Raw reference: nos. 54-64, 70-72
CCC 54
"God, who creates and
"God, who creates and conserves all things by his Word, provides men with constant evidence of himself in created realities. and furthermore, wishing to open up the way to heavenly salvation - he manifested himself to our first parents from the very beginning." [DV 3; cf. Jn 1:3; Rom 1:19-20] He invited them to intimate communion with himself and clothed them with resplendent grace and justice.
CCC 55
This revelation was not
This revelation was not broken off by our first parents' sin. "After the fall, (God) buoyed them up with the hope of salvation, by promising redemption; and he has never ceased to show his solicitude for the human race. For he wishes to give eternal life to all those who seek salvation by patience in well-doing." [DV 3; cf. Gen 3:15; Rom 2:6-7.]
CCC 56
After the unity of the human
After the unity of the human race was shattered by sin God at once sought to save humanity part by part. the covenant with Noah after the flood gives expression to the principle of the divine economy toward the "nations", in other words, towards men grouped "in their lands, each with (its) own language, by their families, in their nations". [Gen 10:5; cf. 9:9-10, 16; 10:20-31.]
CCC 57
This state of division into
This state of division into many nations, each entrusted by divine providence to the guardianship of angels, is at once cosmic, social and religious. It is intended to limit the pride of fallen humanity [Cf. Acts 17:26-27; Dt 4:19; Dt (LXX) 32:8.] united only in its perverse ambition to forge its own unity as at Babel. [Cf. Wis 10:5; Gen 11:4-6] But, because of sin, both polytheism and the idolatry of the nation and of its rulers constantly threaten this provisional economy with the perversion of paganism. [Cf. Rom 1:18-25.]
CCC 58
The covenant with Noah
The covenant with Noah remains in force during the times of the Gentiles, until the universal proclamation of the Gospel. [Cf. Gen 9:16; Lk 21:24; DV 3.] The Bible venerates several great figures among the Gentiles: Abel the just, the king-priest Melchisedek - a figure of Christ - and the upright "Noah, Daniel, and Job". [Cf. Gen 14:18; Heb 7:3; Ezek 14:14.] Scripture thus expresses the heights of sanctity that can be reached by those who live according to the covenant of Noah, waiting for Christ to "gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad". [Jn 11:52]
CCC 59
In order to gather together
In order to gather together scattered humanity God calls Abram from his country, his kindred and his father's house, [Gen 12:1] and makes him Abraham, that is, "the father of a multitude of nations". "In you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed." [Gen 17:5; 12:3 (LXX); cf. Gal 3:8]
CCC 60
The people descended from
The people descended from Abraham would be the trustee of the promise made to the patriarchs, the chosen people, called to prepare for that day when God would gather all his children into the unity of the Church. [Cf. Rom 11:28; Jn 11:52; 10:16.] They would be the root on to which the Gentiles would be grafted, once they came to believe. [Cf. Rom 11:17-18, 24.]
CCC 61
The patriarchs, prophets and
The patriarchs, prophets and certain other Old Testament figures have been and always will be honoured as saints in all the Church's liturgical traditions.
CCC 62
After the patriarchs, God
After the patriarchs, God formed Israel as his people by freeing them from slavery in Egypt. He established with them the covenant of Mount Sinai and, through Moses, gave them his law so that they would recognize him and serve him as the one living and true God, the provident Father and just judge, and so that they would look for the promised Saviour. [Cf. DV 3.]
CCC 63
Israel is the priestly people
Israel is the priestly people of God, "called by the name of the LORD", and "the first to hear the word of God", [Dt 28: 10; Roman Missal, Good i Friday, General Intercession VI; see also Ex 19:6] The people of "elder brethren" in the faith of Abraham.
CCC 64
Through the prophets, God
Through the prophets, God forms his people in the hope of salvation, in the expectation of a new and everlasting Covenant intended for all, to be written on their hearts. [Cf. Is 2:2-4; Jer 31:31-34; Heb 10:16] The prophets proclaim a radical redemption of the People of God, purification from all their infidelities, a salvation which will include all the nations. [Cf. Ezek 36; Is 49:5-6; 53:11] Above all, the poor and humble of the Lord will bear this hope. Such holy women as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Judith and Esther kept alive the hope of Israel's salvation. the purest figure among them is Mary. [Cf. Ezek 2:3; Lk 1:38]
CCC 70
Beyond the witness to himself
Beyond the witness to himself that God gives in created things, he manifested himself to our first parents, spoke to them and, after the fall, promised them salvation (cf Gen 3:15) and offered them his covenant.
CCC 71
God made an everlasting
God made an everlasting covenant with Noah and with all living beings (cf Gen 9:16). It will remain in force as long as the world lasts.
CCC 72
God chose Abraham and made a
God chose Abraham and made a covenant with him and his descendants. By the covenant God formed his people and revealed his law to them through Moses. Through the prophets, he prepared them to accept the salvation destined for all humanity.