Revelation and the Bible

Dec 7

The revelation of God to people is an important topic. When we say revelation, we mean how God shows himself to mankind. We believe that God has taken the initiative to reveal Himself to man. He has done this in two ways, by means of general and special revelation. Additionally, we believe that the sixty-six books graciously preserved by God in the Bible are the inspired Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16). These books constitute the complete canon inspired by God that have been recognized by the church.

General vs. Special Revelation

General Revelation
God has freely chosen to reveal himself through the created world to every person (Ps. 19:1-3; Rom. 1:19). Through the physical world and man’s inner qualities man should be able to learn of God’s power and divine nature (Rom. 1:20), his glory and work (Ps. 19:1), his goodness (Acts 14:17), and his moral character (Rom. 2:14-15). Though this revelation has been made available to everyone, man’s sinful state hinders his ability to understand and respond this revelation properly (Rom. 1-3). Instead he sinfully rejects, distorts, and suppresses God’s self-revelation (Rom. 1:21-23; Eph. 4:17) and will be held accountable for doing so (Rom. 1:18). Therefore, because man rejects God’s gracious general self-revelation, it is apparently insufficient to communicate a saving knowledge of God (Rom. 10:9-10). General revelation can still serve as a support to the believer (Matt. 6:25-34), a source of worship (Ps. 148), and an aid to apologetics (Acts 17:22-34).

Special Revelation
In addition to his self-revelation through creation, God has more fully revealed his nature, character, and will to select individuals and groups of people through direct interaction (Exod. 3:3-5), angels (Luke 2:9-14), dreams (Matt. 1:20-21), prophets (Ezek. 38:17), and Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). The most complete revelation of God’s nature and character, though, came through Jesus Christ (Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:2-3). This special revelation means that a true knowledge of God is possible (Hos. 6:6; John 17:3) although some aspects of God’s nature and plan remain unrevealed (Deut. 29:29; Ps. 145:3; Rom. 11:33).
God’s special revelation in Scripture consists of the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. These books claim divine origin (1 Ki. 2:3; 2 Tim. 3:16; Rev. 1:1), are confirmed as such by Jesus and the apostles (Matt. 5:17-19; 2 Pet. 3:15-16), and are therefore universally accepted by the Church.
All Scripture is inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16). This means that God sovereignly prepared and moved the human authors of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:21) so that they accurately composed the very words of God (Jer 1:9) while still retaining their own individual styles and personalities (2 Pet. 3:15-16). Thus, every word of the Bible (Matt. 5:17; Gal. 3:16) and every part of the Bible (John 10:34-35; Matt. 5:17-18; Luke 24:44; 1 Thess. 2:13) is fully inspired by God. Since the Bible has been divinely inspired, and since God cannot lie (Num. 23:19; John 10:35; Heb. 6:18; Tit 1:2), the Word of God as it was originally written was without error (Ps 18:30; 119:142; John 10:34-35; 17:17) not only in matters of faith and morality but in everything it affirms including history, science, and human relations. Though the Bible accommodates itself to human language and customs (Gen. 19:23; Num. 1:20-46; Matt. 15:41) it speaks reliably and accurately through this ordinary use of language. We can also rest assured that God has faithfully guided the preservation and translation of His Word throughout history and has ensured that the Bible we currently have is reliable (1 Pet. 1:25; Matt. 5:18; 24:35).
As the inspired Word of God, the Bible the expression of God’s will for his people and therefore serves as the final authority in the lives of believers (Matt. 15:3; 2 Pet. 3:16) in cooperation with the leading of the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). Since Jesus Christ is the most complete revelation of God (John 1:18; 8:19; 15:7; Heb. 1:1-2) no subsequent revelation has the same authority. Human traditions and reason are important but must be submitted to the authority of Scripture (Ps. 119; Matt. 5:18-19; 15:3) such that every doctrine, idea, or spiritual experience must agree with the revelation of God found in the Bible.
In the Bible, God has revealed everything that is necessary for salvation and godly living (Ps. 19:7-8; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:3;). The Word is also powerful (1 Cor. 1:18; 1 Thess. 1:5) and God uses it to produce salvation (John 5:24; Jas. 1:21), sanctification (John 17:17; Eph. 5:26), and judgment (John 12:48; Heb. 4:12). The Scriptures should therefore be diligently studied and applied by all believers (Josh. 1:8; 1 Tim. 2:15; Ps. 1:2). Though some passages are more difficult to understand than others (2 Pet. 3:16), the Bible as a whole is sufficiently clear for everyone to understand (Deut. 30:11-14; Eph. 3:4). But, our minds have been clouded by sin (Rom. 1:21; Col. 1:21) and we are thus unable to fully understand the truth of God’s Word without the aid of the Holy Spirit. He illumines the Word for believers (1 Cor. 2:14) by affirming the truth and authority of the Word (John 15:26-27; 1 John 2:27) and helping us understand the spiritual significance of that truth (1 Cor. 2:7-16; John 16:12-15). The Bible should therefore be studied with a spirit of humble dependence on the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14-15), in the context of the believing community (Acts 2:42; 2 Pet. 1:20), and with a right application of grammatical, literary, and historical information.

The Inclusion of Scripture

General Revelation
God makes Himself known to all humanity in general revelation. This revelation comes through creation (Rom. 1:18-21), the sense of God's nearness (Acts 17:27), and conscience (Rom. 2:14-15). Through general revelation God reveals His existence and something of His essence: His wisdom (Ps. 104), majesty (Ps. 8:1), power and divine nature (Rom. 1:20), justice (Rom. 2:14-15), and care (Acts 14:17). His purpose is to make himself known so that people will seek him and come to know Him (Ps. 19; Acts 17:27). Though God has revealed these things universally and all people universally perceive them (Psalm 19:1-6) this knowledge is sinfully suppressed and distorted (Rom. 1:18, 25, 28). Because humans in general refuse to respond in faith to God's general revelation, all stand justly condemned before God (Rom. 1:18, 25, 28, 32; 3:10-14). God will bring special revelation to those who respond by wanting to know more of the God they see in general revelation.

