Evangelicals believe in two forms of divine revelation: general revelation through nature, and special revelation contained in scripture. General revelation reveals God as creator, while special revelation reveals God as redeemer and contains the only authoritative teachings about salvation. Both forms of revelation are necessary. While scripture is infallible, human interpretations can be fallible, so interpretations of both revelation sources should prioritize the understanding with more certainty, such as general revelation clarifying scripture where human understanding was previously in error.

1. Chapter 4
Revelation: The Revelational Precondition
PowerPoint Prepared by Mark E. Hardgrove, MDiv, DMin, PhD

2. Evangelicals believe that God has revealed Himself
to us in two ways—general and special revelation.
What is general revelation?
God revealing Himself in and through nature.
What is Special Revelation?
Refers specifically to the Scriptures.

3. 1. A Being capable of giving it.
2. A being capable of receiving it.
3. A medium through which it can be given.

4. Romans 1:19-20 (King James Version)
 19
Because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto
them.
 20
For the invisible things of him from the creation
of the world are clearly seen, being understood by
the things that are made, even his eternal power
and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

5. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (King James Version)
 16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
 17
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works.

6.  The basic laws of reason, based in the nature of
God
 Objective meaning and truth
 The principle of analogy—similarity between
infinite and finite
These are the necessary conditions for revelation to
occur and they are met by God in relationship to
man.

7.  The sufficient condition for revelation to occur is
the Will of God. God must want to reveal Himself
to humanity.
 Philosophy shows us that this is possible, but the
actuality of it is shown in special revelation, that is,
in Scripture itself.

8.  This is God’s revelation in nature.
1. Nature, in a physical sense
2. Human beings—the history of human beings,
and the history of nature
3. Apologetics

9. Psalm 19
 1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the
firmament sheweth his handywork.
Psalm 97:6
 6
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all
the people see his glory.

10. Acts 14:15-17 (King James Version)
 15
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also
are men of like passions with you, and preach unto
you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the
living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and all things that are therein:
 16
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their
own ways.
 17
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in
that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and
fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and
gladness.

11. Romans 1:19-20 (King James Version)
 19
Because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto
them.
 20
For the invisible things of him from the creation
of the world are clearly seen, being understood by
the things that are made, even his eternal power
and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

12. Colossians 1:16-17 (King James Version)
 16
For by him were all things created, that are in
heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by
him, and for him:
 17
And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist.

13.  Human beings are created in the image and
likeness of God (Gen. 1:27).
 As such it is wrong to murder human beings,
because they bear the image of God (Gen. 9:6).
 James 3:9-10 (King James Version)
 9
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith
curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
 10
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My
brethren, these things ought not so to be

14.  God is manifest in human intellect and in the
moral nature of man.
Romans 2:14-15 (King James Version)
 14
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by
nature the things contained in the law, these, having not
the law, are a law unto themselves:
 15
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts,
their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts
the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

15. Acts 17:26 (King James Version)
 26
And hath made of one blood all nations of men
for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath
determined the times before appointed, and the
bounds of their habitation;

16. Psalm 8
 1
O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in
all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the
heavens.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
 11
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:
also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no
man can find out the work that God maketh from
the beginning to the end.

17. Job 38:7
 7
When the morning stars sang together, and all the
sons of God shouted for joy?
Revelation 5:9-10
 9
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy
to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for
thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy
blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and nation;
 10
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:
and we shall reign on the earth.

18. Job 35:10 (NIV)
 10
But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker,
who gives songs in the night,
Ephesians 5:19 (KJV)
 19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in
your heart to the Lord;

19.  The Bible is God’s only written revelation, it’s not
God’s only revelation. The two can be contrasted:
General RevelationGeneral Revelation Special RevelationSpecial Revelation
God as Creator God as Redeemer
Norm for Society Norm for Church
Means of Condemnation
in Nature
Means of Salvation in
Scripture

20.  God’s revelation in Scripture is that the Bible
alone truly is the infallible, inerrant, Word of God.
 The Bible is the only source for the revelation of
God as redeemer and His plan for salvation. It is
not revealed in any other works.
 It is the only source for the revelation of Jesus
Christ. There is not other source for authoritative
information concerning Jesus.

