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The central revelation in the Old Testament and the Christian foundation of the Potchefstoom University. The PU for CHE acknowledges the revelation of God in creation and his Word as its foundation. The issue concerning the focus of the revelation in Scripture is answered in different ways. Looking at the Old Testament from a revelatory-cognitive approach, the LORD’S own disclosure as “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14) may be a meaningful response. The concept “I am who I am” has a incomprehensible as well as a comprehensible meaning which reveals our knowledge of the LORD in a great diversity (He is God, the Creator, the Saviour, the Holy One, etc.). In addition, Christ proclaimed Himself in the New Testament as "I am ... ”. This central concept opens up the opportunity for a Christian university to do scientific work with the full reality of creation as its object.

In this article the meaning of Deutoronomy is described from the perspective of a revelation-cognitive viewpoint, and attention is directed to the prescriptive character of the book. Deuteronomy has its origin with Moses, but in the course of many years it has been supplemented and actualized. The revelational content testi­ fies amongst others that Moses is speaking in the name of Vahweh; what the relationship is between Vahweh and the nation; Who He is and what is demanded of each member of the nation; and there is a consideration of the special time-bound determinations which are yet constructed on the basis of firm principles. In the New Testament the power of the Word, as actualized in the teachings of Jesus, can be found again.