General Revelation 2 - General Revelation and Special Revelation

In my study of these terms I have found that the controversy of dual revelation goes further than just the science and faith and the age of the earth issues. It goes further into what’s termed Natural Revelation and is steeped with psychological theories and postulations. In other words – what I found was a controversy that is much larger than what we want to address in this venue.

My first search for information was just general searches for the definitions of general and special revelation. These are the definitions that I found from various sources:

GENERAL REVELATION

reformed-theology.org [1]
God's revelation of His person, glory, and attributes to all men in all ages through nature, conscience, and history, so that they are without excuse for not worshipping Him correctly and leading righteous lives; unlike special revelation, it is not verbal in character or redemptive in content.

reasons.org [2]
God's expression of Himself to man through the realm of nature (apart from special revelation).

Theologywebsite [3]
The two main forms of general revelation are the physical universe and the human conscience (and perhaps a third is providential history) It is called "general" because this revelation is accessible to all at any time or era.

Basictheology [4]
The revelation of God that is available to all man, not expressed in words (non-propositional) or specific actions, but in creation, conscience, and history.

Ken Samples (RTB Staff Philosopher and Theologian) [5]
God’s existence, power, wisdom, majesty, righteousness, and glory are manifested to all people at all times in all places (are generally available) through the created order, which includes nature, history, and human conscience

SPECIAL REVELATION

reformed-theology.org [1]
God's verbal and (usual) redemptive revelation of Himself to specific people at specific times; special revelation is communicated to us today through its inscripturation in the Bible.

reasons.org [2]
Revelation of God through a special source (Moses, Jesus Christ, the Bible). Revelation defined as: God revealing or unveiling Himself. The self disclosure of God.

Ken Samples [5]
God’s more specific and particular self-disclosure comes in and through His great redemptive actions, events, and words … at special times and in special places.

The Westminster confession of faith summarizes relative importance of both of God’s revelations:

Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable;[W1] yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation.[W2] Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church;[W3] and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing;[W4] which makes the Holy Scripture to be most necessary;[W5] those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.[W6]

Ken Samples wrote that, “…knowing God through his dual sources of revelation is roughly analogous to knowing a human artist. While something significant of the artist can be known by viewing his or her work (general revelation), and expansive and more specific knowing comes through interpersonal communication (special revelation) with the artist.” [6]

The light of nature is not sufficient to give the knowledge of God necessary for salvation. For God's power (Rom 1:20)), goodness (Matt 5:45), and righteousness (Rom 2:14-15) have been revealed, but not His salvific grace. That is revealed only through special revelation. Special revelation is necessary to instruct people how to worship God rightly. God in His general revelation reveals Himself, but because of our sinfulness, humans pervert the reception of His general revelation, a revelation so plain it leaves all without excuse. It is as if a lawyer was offered the information necessary to solve a case, yet chose perversely to ignore it. [7]

From these quotes and definitions, I believe that we can see a general consensus in conservative Christian Scholarship and study in the understanding that there are two revelations of God – yet one is general and universal in its details, and the other is special in particular to the words of the Holy Bible. Now we will look into specific Dr. Ross quotes to see what he believes.

Notes:
[1]http://reformed-theology.org/html/dictiona.htm
[2] http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/glossary.shtml
[3] http://www.theologywebsite.com/systheo/bibliology2.shtml
[4] http://www.basictheology.com/definitions/General_Revelation/
[5] Ken Samples, Without a Doubt. 2004 Baker Books. pg. 43

[W1]-[W6] Westminster Scripture Proofs
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/I_fn.html#fn0

[6] Ibid, Ken Samples, pg 44 recounting a personal conversation with Mr. Robert Saucy.

[7] http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?number=T5333