Special Revelation
God in His grace has revealed Himself specially in order to glorify Himself through the redeeming of His own people. Special revelation is the combination of divine actions in history and their revealed interpretation (e.g.. Exod. 1-13). Special revelation has come through various means: mighty deeds (Exod. 14), dreams (Matt. 1:20), visions (Isa. 6), angelic visits (Luke 1:11-20), theophanies (Exod. 3-4), miracles (Ex. 12:29-36), and supremely in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God (John 1:14, 18). The revelation in Holy Scripture, the written Word of God, is the agency of special revelation today (John 20:30-31). Special revelation conveys true knowledge of God because it comes from God via means chosen by God to persons created by God in God's image who are illumined by God's Holy Spirit.

Holy Scripture
All Scripture is inspired by God (God-breathed). This inspiration is both verbal (Matt. 4:4; 1 John 1:1-3) and plenary (Matt. 5:17; Rom 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16). People, who were providentially prepared by God (Jer. 1:5; Gal. 1:15), who were motivated and superintended by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21), spoke according to their own personalities and circumstances in such a way that their words are the very Word of God (Mark 12:36; 1 Cor. 14:37). God's supernatural guidance of the writers and their situations enabled them receive and communicate all God would have us know for His glory and our salvation.
As a result of this inspiration, the Scripture is infallible (Is. 55:11; Matt. 24:35) and inerrant (Ps. 19:7; John 10:34-35), i. e., wholly true in everything which it affirms, including all matters of doctrine, morality, science, geography and history. Because the Bible is God's Word, it alone is the final authority for all matters of faith and life (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). In these areas Scripture is understandable to all persons (Acts 17:11; 1 John 2:27). The Holy Spirit illumines the mind and heart of believers as they read the Bible and gives conviction concerning its authority and understanding of its personal significance (Jn. 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:12-15; 1 Cor. 2:7-16). In reliance upon the Holy Spirit, then, the believer interprets Scripture most carefully with particular attention to context, seeking the aid of the community of Spirit-led believers, past and present in order to discover the sense that the original author intended (Ezra 7:10; 2 Pet. 3:14-16; 1 Jn. 2:27).

How God Revealed Himself

General Revelation
God has revealed Himself externally to man through creation (Rom. 1:18-20; Psa. 19:1-3). From creation man is able to learn of the existence of God (Rom. 1:21), of His role as Creator (Rom. 1:19), that He is good and makes provision for all of the earth (Acts 14:17), that He is glorious (Prov. 19:1), and that He is eternally powerful and divine in creation (Rom. 1:20).
God has revealed Himself internally to man through the human conscience and an innate sense of deity, communicating through these His existence and His requirement of moral righteousness (Rom. 2:14-16; Acts 17:23-27).
This revelation of God is accessible to all people, but its effectiveness is hindered because of their sinfulness (Rom. 1:18). Despite this it is still sufficient to make them accountable for their rejection of God (Rom. 1:20), though insufficient to communicate a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:14-18).

Special Revelation
God has more fully revealed Himself, His character, and His plan of salvation through special means. These have included direct speech (Ex 3:3-5), dreams and visions (Num 12:6), angelic messengers (Dan. 9:20-27), the writing of Scripture (1 Pet. 1:20 21), and most completely through Jesus Christ the Living Word (Heb. 1:2-3).

Scripture
The Holy Spirit worked through the instrumentality of human authors prompting them to write, ensuring that their writings were nothing less than the very words of God (2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). As the Holy Spirit spoke through these men He did not override their personalities or literary talents, but He did guarantee the accuracy of their writings, and that their words reflected exactly the intentions of the divine author (2 Pet. 1:20-21). The Bible’s inspiration is verbal, extending to the very words of Scripture (John 10:34-35), and plenary, extending to all of them (2 Tim. 3:16).
Because the Bible is inspired by God, it is also inerrant, wholly true in everything it affirms, as recorded in the autographs. As the very word of God, it reflects His perfect character of truth (John 17:17; Rom. 3:4). This principle was also asserted by Jesus (John 10:34-35) and other New Testament writers (2 Tim. 3:16).
God's special revelation in Scripture is completely contained in the 66 books of the Bible. These books are self-attesting as the Word of God (1 Kgs 2:3; Isa. 66:1-2; 2 Pet. 3:16; 1 Tim. 5:18), are confirmed as such by Jesus Christ (Matt. 5:17-19), have apostolic authority (Eph. 1:1), doctrinal unity, and are universally accepted as scripture by the church.
The Bible is the perfect expression of God's will for man, and possesses supreme right to command what men and women are to believe and how they are to live. The Bible alone is the final authority for faith and practice (Matt. 15:3) and it alone is sufficient to instruct men and women to be saved (1 Pet. 1:23) and how to live lives pleasing to God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The Bible is relevant and powerful to change the lives of people everywhere (Heb. 4:12).
The Bible speaks clearly to believers. Every believer is illumined by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:12-13) which enables them, with proper study and humility, to receive the teachings of scripture without need of an official interpretation (1 John 2:27). The Bible states that the teachings it contains are clearly within the reach of those who read it (Deut. 30:11-14).
The Bible must be correctly interpreted if it is to be understood. The correct interpretation is one which focuses on the authorial intent, in consideration of grammatical, historical, and cultural considerations (Neh. 8:8). The correct interpretation is also one that is contextual, focusing upon the immediate context of the passage and book, and upon the broader context of the whole of Scripture.