Revelation Flashcards
(28 cards)
What does revelation mean in a religious context?
Revelation means to ‘reveal’ something, specifically God revealing aspects of himself to humans.
What are the two types of revelation according to Catholics?
The two types of revelation are Natural Revelation and Special Revelation.
What is Natural Revelation?
Natural Revelation is when believers look at the world around them to find clues about God’s existence and nature.
How can believers understand God through Natural Revelation?
Believers can understand aspects of God’s nature through creation, similar to deducing an artist’s qualities from their art.
What is Natural Law in the Catholic Christian tradition?
Natural Law is the basis of ethical thinking, stemming from Aristotle and philosophically expressed by St. Thomas Aquinas.
How does Natural Revelation prove the existence of God?
By observing nature, Catholics believe they can see God’s omnipotence and goodness, thus revealing his existence.
What does Natural Revelation reveal about God’s intentions for humans?
Natural Revelation reveals natural law, which shows humans how God wishes them to live.
What is Special Revelation in Christianity?
Special Revelation refers to the intimate and direct details of God’s nature revealed in the Bible.
How does the Old Testament reveal God’s nature?
The Old Testament has God speaking directly to his people.
How does the New Testament reveal God’s nature?
The New Testament gives the life of Jesus, who is God incarnate, providing direct insight into God’s nature.
Why do Christians believe the Bible proves God’s existence?
Christians believe the Bible proves God’s existence because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit, showing that God is the author.
What do Catholics believe about the authority of the Bible?
Catholics believe the Bible contains God’s laws on how to behave, thus it has authority in showing how God wants us to live.
How does God reveal his nature through the Bible?
God reveals his nature to humanity through his commandments, which serve as proof of his existence.
What does St. Paul say about scripture?
St. Paul writes, ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God,’ confirming that the Bible came from God.
What is a common argument against the Bible proving God’s existence?
Some argue that the Bible can only prove God’s existence if it is the Word of God, but there is no evidence for this claim.
What is a criticism regarding the consistency of the Bible?
If the Bible were the Word of God, all Bibles would be the same, but they are not.
What does the Bible assume about God?
The Bible assumes God exists but does not provide reasons for his existence beyond subjective opinions about the world.
What do Catholics believe about God’s revelation?
Catholics believe that God’s revelation culminated in the incarnation of Jesus, meaning all revelations in the Old Testament led to his birth.
How does Jesus reveal God to humanity?
Jesus reveals God completely and fully as it is possible for human beings to understand.
What characteristics of God does Jesus show?
Jesus shows that God is love, forgives, loves all, and is willing to sacrifice his only Son.
What does the resurrection of Jesus signify?
The resurrection signifies that God is ‘the God of the living’ who desires people to have eternal life.
What does Hebrews 1:1-4 say about God’s communication?
Hebrews states that God spoke through prophets in the past but now speaks through his Son, who radiates God’s glory and character.
What is the significance of the incarnation according to Catholics?
In the incarnation, God made a complete revelation of himself, as Jesus is the exact representation of what God is like.
What does the Catholic Church teach about further revelations after Jesus?
The Catholic Church teaches that there can be no further and fuller revelation of God after Jesus, as his message reached its highest point in him.
