P1. The Creed: L2 - God and His Perfections

Question 1

What do we mean when we say that God is the Supreme Being?

Answer 1

When we say that God is the Supreme Being we mean that He is above all creatures, the self-existing and infinitely perfect Spirit

Question 2

What is a spirit?

Answer 2

A spirit is a being that has understanding and free will but no body, and will never die.

Question 3

What do we mean when we say that God is self-existing?

Answer 3

When we say that God is self-existing we mean that He does not owe His existence to any other being.

Question 4

What do we mean when we say that God is infinitely perfect?

Answer 4

When we say that God is infinitely perfect we mean that He has all perfections without limit.

Question 5

What are some of the perfections of God?

Answer 5

Some of the perfections of God are: God is eternal, all-good, all-knowing, all-present, and almighty.

Question 6

What do we mean when we say that God is eternal?

Answer 6

When we say that God is eternal we mean that He always was and always will be, and that He always remains the same.

Question 7

What do we mean when we say that god is all-good?

Answer 7

When we say that God is all-good we mean that He is infinitely lovable in Himself, and that from His fatherly love every good comes to us.

Question 8

What do we mean when we say that God is all-knowing?

Answer 8

When we say that God is all-knowing we mean that He knows all things, past, present, and future, even our most secret thoughts, words and actions.

Question 9

What do we mean when we say that God is all-present?

Answer 9

When we say that God is all-present we mean that He is everywhere.

Question 10

If God is everywhere, why do we not see Him?

Answer 10

Although God is everywhere, we do not see Him because He is a spirit and cannot be seen with our eyes.

Question 11

Does God see us?

Answer 11

God sees us and watches over us with loving care.

Question 12

What is God’s loving care for us called?

Answer 12

God’s loving care for us is called Divine Providence.

Question 13

What do we mean when we say that God is almighty?

Answer 13

When we say that God is almighty we mean that He can do all things.

Question 14

Is God all-wise, all-holy, all-merciful, and all-just?

Answer 14

Yes, God is all-wise, all-holy, all-merciful, and all-just.

Question 15

Can we know by our natural reason that there is a God?

Answer 15

We can know by our natural reason that there is a natural God, for natural reason tells us that the world we see about us could have been made only by a self-existing Being, all-wise and almighty.

Question 16

Can we know God in any other way than by our natural reason?

Answer 16

Besides knowing God by our natural reason, we can also know Him from supernatural revelation, that is, from the truths found in Sacred Scripture and in Tradition, which God Himself has revealed to us.

Question 17

What do we mean when we say that God has revealed these truths to us?

Answer 17

When we say that God has revealed these truths to us we mean that He has made them known to certain persons, to be announced to their fellow men as the word of God.

Question 18

What is the Bible?

Answer 18

The Bible is the written word of God, committed to His Church for the instruction and sanctification of mankind.

Question 19

What do we mean when we say that the entire Bible is inspired?

Answer 19

When we say that the entire Bible is inspired we mean that its principal author is God, through it was written by men whom God enlightened and moved to write all those things, and only those things, that He wished to be written.

Question 20

How is the Bible divided?

Answer 20

The Bible is divided into the Old Testament, written before the coming of Jesus Christ, and the New Testament, written after his ascension into heaven.

Question 21

Are all the passages of the Bible to be understood according to our modern manner of expression?

Answer 21

No; some of the passages of the Bible are not to be understood according to our modern manner of expression, since they contain certain figures of speech, parables, and literary forms used by the people of ancient times but not employed in the present.

Question 22

How can we know the true meaning of the Bible?

Answer 22

We can know the true meaning of the Bible from the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, which has received from Jesus Christ the right and the duty to teach and to explain all that God has revealed.

Question 23

Are Catholics encouraged by the Church to read the Bible?

Answer 23

Yes; Catholics are encouraged by the Church to read the Bible, especially the Gospels, which tell about the earthly life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man.

Question 24

What is the chief message of the New Testament?

Answer 24

The chief message of the New Testament is the joyful announcement of our salvation through Jesus Christ.

Question 25

What is Divine Tradition?

Answer 25

Divine Tradition is the unwritten word of God - that is, truths revealed by God, though not written in the Bible, and given to the Church through word of mouth by Jesus Christ or by the apostles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Question 26

Has Divine Tradition ever been committed to writing?

Answer 26

Divine Tradition has been committed to writing, especially by saintly writers called Fathers, who lived in the early centuries but were not inspired, as were those who wrote the Bible.

Question 27

Has Divine Tradition the same force as the Bible?

Answer 27

Yes; Divine Tradition has the same force as the Bible, since it too contains God’s revelation to men.

Question 28

By what kind of act do we believe the doctrines contained in the Bible and in Divine Tradition?

Answer 28

We believe the doctrines contained in the Bible and Divine Tradition by an act of divine faith, which means that we accept them on the authority of God, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.