ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Progressive revelation (Christian)

Okay, kiddo, let me explain you what progressive revelation means in Christianity.

Imagine you are playing a game with your friends, let's call it 'Guess the Picture'. Your friend has a picture in their mind and they give you a clue about it. You guess what the picture might be, but you are not quite sure yet. Then, your friend gives you another clue that helps you guess a little better. This keeps going until you finally guess the picture correctly.

Similarly, progressive revelation means that God gradually reveals more information about Himself and His plan to us humans over time. It's like God is revealing the picture slowly so that we can understand it better.

The Bible is a great example of progressive revelation. In the Old Testament, God gave people laws and rules to follow, and He revealed Himself through things like the Ten Commandments and the prophets. But, people still didn't fully understand God's plan for them.

Then, in the New Testament, Jesus came to Earth and taught people about God's love and forgiveness. He showed people what it means to follow God, and how to live in a way that pleases Him.

After Jesus left the Earth, the Holy Spirit came to guide and help people understand even more about God and His plan for us.

So, progressive revelation means that God reveals Himself and His plan to us gradually over time. We may not fully understand it all now, but as we keep learning and discovering more, we get a clearer picture of who God is and what He wants for our lives.