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The Doctrine of Revelation 3

The Doctrine of Revelation 3. REVELATION: Definition.

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The Doctrine of Revelation 3

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  1. The Doctrine of Revelation 3

  2. REVELATION: Definition • “Revelation [from Latin revelatio, an unveiling, revealing, derivative of revelare, unveil; re-, back + velare, to veil, derivative of velum, a veil]: in its active meaning, the act of God by which he communicates to man the truth concerning himself- his nature, works, will, or purposes; in the passive meaning, the knowledge resultant upon such activity of God.” Warfield, Revelation and Inspiration, 37. Doctrine of Revelation 3

  3. REVELATI0N: Modes • Modes of Revelation Cf. 39 Articles, 7; WCF, 1:1. Revelation occurs in and through • Nature (Creation and Providence) • Human Beings • History • External manifestations (theophanies), Warfield, R&I, 15 • Internal manifestations (prophecies) • Concursive operations (Inspiration- cooperation with Holy Spirit) Doctrine of Revelation 3

  4. REVELATION: Categories • General Revelation • Special Revelation Doctrine of Revelation 3

  5. REVELATION: General Revelation • There are other titles for General Revelation: • Natural Revelation • Cosmological Revelation • Non-Salvific Revelation • General Revelation is adapted to human beings in their humanity, Warfield, Revelation & Inspiration, 6. Doctrine of Revelation 3

  6. REVELATION: General Revelation • General Revelation is revelation in “things” (Res), not in “words” (Verba) • It is not the same as natural theology. Natural theology is dependent upon reason, and the Christian axiom is not reason but revelation • Extremes: Liberal theology emphasizes the sufficiency of natural theology (e.g., romanticism, deism, pantheism). Neo-orthodoxy (Barth) denies any revelation that is not special. Doctrine of Revelation 3

  7. REVELATION: General Revelation • God Reveals himself in nature • Psalm 8 • Psalm 19 • Romans 1:18ff Doctrine of Revelation 3

  8. REVELATION: General Revelation • God reveals himself in his image • Reason • Experience • Genesis 1:28 • Psalm 8:4,5 • Romans 1:19 Doctrine of Revelation 3

  9. REVELATION: General Revelation • God Reveals himself in History • Providence • Experience • Tradition • Isaiah 43:13, 44:26, 46:9-10 Doctrine of Revelation 3

  10. REVELATION: General Revelation • Key texts for General Revelation • Psalm 8, 19:1-6, 94:8-10 • Acts 14:15-17, 17:24-29 • Romans 1:19-21, “what may be known about God is plain to them, • because God has made it plain to them • For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature • have been clearly seen • being understood from what has been made • SO THAT MEN ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.” • I Cor. 2:14, “foolishness to him . . . Cannot understand them . . . they are spiritually discerned.” Doctrine of Revelation 3

  11. REVELATION: General Revelation • There is a limited value to General Revelation • The unbeliever suppresses revelation in nature, so the practical import is that it has no value. Calvin, ICR, I,v,11 “But although the Lord represents both himself and his everlasting Kingdom in the mirror of his works with very great clarity, such is our stupidity that we grow increasingly dull toward so manifest testimonies, and they flow away without profit.” • Believers who have their eyes opened can see God in his works. Calvin, ICR, I,v,14 “the invisible divinity is made manifest in such spectacles, but [that] we have not the eyes to see this unless they be illumined by the inner revelation of God through faith.” Doctrine of Revelation 3

  12. REVELATION: General Revelation • The Limitations of General Revelation • It does not acquaint us with the way of salvation • It does not furnish an adequate basis for religion •  The Problem with General Revelation • It was never intended to be complete in and of itself • It was not intended for humanity in a sinful condition Doctrine of Revelation 3

  13. REVELATI0N: Special Revelation • Words, Genesis 1:28 • Theophanies, Exodus 13:21,22 • Christophany, Genesis 16:7-13 • Visions, Genesis 15:12 • Dreams, Genesis 28:12 • Prophets, I Samuel 9:9 Doctrine of Revelation 3

  14. REVELATI0N: Special Revelation • Other titles for Special Revelation • Supernatural Revelation • Soteriological Revelation • Salvific Revelation • It is adapted to humanity in sin. Warfield, Revelation & Inspiration, 6 • Revelation occurs in both facts (deeds) and words. Doctrine of Revelation 3

  15. REVELATI0N: Special Revelation • There is a relation of Special Revelation to General Revelation • Special Revelation is not the result of Natural Theology. • Natural Theology is the result of scholastic speculation and predicated upon a nature/grace dualism. • The attempt to develop a natural theology, based on reason apart from special revelation, reaches its high point in Deism and Rationalism. • Special Revelation is not viewed in isolation from General Revelation • Together they form one unitary whole Doctrine of Revelation 3

  16. REVELATI0N: Special Revelation • The contents of Special Revelation • Preeminently, Special Revelation is the self-revelation of God • Special Revelation is, generally, redemptive revelation • Special Revelation is the history of the Covenant People • Special Revelation is the revelation of God in word and deed Doctrine of Revelation 3

  17. REVELATI0N: Special Revelation • The Limitations of Special Revelation • It is not available to all (this is a problem of logistics) • It is not understandable by sinners (this is a problem of sin) • It is not equally understandable in all its parts, WCF, 1:7 (this is a problem of human finitude) Doctrine of Revelation 3

  18. The Doctrine of Revelation 3

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