Abstract:
The Biblical account of God’s revelation unto mankind is contrasted with the Roman Catholic account.
Fundamental differences do not permit acceptance of both. The Roman Catholic account is rejected.
Introduction:
Revelation in the purest sense is uncovering. With respect to God, revelation is the content and process
of God's making Himself known to people. Discussing God’s revelation to man presupposes that God is,
and that He has spoken to man. Both of these are held as self evident, and will not be treated herein.
Old Testament Revelation:
Prior to the coming of Christ, God spoke to His creation on many occasions and in various ways. The
Old Testament tells how God spoke to men, 1) directly 2) through dreams or visions 3) by handwriting
on a wall 4) in writing on tablets 5) by deeds of prophets. By these methods and more, God spoke to
men before Christ.
The Days of Our Lord:
Christ is the main message of the Father. The Old Testament revealed much about the Father through
His commandments and judgments, yet it left much to yet be revealed. Jesus so completely revealed the
Father that He said that those who had seen Him had seen the Father. In Christ dwelt all the fullness of the
Godhead bodily. By examining Jesus’s life, works, and teaching, we best learn about the Father.
In the rest of this article we will consider how the Spirit acted through different ones to reveal God’s
word and do His works. Jesus had the Spirit without measure, not a measured amount, as others had.
The Apostles and Revelation:
Of His many followers, Jesus chose twelve to perform a special role in His kingdom. Called apostles,
which literally means ones sent, these were given the charge to preach and the ability to perform mighty
deeds.
Due to their limited ability to receive instruction, Jesus did not directly teach His Apostles everything
they needed to know. As the time of His crucifixion drew near, He promised them that the Comforter (Holy
Spirit) would come after His departure and guide them unto all truth. The Spirit accomplished this by
helping them remember what Jesus had taught them as well as presenting new information.
After Jesus’s Death:
Jesus commanded His Apostles to remain in Jerusalem until this power came upon them, which they
did. On the first Day of Pentecost after Jesus’s resurrection, the Holy Spirit fell upon the Apostles as they
were gathered together in Jerusalem, in fulfillment of John the Baptist’s prophecy. (This is one of only two
recorded New Testament instances of baptism by the Holy Spirit). Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was later chosen
to be an apostle in a unique manner from the rest.
Gifts of the Spirit:
Before discussing apostolic revelation further, it behooves us to consider spiritual gifts. Paul lists the
gifts of the Spirit in his first epistle to the Corinthians. They are: the word of wisdom, the word of
knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues,
and interpretation of tongues.
Apostolic Power from On High:
After their baptism by the Holy Spirit, the apostles demonstrated their ability to speak in tongues, to
heal, to perform miracles, and to prophesy. From this we conclude that each apostle received the ability to
perform all of the spiritual gifts.
Transferring the Gifts:
The Apostles also had the ability to confer spiritual gifts to others. We learn of this quite concisely in
the eighth chapter of the Book of Acts. The main points of the chapter are as follows. 1) Philip went into
Samaria preaching and healing. 2) Many were converted by his teaching and healing. 3) Although he used
his gift on many, no spiritual gift was conferred to another by Philip. 4) When the apostles heard of his
success they sent Peter and John who did confer the spiritual gifts on others by the laying on of their hands.
If Philip could have conferred spiritual gifts upon those he converted, why didn’t he? If Philip could have
conferred spiritual gifts upon those he converted, why would Peter and John be dispatched? The logical
conclusion is the one Simon the Sorcerer adopted: that the gifts (Spirit) were conferred upon believers by
the laying on of the apostles’ hands. Hence, significant differences existed between the spiritual gifts
possessed by the apostles and the gifts imparted by the apostles. When the apostles conferred spiritual gifts,
recipients did not receive all the gifts, but only one. In addition, non-apostles could not confer their gift to
another. We are right to view Apostles as unique in work and power.
Spiritual Gifts Ceased:
Therefore, since only the Apostles could confer the gifts of the Spirit, at some point, when the last of
those who had received a Spiritual Gift from an Apostle died, the gifts of the Spirit ceased (probably during
the second century AD). This is precisely what Paul said would happen. In his first epistle to the
Corinthians, he devotes much attention to the gifts of the Spirit. In chapter twelve he lists the gifts and
shows how they were to be used in harmony. In chapter fourteen he required that they be used decently and
in order during worship. In chapter thirteen, Paul places Spiritual gifts in their proper perspective, i.e.
subordinate to love (charity, agape). One point of argument was that spiritual gifts were inferior to love
because the gifts would pass away while love would endure. Prophecies, i.e. the spiritual gift of prophecy,
would fail. Tongues, i.e. the spiritual gift of speaking in another tongue, would cease. Knowledge, i.e. the
spiritual gift of knowledge, would vanish away.
