God reveals Himself to humanity through an act of love and self-giving, a process that occurred gradually through deeds and words and reached its culmination in the sending of His Son (CCC 68, 69-73).

In the Old Testament, God’s revelation was a gradual unfolding of His nature and will. He manifested Himself as the One who speaks through divine promises (Ex 3:7-17, Dt 6:4) and through prophets who transmitted His word to the people. A pivotal moment in this process was the revelation of God’s name to Moses at the burning bush, which disclosed Him as a faithful and compassionate God who remembers His promises to free His people from slavery (Ex 3:14-15). This period also emphasized God’s absolute sovereignty and the finality of His word, which is not subject to revision or delay (CCC 268).

The definitive and unsurpassable Word of God is Jesus Christ, in whom God has said everything (Heb 1:1-2, CCC 66). As the fulfillment of revelation, Jesus is revealed as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God. His identity and mission are manifested through His signs, miracles, and His predestined path as the Son of Man, which involved suffering and vindication (Mark 8:31, 10:45). The culmination of this revelation is found in His passion, crucifixion, and resurrection, which mark God’s victory over evil (Mark 13:24-27, CCC 605). Because Christ is the definitive Revelation, no new public revelation is expected before His glorious manifestation (CCC 66).

The Holy Spirit plays an essential role in this process by revealing God to humanity through Christ, His living Utterance (CCC 687). The Spirit does not speak of Himself but makes known the Father’s Word and guides believers to understand God’s love and presence (John 16:13). This reveals the mystery of the Holy Trinity—one God in three distinct but inseparable persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (CCC 253, 263). The knowledge of the Father is obtained through the Son, and the knowledge of the Son is obtained through the Holy Spirit (CCC 684). This Trinitarian nature was fully revealed on Pentecost, allowing believers to enter into the communion of the Holy Trinity (CCC 732, 733).

The adequate human response to this divine invitation is faith, which involves a personal adherence to God and the complete submission of one’s intellect and will to His revealed truth (CCC 142, 150). Faith is a supernatural gift that requires the interior help of the Holy Spirit, as it is impossible to confess that Jesus is Lord without being touched by the Spirit (CCC 179, 683). The Church supports this response by bearing, nourishing, and sustaining the faith of the believer (CCC 169). Furthermore, the Magisterium of the Church guides the faithful in discerning authentic revelations, ensuring that no “revelations” surpass or correct the definitive Revelation fulfilled in Christ (CCC 66).