God reveals himself to humanity in various ways so that we may know him and his plan for our salvation. Divine revelation includes events like creation and history as recorded in scripture, the teachings of prophets, and ultimately through Jesus Christ. The church continues this revelation and transmission of God's word through both scripture and oral tradition. Tradition is distinct from but complementary to scripture, with both originating from God and serving to communicate the fullness of his revelation throughout history.

1. DIVINE REVELATION GOD’S SELF DISCLOSURE TO MAN

2. THE CONDITION FOR KNOWING AND LOVING GOD

3. GOD’S PERSONAL LOVING COMMUNICATION TO MAN WHO HE IS… HIS PLAN OF SALVATION…

4. LIMITATION OF HUMAN REASON: WE MAY KNOW THAT GOD EXISTS BUT WE CANNOT KNOW WHO OR WHAT GOD IS…

5. HENCE, GOD COMMUNICATES TO US IN VARIOUS WAYS: A. EVENTS 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.

6. B. PERSONS JESUS CHRIST The fullness of God’s revelation 2. CHURCH As we participate in the church, we participate in revelation

7. 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

8. A. APOSTOLIC TRADITION 1. ORAL BY SPOKEN WORD BY THE EXAMPLE THEY GAVE BY THE INSTITUTIONS THEY ESTABLISHED 2. WRITINGS By the APOSTLES and MEN Associated with the apostles who wrote the message of salvation under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

9. 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

10. THE TRANSMISSION IS CALLED TRADITION ACCOMPLISHED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT DISTINCT FROM THE SCRIPTURES

11. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADITION AND SCRIPTURES 1. COMMON SOURCE: JESUS CHRIST

12. 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

13. HENCE, BOTH SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION MUST BE ACCEPTED AND HONORED WITH EQUAL SENTIMENTS OF DEVOTION AND REVERENCE