03: Revelation

Question 1

What is the need for revelation?

Answer 1

God is transcendent, which means he’s radically other.

• God’s ontological transcendence creates an epistemological problem that cannot be solved by the creature.

Question 2

What is the character of revelation?

Answer 2

A condescension on God’s part, speaking in terms we can understand.

Question 3

What is the goal of revelation?

Answer 3

That we might faithfully respond to him

Question 4

What are the three goals of knowing?

Answer 4

Knowing who (sapientia) - personal knowing

Knowing what (scientia) - content knowing

Knowing how (praxis) - worship and obedience

Question 5

What is General Revelation?

Answer 5

God revealing himself generally, to everyone, at all times.

• it is worldwide in scope and universal in extent

Question 6

In what three ways God reveals himself generally?

Answer 6

1. In Creation (Psalm 19)
2. Providence (Acts 17:24-29)
   
   • God’s governing over nature by providing for his creatures and for humanity
3. Moral Conscience (Romans 2)

Question 7

What does Calvin mean by “the seed of religion” in all humans?

Answer 7

1. We are by nature religious beings with a need to worship.
2. We are always responding to God either in obedience or disobedience.

Question 8

What did Calvin mean by “the awareness of divinity” in all humans?

Answer 8

An ingrained sense of the true God.

Question 9

What is Natural Theology?

Answer 9

The idea that one can come to a sufficient knowledge of God through an examination of creation and human reason.

Question 10

What are some objections to Natural Theology?

Answer 10

1. Natural Theology can’t take us to a personal knowledge of the creator. (it can’t give a name)
2. Sin corrupted our capacity to adequately respond to God’s general revelation.
   
   • Now it has a negative function: to render us inexcusable before him.

Question 11

What are some good ideas about General Revelation?

Answer 11

1. We know that there is a God to deal with
2. We know we are morally accountable
3. Even in our sin we grope for God (by means of absolution from guilt and remorse)
4. Makes possible civic virtue (moral consciense)
5. God stands by his word, because there still is a general revelation
6. By virtue of moral conscience, we conclude that God values every human being, not just the elect.

Question 12

What is Particular Revelation?

Answer 12

Revelation that can bring us into a relationship with God.

Question 13

What is the two-fold need of the knowledge of God as described by Calvin?

Answer 13

Knowing God as our Creator and our Redeemer

Question 14

What are the characteristics of Particular Revelation?

Answer 14

1. Historical
   
   • It was given at a particular time
   • It therefore needs to be mediated if you were not an immediate audience
2. Personal
3. Word-Deed
4. Progressive
   
   • tells a story
5. Redemptive in nature
6. Centered on Jesus
   
   • He is God’s final word
   • He is the authoritative revealer

Question 15

What is the relationship between Scripture and General Revelation?

Answer 15

It serves as corrective lenses through which we can be rightly oriented within the world again.

Question 16

What is the organism of revelation?

Answer 16

Diverse aspects of revelation that serve to disclose God’s ways, will and purpose.

1. General Revelation
2. Divine action in history
3. Scripture as the record of divine action

Question 17

What is the preeminence of Scripture within the organism of revelation?

Answer 17

1. Scripture is the instrument that mediates both general and particular revelation.
2. It is through the biblical story that we are brought to Christ.

Question 18

Recite Psalm 19:1-4

Answer 18

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

Question 19

Recite Acts 17:24-28

Answer 19

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

And he made from one man every nation of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way towards him and find him.

Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “In him we live and move and have our being”

Question 20

Recite Romans 2:14-15

Answer 20

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.