Christianity & the Baha’i Faith
Progressive Revelation and the Fullness of Christ
At the heart of the Baha'i Faith is progressive revelation: the teaching that God has sent, and will keep sending, a series of Manifestations, each renewing and advancing religion for a new stage of humanity's growth. No revelation is the last; Baha'u'llah himself is one in the series, with more to come after him. Christianity honours God's speaking through the ages too, but confesses that in Jesus, God has spoken his final and fullest Word, not one installment among many, but the fulness, given once for all. An unfolding series, or the once-for-all fullness of Christ, is the difference.
What the Baha'i Faith teaches
Revelation, for Baha'is, is progressive: God, like a wise physician, gives each age the teaching it needs through a new Manifestation:
Each Manifestation renews the eternal truths and adds guidance suited to the time; the process does not end with Baha'u'llah but continues, Baha'is teach, into the distant future.
What Christians believe
Christianity affirms that God spoke in many ways through the prophets, but confesses that in Christ that speaking reached its fullness and finality.
Where they meet
Both believe God truly reveals himself and speaks to humanity, both honour earlier revelation (Baha'is revere the Bible; Christians hold the Hebrew Scriptures as God's word), and both see a real history to God's dealings with the world.
Where they differ
The Baha'i Faith sees revelation as an endless series, each Manifestation renewing and superseding the last. Christianity confesses that in Christ, the eternal Son, God has spoken his final and fullest Word, once delivered to the saints, not one chapter among many still to be revised. An ongoing series, or the once-for-all fullness of Christ, is the difference.
Baha’i quotations are from the writings of Baha’u’llah (the Kitab-i-Iqan, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, and the Tablets of Baha’u’llah) and ’Abdu’l-Baha (Some Answered Questions), as published in the Baha’i Reference Library at bahai.org. Bible: King James Version. Every reference on this page was checked against its source.
Frequently asked questions
- What is progressive revelation in the Baha'i Faith?
- It is the teaching that God sends a succession of Manifestations (such as Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha'u'llah), each renewing eternal truths and adding guidance for a new age. No revelation is the last; Baha'is teach that more will come after Baha'u'llah.
- How does this differ from the Christian view?
- Christianity affirms that God spoke through many prophets, but confesses that in Jesus, his eternal Son, God has spoken his final and fullest Word (Hebrews 1:1-2), the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). An unfolding, superseding series, or the once-for-all fullness of Christ, is the difference.
Come and see
The Baha’i Faith honours Jesus as one of the great Manifestations of God; the Gospel invites you to meet him as the unique Son of God, God himself come near. The most direct way to know Jesus is to read his words for yourself. There is no pressure here.
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