21.  The Bible is normative for all Christians, all
Christian thought. We are all encouraged to thing
Christocentrically.
Philippians 1:21(NIV)
 21
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain
Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
 20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer
live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the
body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me.

22.  Only special revelation reveals God as the
redeemer.
 The universe speak of God, but the Bible speaks
specifically of His redemption:
John 1:12
 12
But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name:

23. Special revelation is sufficient for salvation, but
general revelation is sufficient only for
condemnation:
Romans 2:14-15 (King James Version)
 14
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law,
do by nature the things contained in the law,
these, having not the law, are a law unto
themselves:
 15
Which shew the work of the law written in their
hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and
their thoughts the mean while accusing or else
excusing one another;)

24. Matthew 28:19-22 (NKJV)
 19
Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20
teaching
them to observe all things that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end
of the age.” Amen.

25.  The Bible is the authority for faith and practice:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)
 16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness, 17
that the man of
God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work.

26.  All truth is God’s truth.
 What do you think about this statement: “Not all
truth is found in the Bible.”
General revelation is much broader than special
revelation. Most truth found in science,
mathematics, or the arts, is not in the Bible. Yet
there are truths found in these disciplines of study.

27.  The Bible is scientifically accurate, but it is not a
scientific textbook.
 This applies in other disciplines as well.
Anywhere it speaks on a subject, it speaks with
truth because it is infallible and inerrant. But it
does not contain all truth that can be known.

28.  General revelation is essential to human thought.
 God is a rational being.
 Man is in His image
 Even unbelievers do not think apart from general
revelation.
 General revelation is in human reason.
 Such rational thinking separates us from beasts.

29.  God nowhere judges nations through the law
given to Moses (Ex. 19-20), or the law of Christ,
according to the New Testament, but there is a
law written on the heart (Rom. 2:12-15), and this
is the law by which God will judge the nations.

30.  General revelation serves as the basis for the
defense of special revelation.
 Arguments for the existence of God are found in
natural theology.
 If God is not found there, then there is no way to
argue from creation to Creator.
 Any apologetic effort that does not take into
account general revelation, is not really doing
apologetics.

31.  Natural revelation is unclear and withoutNatural revelation is unclear and without
content.content.
 Natural revelation is distorted by sinNatural revelation is distorted by sin
 Natural revelation isn’t identifiableNatural revelation isn’t identifiable

32. Natural Revelation is Unclear and Without ContentNatural Revelation is Unclear and Without Content
It is true that sin impairs humankind’s ability to apply
natural revelation to life. But this is not a defect in
the revelation, but in people’s refusal to accept it and
order life according to it.
Romans 1:19 tells us that natural revelation “is plain to
them, because God has made it plain to them.”

33. Natural Revelation is Distorted by SinNatural Revelation is Distorted by Sin
To claim that general revelation is inadequate because
unbelievers have distorted it is to reject special
revelation for the same reason. There is no defect in
special revelation, but in humanity’s rejection of it.
The same is true of general revelation as well. The
heavens declare God’s glory whether or not sinful
humanity recognizes it.

34. Natural Revelation Isn’t IdentifiableNatural Revelation Isn’t Identifiable
The argument is that we know we can go to the Bible for
revelation, but where do we go to read about general
revelation?
1. External ManifestationsExternal Manifestations of natural revelation are
Identifiable: Cosmological arguments based on this.
2. Internal ManifestationInternal Manifestation of natural revelation are
Identifiable: Moral arguments based on this

35. GOD
Scripture no conflict Nature
Theology some conflict Science
man

36.  The Bible is infallible and inerrant.
 However, we must be reminded of the fact that
human interpretation of the infallible and inerrant
Word, is subject to fallibility. Our interpretation of
the Word is subject to misunderstanding.
 The same is true of our understanding of the arts
and the sciences, with regard to general
revelation.

37.  So what we ought to say has priority, it that priority
should go to the interpretation, or the understanding
that is more certain.
 Example: The view that the earth was flat because
this is how it seemed to be presented in Scripture
(Rev. 7:1). The Scripture was not in error, but
man’s understanding was in error. General
revelation helps clarify the Scripture.
 Some believe macroevolution can be used to
explain God’s evolution, but Scripture teaches that
there is no evolution between species.