Download - Characterstics of Historical Revelation
Characteristics of
Christian Revelation
1.Historical Character
2. Experiential Character
3.Communitarian and Interpersonal Character
Three Characteristics
Historical Character
‘We can’t reduce Christian revelation to mere collection of truths’--- DV 2‘We can’t reduce Christian revelation to mere collection of truths’--- DV 2
A. Revelation In the OT is HistoricalA. Revelation In the OT is Historical
•Expose , Manifest, Unveil oneself
•God discloses his will in History
•God is known to people as God of …..
•History –A process
•Different stages of the process
B.Revelation in the NT is Historical
‘Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways
by the prophets, but in these days he has spoken to us by a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.’-Hb 1,1-2
‘Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways
by the prophets, but in these days he has spoken to us by a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.’-Hb 1,1-2
God Spoke
In many and varied ways
To our ancestors
In these days……created the worlds
What is Historical Revelation…???
•Revelation in history
•Revelation through history
•Implications of Revelation in and through history
•Revelation in history
•Revelation through history
•Implications of Revelation in and through history
Historical Revelation-Indian ContextHistorical Revelation-Indian Context
•Changing reality can’t communicate anything divine
•Historical facts are transitory
•To arrive at the diving, we need to go beyond the transitory
Historical Revelation is not Possible
2.Experientaial Character
Of
Christian RevelationChristian Revelation
A. Revelation in OT - Experiential
•Experience of God in the cosmic events
•Experience of God in and through the historical events
Revelation in NT - Experiential
Revelation as experience in the person of ChristChrist is the self revelation of GodChrist is the recipient of revelationGlorified Xt is the perfect sharer of the
experience of God
Apostles share the consciousness of Xt thus share his experience
Church shares the experience of apostles
Experience of Revelation in the Indian Context
In India, reality is conceived as one.
Revelatory process= awakening our consciousness
Contact with the Supreme Reality
Means of awakening… Hearing of the word-OM
Bhakti(Jnana)Marga
Hindu Experience of God is not historically mediated, as in the case of biblical experience of God
Hindu Experience of God is not historically mediated, as in the case of biblical experience of God
Christian Revelation
Inter Personal and Communitarian
Inter Personal and Communitarian
Historical and experiential Character of revelation makes it an event of Personal relationship
Through this revelation, therefore the invisible God, out of the abundance of his love, speaks to men
as friends and live among them……DV 2
Interpersonal Character of Christian Revelation
A. Revelation in the OT is Interpersonal
• YHWH enters into personal relation with Human Person
• YHWH makes covenant with humanity
• Inter personal relation progressively grows
• YHWH enters into personal relation with Human Person
• YHWH makes covenant with humanity
• Inter personal relation progressively grows
B. Revelation in NT is an inter personal union of the human person with God in Christ
C. Revelation in the Church is Interpersonal
D. Characteristics of Revelation – that is interpersonalD. Characteristics of Revelation – that is interpersonal
1.Dialogical2. It is knowledge, that is life3.Realized in the midst of tension
Communitarian Nature of Christian Revelation
Revelation in OT is Communitarian
Revelation in NT is Communitarian
Implications of Revelation that is Communitarian
Revelation in OT is Communitarian
Revelation in NT is Communitarian
Implications of Revelation that is Communitarian
My Views and Reflections
Thank You