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ST502TheWord(DoctrineofScripture)

RobertGonzales,Jr. Page1 1/14/16

INTRODUCTION:[READPSALM19]

Severalmonthsago,CNNfeaturedanarticlethathighlightsChina’scurrenteffortstobuildFAST,whichisanabbreviationfor“Five-hundred-meterApertureSphericalTelescope.”Thisgiganticdishwillbethesizeof30footballfieldswhenitsfinished,anditspurposewillbetodetectextraterrestriallifebeyondthisworld.ButFASTwillnotbethefirstattempttopickupcommunication

fromouterspace.In1963theworld’scurrentlylargestsingle-dishradiotelescopewasinstalledattheAreciboObservatoryinPuertoRico.Andforover50years,Arecibo’smassivedishhasbeensearchingforradiosignalsfromlifeinouterspace.Tothisdatenoalienmessageshavebeenreceived.Andyet,

scientistscontinuetheirrelentlesspursuittohearacommunicationfromanotherworld.Astheworldlistensforaword“frombeyond,”theChristianchurch

believeswealreadyhavesuchaword.Someonefrom“outerspace,”orbetter,Someonefrombeyondspace,hascommunicatedtous.WebelievethatwehaveawordfromtheTriuneCreatorandLordoftheentireuniverse.1AndthisrevelationfromGodisthefocusofPsalm19.Asyoumayhavenoticed,thestructureofPsalm19reflectsatwo-

foldviewofrevelation:(1)“TheheavensdeclarethegloryofGod”(19:1ff).Thisisa

referencetowhattheologianshavecometocallgeneral,natural,orcreationalrevelation.GeneralrevelationisGod’scommunicationtomanthroughcreation,providence,andhumanconscience.(2)“ThelawoftheLordisperfect,revivingthesoul”(19:7ff.).Thisis

areferencetowhattheologiansdesignatespecial,supernatural,orcovenantalrevelation.SpecialrevelationisGod’scommunicationtomanthroughspecialactsandwords,whichultimatelybecameinscripturatedintheBible.

1Ihaveborrowed,modified,andadaptedRobertReymond’sintroductiontothedoctrine

ofrevelationinANewSystematicTheologyoftheChristianFaith(Nashville:ThomasNelsonPublishers,1998),3.



Thus,theBibleteachesandthechurchhastraditionallyrecognizedthesetwokindsofdivinerevelation.However,Bible-criticsinmoderntimeshavechallengedthistwo-

foldviewofrevelationinmoderntimes.Thischallengehasusuallytakenoneoftwoforms:(1) Themodernistrejectionofspecialrevelation

TheperiodoftheEnlightenment(1700-1800)becameincreasinglymarkedbyacriticalandsometimesevenskepticalviewoftheBible.WhilemanymodernistsstillacknowledgedGod’srevelationinnature,theydeniedmostorallformsofspecialrevelation.Infact,manybelievedthatmancouldcometoanadequateknowledgeofGod,theworld,andhimselfthroughgeneralrevelationwithouttheaidofspecialorsupernaturalrevelation.(2) Theneo-orthodoxrejectionofgeneralrevelationThesecondchallengetodivinerevelationcamefromneo-orthodoxy

(1900s).Insomerespects,theneo-orthodoxviewrevelationwasareactiontomodernism.Theproponentsofthisviewclaimtobelieveinspecialrevelation.However,someofthemdenytherealityoratleasttheefficacyofgeneralrevelation.TheydenythatGodspeakstomanthroughnature,history,andconscience.UntilmanisconfrontedbythegospelhelivesincompletesilenceandiscompletelyignorantofGod.NowasIhopetoshowespeciallyinthelatterpartofourstudy,neo-

orthodoxyreallydoesnotsupportspecialrevelationeither—atleastinthebiblicalsense.Butinpartoneofourstudy,I’llattempttoanswerthechallengetothebiblicaldoctrineofgeneralrevelation.Istheresuchathingasgeneralrevelation?Asweinclineoureartotheworldaroundus,canwehearGodspeaking?OrisGodsilent?Thefocusofourstudywillbeonthesecondofthesetwoformsof

divinerevelationandespeciallyonthatformofspecialrevelationweknowasScripture.Andsincethesubtitleofthismoduleis“TowardaReformedDoctrineofScripture,”IhaveelectedtousechapteroneoftheSecondLondonBaptistConfession(a.k.a.1689BaptistConfession)asakindofguideforourstudy.(havestudentsrefertohandout)



Nowassomeofyoumayknow,theBaptistConfession(2LCF)isbasedlargelyontheWestminsterConfessionofFaith.Andintheopinionofmanyscholars,notonlyistheWCFoneofthegreatestconfessionsinchurchhistory,butthefirstchapterofthedoctrineofHolyScriptureisconsideredbymanytostandasoneofbestdoctrinalsummarieseverwritten.ThegreatchurchhistorianPhilipSchaff,inhislandmarkworkThe

