Revelation Flashcards
What is the scriptural concept of revelation?
The only way we have to truly know God is through Him revealing himself to us. We cannot know God through any other way.
Define the doctrine of Revelation and provide
the main idea.
He reveals Himself to us so that we gain knowledge that He is the Creator, the perfection of Christ’s life, and the power of Christ’s resurrection to reconcile us back to God.
Fully describe the doctrine of revelation by using the two forms of revelation. Use Scripture to support each of your assertions.
Two forms of revelation: General Revelation (knowledge of God’s existence, character, and moral law displayed to us through his creation of everything – world, humanity…); Special Revelation (God’s words addressed to specific people – e.g. Bible, OT prophets, NT apostles personal address).
General revelation is enough to condemn us but Special revelation is required to save us.
What are the four main ways to differentiate the two forms of revelation?
Four main differences between General & Special Revelation: Mode, Content, Scope, Efficacy.
Mode: a manner of acting or doing; method; way: modern modes of transportation. 2. a particular type or form of something: Heat is a mode of motion. 3. a designated condition or status, as for performing a task or responding to a problem: a machine in the automatic mode. 4. Philosophy . a.appearance, form, or disposition taken by a thing, or by one of its essential properties or attributes.
b. (in the philosophy of Spinoza) one of the nonessential qualifications of God, contingent upon other modes. Compare attribute.
Content: something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing, or any of various arts:
Scope: 1. extent or range of view, outlook, application, operation, effectiveness, etc.: an investigation of wide scope. 2. space for movement or activity; opportunity for operation: to give one’s fancy full scope. 3. extent in space; a tract or area. 4. length: a scope of cable.
5. aim or purpose. Origin: 1525–35; < Italian scopo < Greek skopós aim, mark to shoot at; akin to skopeîn
Efficacy: (What is this effective for?) 1520s, from L. efficacia, from efficax (gen. efficacis) “effective,” from efficere “work out, accomplish” (see effect). ef·fi·ca·cy
[ef-i-kuh-see] noun, plural ef·fi·ca·cies. capacity for producing a desired result or effect; effectiveness: a remedy of great efficacy.
Fully describe the doctrine of revelation by using the four main differences between these two forms of revelation as the
outline of your answer. Use Scripture to support each of your assertions.
General Revelation:
Mode: revealed through His creation (Romans 1) & Our conscience (Romans 2)
Content: creation tells us about himself
Scope: everyone (not limited) (Romans 3:23 – we’ve all sinned)
Efficacy: death
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Special Revelation:
Mode: in unique ways (personal encounter, mighty acts, propositions, incarnation) at specific times, to specific people, in specific places to understand His character. Some people at some times; e.g. Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3); Moses and burning bush (Exodus 3) ; Israelites before the Red Sea (Exodus 14:14); His Word (all over!); Jesus (John 1:14))
Content: knowledge sufficient for greater blessing (to save?) or greater condemnation. He’s a person (through Abraham and Moses). He uses his power to glorify himself and redeem a people for himself (Israel saved). Communicates his wrath the way he destroys Israel’s enemies. God’s serious about sin. Fullness of his Character (through Jesus). Reconcile a people back to himself. God reveals himself specially to us to make himself known. Specific knowledge about the character and attributes of God for us.
Scope: to a different set of people (limited)
Efficacy: Save us (incurs greater judgement on the people who have heard it…leading us to be saved) We as Christians in Austin have greater access to God’s word than any other people group in the World. (Matt 11:21-24)
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Summary written on Test:
General Revelation –vs- Special Revelation:
Mode: revealed through His creation (Romans 1) & Our conscience (Romans 2) –vs – unique ways at specific times to specific people in specific places (Abraham, Gen 12:1-3)
Content: creation tells us about himself –vs- His character (how He uses His power (Moses & burning bush Exodus 3), deals with sin, fullness of character through Jesus, and reconciling us back to Him).
Scope: everyone (not limited) (Romans 3:23 – we’ve all sinned) –vs- limited (personal address, OT prophets, NT apostles)
Efficacy: death –vs- salvation (greater judgment on people who have heard it – leads us to be saved – Sodom & Gomorrah (Matt 11:21-24)
What is the difference between an epistemology of revelation and an epistemology of discovery?
Epistemology answers how we know something is true. Revelation occurs when something outside yourself allows you to know something is true.
Epistemology of discovery – is the predominant mode of knowing in our world today. In its simplest terms it is to make an observation about something and it is flawed because humans are flawed. Two basic flaws exist knowledge gained through human observation: (1) there is always a limit to what we know, and (2) there are always presuppositions to our knowledge.
Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things…”
Epistemology of revelation – something outside of yourself that allows you to know something is true. Truth is revealed to us and it is God who reveals knowledge to us. Before we answer how we know, we must answer who we know.
Matthew 16:7 – “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 11:25-27 – “…I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise…and revealed them to little children…and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Luke 10:21 – “…you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children…”
1 Corinthians 1:18-21 - “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing… Where is the one who is wise?… For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”
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