The introductory instruction: on revelation, tradition, and Holy Scripture.
On Divine Revelation.
Chapter 3
110. Whence is the doctrine of the orthodox faith derived?
2From divine revelation.
311. What is meant by the words divine revelation?
4That which God himself has revealed to men, in order that they might rightly and savingly believe in him, and worthily honor him.
512. Has God given such a revelation to all men?
6He has given it for all, as being necessary for all alike, and capable of bringing salvation to all; but, since not all men are capable of receiving a revelation immediately from God, he has employed special persons as heralds of his revelation, to deliver it to all who are desirous of receiving it.
713. Why are not all men capable of receiving a revelation immediately from God?
8Owing to their sinful impurity, and weakness both in soul and body.
914. Who were the heralds of divine revelation?
10Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and other Prophets, received and preached the beginnings of divine revelation; but it was the incarnate Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who brought it to earth, in its fullness and perfection, and spread it over all the world by his Disciples and Apostles.
11The Apostle Paul says, in the beginning of his Epistle to the Hebrews:
12God, who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.
13The same Apostle writes as follows to the Corinthians:
14But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden things which God ordained before the world unto our glory, which none of the princes of this world knew. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Cor. ii. 7, 8, 10 .
15The Evangelist John writes in his Gospel:
16No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John i. 18 .
17Jesus Christ himself says:
18No man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Matt. xi. 27 .
1915. Can not man, then, have any knowledge of God without a special revelation from him?
20Man may have some knowledge of God by contemplation of those things which he has created; but this knowledge is imperfect and insufficient, and can serve only as a preparation for faith, or as a help towards the knowledge of God from his revelation.
21For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead. Rom. i. 20 .
22And he hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth; and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live, and move, and have our being. Acts xvii. 26-28 .
23With regard to faith in God, it is preceded by the idea that God is, which idea we get from the things which have been created. Attentively examining the creation of the world, we perceive that God is wise, powerful, and good; we perceive, also, his invisible properties. By these means we are led to acknowledge him as the Supreme Ruler. Seeing that God is the Creator of the whole world, and we form a part of the world, it follows that God is also our Creator. On this knowledge follows faith, and on faith adoration. (Basil. Magn. Epist. 232.)