11. Why and in what way is divine revelation transmitted?

11. Why and in what way is divine revelation transmitted?

(Comp 11) God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4), that is, of Jesus Christ. For this reason, Christ must be proclaimed to all according to his own command, “Go forth and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19). And this is brought about by Apostolic Tradition.

“In Brief”

(CCC 69) God has revealed himself to man by gradually communicating his own mystery in deeds and in words.

To deepen and explain

(CCC 74) God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth": (1 Tim 2:4) that is, of Christ Jesus (cf. Jn 14:6). Christ must be proclaimed to all nations and individuals, so that this revelation may reach to the ends of the earth: God graciously arranged that the things he had once revealed for the salvation of all peoples should remain in their entirety, throughout the ages, and be transmitted to all generations (DV 7; cf. 2 Cor 1:20; 3:16 - 4:6).

On reflection

(CCC 85) "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ" (DV 10 § 2). This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

(Next question: What is Apostolic Tradition?)