Catholic Dictionary
Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
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CREDIBILITY
The reasonable grounds for believing something to be true. Credibility is generally applied to the evidence from experience, history, and reason for the truthfulness of Christian revelation, either in general or of a particular mystery like Christ's divinity or his resurrection. There are three logical stages for establishing the credibility of a mystery of faith: 1. the existence of God is proved by reason; 2. God's worthiness of being believed, if he makes a revelation, is likewise seen from reason, since a perfect God is all-knowing and trustworthy; 3. the fact that he actually made a revelation is then proved from the miracles he performs to confirm the testimony of those who claim to speak in his name. (Etym. Latin credibilis, from credere, to believe, entrust.)
