REVELATIONREVELATION

……is the self-communication of is the self-communication of GodGod

Revelatory ExperiencesRevelatory Experiences

NATURE – most basic way God reveals NATURE – most basic way God reveals himself to ushimself to us

PowerPower

BeautyBeauty

Silent BackdropSilent Backdrop

Many mentioned in OTMany mentioned in OT

Our Moral SenseOur Moral Sense

We experience the promptings of our own We experience the promptings of our own conscienceconscience

We have the ability to rise above adversityWe have the ability to rise above adversity

We can call on a power greater than our ownWe can call on a power greater than our own

Our RelationshipsOur Relationships

We discover our own self-worth and dignityWe discover our own self-worth and dignity

Love of a parent, child, spouse speaks to us Love of a parent, child, spouse speaks to us of love of Godof love of God

Love of the community around us; common Love of the community around us; common experiences bring us togetherexperiences bring us together

MOSESMOSES

God reveals himself to Moses in Burning Bush - God reveals himself to Moses in Burning Bush - learns God’s Namelearns God’s Name

This is the same God of Moses’ ancestorsThis is the same God of Moses’ ancestors Moses is given task of freeing his peoplMoses is given task of freeing his peopl This is not just an experience for Moses—we need This is not just an experience for Moses—we need

to be alert to God’s revelation—if we “take off our to be alert to God’s revelation—if we “take off our shoes” the world can be revelatory for usshoes” the world can be revelatory for us

Examples?Examples?

The Burning Bush and the Exodus from Egypt The Burning Bush and the Exodus from Egypt show that God is involved with his People—show that God is involved with his People—

OT people, NT people, everyone since then!OT people, NT people, everyone since then!

REVELATION BY JESUSREVELATION BY JESUS

Jesus revealed himself to very ordinary men and Jesus revealed himself to very ordinary men and women (as in OT—Moses was, also)women (as in OT—Moses was, also)

God can reveal himself to anyone-and doesGod can reveal himself to anyone-and does Public Revelation – “the deposit of faith”- received Public Revelation – “the deposit of faith”- received

by the early followers of Jesus and the apostolic by the early followers of Jesus and the apostolic community (ended with death of last apostle) but community (ended with death of last apostle) but continues to be explained in ways that each era continues to be explained in ways that each era can understandcan understand

Private Revelation – to an individual, may or may Private Revelation – to an individual, may or may not be sanctioned by the Churchnot be sanctioned by the Church

Personalist ApproachPersonalist Approach

Kierkegaard, Martin Buber (I and Thou) and Kierkegaard, Martin Buber (I and Thou) and Gregory Baum (Man Becoming) all speak of Gregory Baum (Man Becoming) all speak of the way the Person of God reveals himself the way the Person of God reveals himself to us as persons.to us as persons.

Protestant/CatholicProtestant/Catholic

Mainline Protestant Churches and the Catholic Mainline Protestant Churches and the Catholic Church agree that the Bible is true in the Hebrew Church agree that the Bible is true in the Hebrew sense of being reliable and faithful, but not in the sense of being reliable and faithful, but not in the Greek sense of being factually accurate in all Greek sense of being factually accurate in all ways.ways.

Protestant stance – Scripture AloneProtestant stance – Scripture AloneCatholic stance – Scripture + TraditionCatholic stance – Scripture + Tradition as it is interpreted through the yearsas it is interpreted through the yearsVatican II added a fuller dimension to understanding Vatican II added a fuller dimension to understanding

biblical revelation by using advances in biblical biblical revelation by using advances in biblical studies, linguistic and archaeological studies, etc.studies, linguistic and archaeological studies, etc.