Apostolic Tradition

PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

Section One: "I Believe"- "We Believe"

Chapter Two: God Comes to Meet Man

Article 2: THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION

This is not any “tradition” we are speaking of, but the sacred Tradition
(with a capital ‘T’) given by Christ to the Apostles and thus to His Church. 
This Tradition is unlike any other in existence because it is made alive by God.

1. The Apostolic Tradition

God has a desire for us to come to the truth through Jesus Christ. God had preached the gospel through his apostles in two ways: orally and in writing. The spoken words preached by the apostles have come to life through the Holy Spirit. The apostles also committed the message of salvation to writing. 

The full and living Gospel is preserved in the Church by the apostles leaving bishops as their successors (teaching authority). Tradition is the living transmission, which is accomplished through the Holy Spirit- yet, is different from the Sacred Scripture. Proof of this living Tradition is seeing through the holy Fathers as they showed its riches pouring out practice into life to the Church. 

God's self-communication made through his Word in the Holy Spirit is present and active in the church... "And the Holy Spirit, through whom the living voice of the Gospel rings out in the Church- and through her in the world- leads believers to the full truth, and makes the Word of Christ dwell in them in all its richness."

Comment: The Apostolic tradition comes to life through the apostles, and even more so through God's son Jesus Christ. The Gospel has been written as God communicates to us, made possible through the Holy Spirit so that his voice can  reign through this Earth and reachable to all believers. 

Christ Jesus - "Mediator and Fullness of all Revelation"

PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

Section One: "I Believe"- "We Believe"

Chapter Two: God Comes to Meet Man

Article 1: THE REVELATION OF GOD

Jesus Christ 

III. Christ Jesus - "Mediator and Fullness of all Revelation"

God spoke to us through his word. The message had been revealed through the prophets before but later spoke to us by his Son Jesus Christ. "In him he has said everything." Any person questioning God or desiring some vision or revelation would be guilty not only of foolish behavior but also of offending him, by not fixing his eyes entirely upon Christ and by living with the desire for some other novelty, St. John of the Cross comments on Hebrews 1:1-2   

No new public revelation is expected, with Christ there is a new and definite covenant. Through time other revelations have been recognized. It is not the role of the Christian faith to improve the Revelation of Christ.

Stages of God's Revelation

PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

Section One: "I Believe"- "We Believe"

Chapter Two: God Comes to Meet Man

Article 1: THE REVELATION OF GOD

II. The Stages of Revelation 

"In the beginning God makes himself known."

God reveals himself to us from the very beginning starting with our first parents. They were called to come in intimate communion in which he clothed them with resplendent grace and justice. This revelation was not broken by sin, but was buoyed by God through hope of salvation, promising redemption. He wishes eternal life for all to all those who wait for him in righteous doing. 

Covenant of Noah after the flood was another stage or revelation by God. He gives expression of the "divine economy" in which each had their own families and language in their nations. This division is to limit the pride of fallen humanity and to continue united in its ambition. However, both the polytheism and the idolatry threaten to break this with paganism. Through the times of Gentiles, this covenant remains until the proclamation of the Gospel. Heights of sanctity are expressed in the sacred scripture to those who live according to the covenant: "gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad." 

God calls Abram and names him Abraham to gather scattered humanity. Through him all nations of the earth would be blessed. Once all come to believe they would be the root onto which the Gentiles would be grafted. 

God formed Israel as his people when he set them free from slavery in Egypt after the patriarchs. The covenant of Mount Sinai through Moses was established so people would serve him the "one living true God, the provident Father and just judge, and so that they would look for the promised Savior." 

God forms his people in hope of salvation through the prophets with a new everlasting Covenant "intended for all, to be written on their hearts." Prophets proclaim a "radical redemption of the People of God, purification from all their infidelities, a salvation which will include all the nations." 

Comment: God has revealed himself to us from the very beginning. These stages were covenants he continuously made through time, starting with our first parents, Noah, Abraham, forming his people of Israel, and prophets. He reveals salvation as we commit to come in communion with him remaining in his light.