Dr. Schreck describes the Catholic teaching on the interpretation of Sacred Scripture and the essential role of the Magisterium, the teaching office of the Church, in the proper interpretation and proclamation of God's revealed truth. He also addresses the meaning and purpose of "private revelations." Finally, the Catholic Church has urged all the faithful to prayerfully read and study the Bible, especially in recent years, and an abundance of resources are available to promote this study. As St. Jerome famously taught, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."

Dr. Schreck continues to explore God's revelation, focusing on the Word of God in the Bible. He discusses the nature and importance of the Old and New Testaments, their relationship, and how the writings in these testaments came to be included in the canon of Scripture. He then addresses what it means that the Bible is "inspired" and "inerrant" (or without error).

God's revelation was handed on by Jesus and his apostles through Sacred Scripture (the Bible) and Sacred Tradition. But what is this Tradition, and how does it come to us? Dr. Schreck explores that question, highlighting the role of the teaching office of the Church—the Magisterium—in handing on, safeguarding, and authoritatively interpreting God's revealed truth in Sacred Scripture and Tradition.

Dr. Schreck reviews how God has revealed himself through the material order (or "natural revelation") and how God as creator has been confirmed by scientific discoveries in the past 100 years. He also talks about God's direct revelation in history (or "divine revelation")—from God's manifestation in word and deed to the Hebrew people to his entering into history in fullness in Jesus, the climax of God's self-revelation.

Dr. Schreck starts to unfold the riches of the Catholic faith with the opening sections of his Essential Catholic Catechism. The story of God's saving plan of love and redemption of the human race begins with these foundational truths: There is a God. This God reveals himself first in all he has created. And the only suitable human response is faith—believing in God who is real and who cannot deceive, as he is truth and goodness.

Dr. Alan Schreck introduces his new podcast series, based on his popular and acclaimed Essential Catholic Catechism published by TAN Books.

This catechism, fully referenced to The Catechism of the Catholic Church, was reviewed and recommended by Christoph Cardinal Schoenborn, the general editor of the CCC. Through this podcast series, Dr. Schreck will highlight the beauty and power of the Catholic Church's understanding of the Gospel of Jesus as faithfully preserved and proclaimed by the Church. This life-giving truth will invite all to a deeper, richer, and livelier faith!

Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.

While John’s Gospel is the summit of the revelation of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, the letters of St. John also provide valuable insight into the work of the Holy Spirit.

Also, Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is an apocalyptic work that focuses on the prophetic inspiration of its author and ends with the symbolism of the Spirit as the river of life-giving water in the heavenly Jerusalem. The epilogue of the Apocalypse declares: “The Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come’… And let him who is thirsty come, let all who desires take the water of life without price” (Rev 22:17).

Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.