CreedsofChristendom,hasthistosayaboutchapteroneoftheWCF(whichwouldalsoapplytothe2LCF):NootherProtestantsymbolhassuchaclear,judicious,concise,andexhaustivestatementofthisfundamentalarticleofProtestantism….Itmay…beregardedasthebestProtestantcounterpartoftheRomanCatholicdoctrineoftheruleoffaith.2Inasimilarvein,BenjaminB.Warfield,whowasacontemporaryof

Schaff,prefacedhisexpositionofthischapterwiththesewords:Thereiscertainlyinthewholemassofconfessionalliteraturenomorenoblyconceivedorablywrought-outstatementofdoctrinethanthechapter“OftheHolyScripture,”whichtheWestminsterDivinesplacedattheheadoftheirConfessionandlaidatthefoundationoftheirsystemofdoctrine.3Morerecently,RobertLethamhasremarked,“Thefirstchapterof

theConfessionranksasthemostthoroughstatementofclassicReformedProtestantismonthesubjectofScriptureandpossiblythefinesttodatefromanysource.”4Iwouldwhole-heartedlyconcurwiththeassessmentsofthese

scholars.NotonlydoIbelievetheWCFanditsgranddaughter,the

2TheCreedsofChristendom,sixthedition,ed.PhilipSchaffandDavidS.Schaff(1931;reprint,GrandRapids:BakerBookHouse,1990),1:767.

3“TheWestminsterDoctrineofHolyScripture,”invol.6ofTheWorksofBenjaminB.Warfield,ed.ElthelbertD.Warfield,WilliamParkArmstrong,andCasparWistarHodge(1931;reprint,GrandRapids:BakerBookHouse,1991),155.WarfieldalsocitestheScottishtheologianAlexanderMitchellwhoavers,“IfanychapteroftheWestminsterConfessionofFaith…wasframedwithmoreelaboratecarethananother,itwasthatwhichtreats‘OftheHolyScripture.’Itwasconsideredparagraphbyparagraph—almostclausebyclause—bytheHouseofCommonsaswellasbytheAssemblyofDivines,beforeitwasfinallypassed;anditseighthparagraphwasdeemedworthytobemadethesubjectofaspecialconferencebetweencertainMembersoftheHouseandtheDivinesoftheAssembly”(156).

4TheWestminsterAssembly:ReadingItsTheologyinHistoricalContext(Phillipsburg:PresbyterianandReformed,2009),120.



2LCF,areamongthegreatestconfessionseverpenned,butIesteemtheConfession’sdoctrineofScriptureamongthebestexpressionsofdoctrinalformulationsintheConfessionasawhole.Andforthisreason,IwouldliketousetheConfessionasanoutlineforourstudy.Butbeforewecommenceourstudy,Ineedtosayafewthingsabout

thehistoricalcontextoftheConfession’sdoctrineofScripture.HISTORICALCONTEXTOFCONFESSIONONSCRIPTURE

ToappreciatetheConfession’sdoctrineofScriptureaswellastheprioritytheConfessionaccordsit,weshouldbeawareofthehistoricalcontextinwhichtheConfessionwaswritten.InRobertLetham’sestimation,“ThereasonwhythedoctrineofScripturewasaddressedfirstwasthatitwasanimmediateandpressingissue.”5What,therefore,werethecircumstancesthatinfluencedthe

PuritanstoformulatethedoctrineofScriptureasitappearsintheConfessionandtoplaceitfirstinorderamongitsotherarticlesofdoctrine?Thereareatleastthreehistoricalfactorstobeawareof:TheRomanCatholicelevationofhumantradition

Themostwell-knownhistoricalcircumstancethatgaverisetotheProtestantdoctrineofScriptureandthatinfluenceditsarticulationintheConfessionistheChurchofRome’sever-increasingtendencytoelevateecclesiasticaltraditiontothelevelofScripture.AsWayneSpearsobserves,TheReformationofthesixteenthcenturywasatimeofrenewalthroughtherediscoveryoftheWordofGod.Ithadbeenburiedunderaccumulatedlayersofchurchtradition,elaborateceremonies,theuseoftheLatinlanguage(whichwasunknowntothecommonpeople)andtheoverbearingauthorityofthehierarchy.TheReformersfirstdiscoveredtheScriptureforthemselves,andthentheycommunicatedittothepeople.Theynotonlytaughtthepeoplefromit,butdefiedthestandinglawofthechurchandstatetomaketheBibleavailabletotheordinarypeopleintheirownlanguages.InthecontroversieswithCounter-ReformationCatholicismwhichfollowed,theyhammeredoutthe

5TheWestminsterAssembly,122.