When would these vanish away? Paul says that that which is in part would be done away when that
which is perfect is come. What is that which is perfect? From verse nine, both knowledge and prophecy
were in part. Therefore, it is both knowledge and prophecy which would be perfect, or complete, prior to
the spiritual gifts being done away. Since knowledge and prophecy are means by which God reveals His
thoughts, this implies that God’s revelation to man would be perfected, completed, or finished, before
spiritual gifts would pass away. Again, this was probably in the second century. Therefore, the collection
of the writings of inspired men, the Bible, is God’s complete revelation to mankind, and is our only guide
today.
More Proof:
There is more evidence that this conclusion is valid. Paul told Timothy that, All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: {17} That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Scripture, therefore, completely supplies man in the realm of religious instruction. Jude said in his epistle
that the faith had been, at that time, “once delivered unto the saints.” The faith which was established by
our Savior and delivered unto men was delivered once and is not a constantly evolving or mutating faith.
Summary of Biblical View:
Christ’s doctrine was delivered in divine purity over a period of years from the preaching of John the
Baptist, through the ministry of our Lord, through the ministry of the apostles, and through the ministry of
those who received spiritual gifts from the apostles. Sometime in the second century God’s revelation was
completed. That revelation, the Bible, is now our guide in matters of faith. This is the Biblical explanation
of God’s revelation in New Testament times.
Roman Catholic View:
Let’s contrast the Biblical view with the Roman Catholic position. The Roman Catholic Church claims that
an article of faith is apostolic succession. This is defined as follows.
77) In order that the full and living Gospel might always be preserved in the Church the apostles left
bishops as their successors. They gave them their own position of teaching authority. Indeed, the apostolic
preaching, which is expressed in a special way in the inspired books, was to be preserved in a continuous
line of succession until the end of time.
78) This living translation, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, is called Tradition, since it is distinct from
Sacred Scripture, though closely connected to it. Through Tradition, the Church, in her doctrine, life, and
worship perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she herself is, all that she believes. The
sayings of the holy Fathers are a witness to the life-giving presence of this Tradition, showing how it’s
riches are poured out in the practice and life of the Church, in her belief and her prayer.
Roman Catholic officials claim that the power to reveal God’s will, that is, the spiritual gift of prophecy,
continues on today in the bishops of the Catholic Church, and that what their bishops say should be
considered with as much weight as Scripture.
Irreconcilable Differences:
How can these accounts of revelation be harmonized? The Bible teaches that the office of Apostle was
unique and limited. The Roman Catholic Church claims that bishops now possess the apostolic authority to
deliver God’s word. The Bible claims that God’s revelation would be complete, or finished. The Roman
Catholic Church claims that revelation shall continue on until the end of time. The Bible says it completely
furnishes man, and the Roman Catholic Church says that we need tradition to understand God. These two
views are worlds apart.
Which Do You Believe?
Therefore, we must choose. If we hold with the Biblical account, we must reject the Roman Catholic
account. If we hold with Roman Catholic teaching, we must reject the Scriptures. When Peter and John
were placed in such a position, they replied to Jewish officials as we must also reply to Roman Catholic
officials, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” (Acts
4:19)
References:
Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, Electronic Edition, version 1.5, 1995
Holman Bible Dictionary, Electronic Version
“Revelation of God”
Hebrews 1:1; Genesis 3:9; Genesis 15:12-13; Daniel 5:5; Exodus 24:12; Ezekiel 4:1ff; Hebrews 1:2-4;
John 14:9; Colossians 2:9; John 3:34-35; Matthew 10:1ff; John 16:12-13; John 14:26; Luke 24:49
The Apostles were again twelve with Matthias having replaced Judas Iscariot. Acts 1:15ff; Acts 2:1-4;
Matthew 3:11; Acts 10:44-47; Acts 9:3ff; 1 Corinthians 15:8 (Note: Paul was not with the twelve on the
day of Pentecost. It seems that he received the spirit at some later time.) 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; Acts 2:8;
Acts 3:6-7; Acts 28:3-5; Ephesians 3:1-3; Acts 8:18; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40; 1
Corinthians 13:9-10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Jude 3 (KJV).
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Doubleday, 1995, p. 30.