase ‘last days’ indicates the eschatological days.
Jesus is the perfect and definitive revelation. Because we see the father only through the son. There is no possibility of further revelation. But we have only the interpretation of the revelation. What we expect in future is the Parousia of the Lord which is the completion of revelation.
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