Salvation History
INTRODUCTION
A. What Is Salvation History?
Salvation history is the progressive unfolding of God’s plan to save the human race from sin and
death after the Fall. This plan gives true meaning to the entire history of the world.
Salvation history is the pattern of events in human history in which God clearly reveals his
presence and saving actions.
God’s saving hand has been at work in and through human history.
The “Promise” of salvation is as important for us today as it was for the Israelites because
salvation is not a thing, a material gift, but the living, transforming presence of God within us.
All human history is salvation history; by that we mean that the one true God—Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit—has been present and active in the lives of his people since the beginning of time.
In the unfolding of salvation history, God invites us into communion with the blessed Trinity.
Divine Revelation culminates in Jesus Christ.
Scripture and Salvation History
•Salvation history, as written about in the Scriptures, reveals God’s love for his people. Every time we
read or hear the Word of God, we are led ever deeper into the mystery and wonder of God.
Salvation History in the Old Testament
•God invited our first parents, Adam and Eve, into intimate communion with him when he created
them.
•Although God revealed his will and plan to Adam, Eve, Abraham, and Moses, humanity’s inclination to
sin stood in the way of God’s plan.
The Israelites continued to turn away from the Covenant and the Law over and over. In response, God
revealed himself to the prophets, men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
•God remains faithful to the Covenant even when the people of Israel do not.
Jesus Christ: The Fullness of All Revelation
•Jesus Christ fully reveals God to us.
•The Gospel of John uses the Greek word Logos (translated in English as Word) for Jesus Christ.
•Because the Word (Jesus Christ) is God, we read about the Word in the Old Testament even before he
becomes human as described in the New Testament.
•In the life of Jesus Christ, we see the glory of God.
•In studying the life of Jesus Christ, who reveals the New Covenant, we come to know the fullness of
salvation.
The Transmission of Divine Revelation
•Jesus Christ, the fullness of Divine Revelation, commanded and entrusted the Apostles to herald to all
people and all nations what they had heard and seen regarding the salvation of God.
•This handing on, or transmission, of the truths Jesus Christ taught is known as Sacred Tradition and will
continue “under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to all generations, until Christ returns in glory” (CCC,
96).
Once the time had come to finish their work on this earth, the Apostles chose their successors, who are
given the title “bishop.” To these successors the Apostles passed on the authority to teach and interpret
the Scriptures and Tradition. This process is known as Apostolic Succession.
These two pillars, the written, inspired Word of God and the living transmission of the Word of God,
communicate effectively the whole of God’s Revelation. Neither pillar can be understood without the
other. (Scripture and Tradition)
The Deposit of Faith, the heritage of faith contained in the Sacred Scriptures and Tradition, unites all of
the People of God with their religious leaders and the early Apostles.
The bishops, in communion with the Pope, are called the Magisterium of the Church. They are servants
to the written words of the Scriptures and the transmission of the truth in Tradition. Because they are
servants, Christ charges the Pope and bishops with the authentic interpretation and teaching of all that
has been handed down.
•The Magisterium, rooted in its teaching authority and moved by the Holy Spirit, defines the central
teachings of the Catholic Church, known as dogma.
What are the stages of salvation history?
After the Fall, human beings lost their friendship with God and suffered from sin and death. Through a
series of covenants, related in the Old Testament, God gradually re-established a bond with humanity,
promised many blessings and a future salvation.
DATE PATRIARCH or PROPHET GOD’S PROMISE
Early Noah The preservation of the world
c. 2000 BC Abraham The establishment of a chosen people
c. 1300 BC Moses The permanent gift of a law and a land
c. 1000 BC David The founding of an everlasting kingdom
c. 900 – 400 BC Prophets The coming of a final salvation
c. 20 AD John the Baptist The coming of the saviour or Messiah
The deeper reason for God's promises
The deeper reason for each of these divine promises was to prefigure and prepare the way for the
coming of Jesus Christ; the Messiah who would bring a full and final salvation to Israel and to the whole
world.
SALVIFIC EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
PATRIACHAL EVENTS
The experience of being chosen from the covenant God made to Abraham
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
EXODUS EVENT
The experience of liberation from oppression.
Moses – leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
TRIBAL EVENT
The experience of acquisition of land after the long awaited dream of the Israelites.
Joshua – leading the Israelites to the promised land.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM EVENT – unification of the 12 tribes to monarchy
The experience of the Israelites to be stable and independent through the leadership of Saul (1 st
King), David (the greatest King) and Solomon (wisest King)
DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM EVENT – Northern and Southern Kingdom as a consequence of sins.
The Prophets.
EXILE EVENT – Jews turn back to the word of God.
Much of the Oral Tradition were put into writing.
POST EXILIC EVENT– Jews turn back to the word of God.
Assyrian and Babylonian Captivity
Persian Civilization (King Cyrus)
Greek Civilization ( Alexander the Great)
Roman Civilization
Birth of Jesus Christ – 6-4 BCE