Protestantcommitmenttosolascriptura:theBibleistheonlyinfallibleruleoffaithandlife.6Indeed,thereiswarranttotheclaimthateverysectioninchapter

oneoftheConfessionisframedasaresponsetosomeerrorinRomanCatholicdogmarelativetoScripture.7TheEnthusiasts’claimof“newrevelations”or“innerlight”

NotonlydidthePuritanshavetocontendwithRome’svenerationofhumantraditionmuchofwhichinvalidatedtheteachingofScripture;theyalsohadtorespondtotheclaimsofthemoreradicalwingoftheProtestantReformation.SomeAnabaptistsectsor“Enthusiasts,”assomecalledthem,whoclaimedtoberecipientsof“newrevelations”oran“innerlight”thateithercontradictedcertaindoctrinesofScriptureorunderminedtheBible’ssupremeauthority.“Ironically,”writesGarnetMilne,inthelatesixteenthandearlyseventeenthcenturies,thequestforthePuritanidealofaunifiedorthodoxycoincidedwiththespawningofavarietyofsects,suchastheFamilists,andtheSeekersorShwenkfeldians,whooftencompromisedtheProtestantprincipleofsolaScripturabyappealingtoimmediaterevelationsoftheHolySpirit,andthusfurtherthreatenedthePuritanidealofaCalvinisticunifiedorthodoxy.8NodoubttheauthorsoftheConfessionhadsuchsectsinviewwhen

theyaffirmthecessationofspecialrevelation(1.1),deny“newrevelationsoftheSpirit”(1.6),anddiscountthenormativevalueof“privatespirits”(1.10).ThesepartsoftheConfessioncontinuetoberelevantinlightoftheclaimsofmodern-dayPentecostalsandCharismatics.

6“TheWestminsterConfessionofFaith&HolyScripture,”87.7Rome’selevatedviewof“livingapostolictradition”andtheChurch’steaching

magisteriumledhertoseriouslycompromisethenecessity,authority,sufficiency,clarity,andsupremacyofScripture(seesections1,4,5,6,7,9,and10).Moreover,RomeincludedsomeapocryphalbooksintheOTcanon,whichtheJewsandProtestantsreject(seesections2and3).Finally,theChurchofRomediscouragedthetranslationofScriptureintothevernacular(seesection8).

8TheWestminsterConfessionofFaithandtheCessationofSpecialRevelation:TheMajorityPuritanViewpointonWhetherExtra-BiblicalProphecyisStillPossible(Eugene,OR:Wipf&Stock,2007),40.Fromthesegroupsthe“SocietyofFriends”or“Quakers”woulddevelopinthesecondhalfoftheseventeenthcentury.



TheRenaissance’scontinuinginfluenceandtextualcriticism’sadvent

ThegreatwatchwordoftheEuropeanRenaissancewasadfontes,thatis,“tothesources.”ThisimpetustogetbacktotheoriginalsservedtospawntheProtestantReformation’scalltoreturntotheScripturesintheoriginallanguages.Italsoresurrectedquestionsabouttheboundariesofthebiblicalcanon,especiallythecanonicalstatusoftheapocryphalbooksandsomeoftheNTantilegomena.Moreover,theRenaissancegaverisetothescienceoftextualcriticism,which,inturn,sparkeddebatesinthesixteenthandseventeenthcenturiesovertextualvariantsandthevowelpointsoftheHebrewMasoretictext.9Inlightofthesehistoricalcircumstances,theeighthchapterofthe

ConfessionplainlylocatesthedivineauthorityofScriptureinthe“immediatelyinspired”HebrewandGreekautographa(originals),carefullyaffirmsGod’sprovidentialpreservationofthoseoriginalsincopies,andstronglyenjoinsthetranslationoftheHebrewandGreektextsintothevernacularlanguagesof“everynation”(1.8).IhopethissummaryofsomeoftheConfession’shistoricalcontext

helpstounderscoreitsabidingrelevanceforustoday?DowestillhavechurchesandreligiousorganizationselevatinghumantraditionabovetheBible?DowestillencounterprofessingChristianswhoclaimtobetherecipientsofnewandimmediaterevelations?AndisitstillimportantforustoanswerquestionsabouttheHebrewandGreektextofScripture,aswellastoassessthemanytranslationsofScripturethatareavailabletoustoday?TheReformedandPuritandoctrineofScriptureembodiedinthe

ConfessioniscertainlynotthefinalwordonScripture.Morecanbeandhasbeensaid(e.g.,TheChicagoStatementonBiblicalInerrancy).Nevertheless,Ihopeyou’llagreebytheendofourstudy,thata

9Unfortunately,theReformedandPuritanwritersoftheseventeenthcenturywerenot

alwaysontherightsideofthedebate.Forinstance,bothFrancisTurretin(1623-1687)andalsoJohnOwen(1616-1683)intheirconcerntoprotecttheintegrityoftheoriginaltextarguedthatthevowelpointsoftheMasoreticHebrewtextdatedtothetimeofMosesorEzra.SeeTurretin,InstitutesofElencticTheology,1:114-23,andOwen,“OftheDivineOriginal,Authority,Self-EvidencingLight,andPoweroftheScriptures,”invol.16ofTheWorksofJohnOwen,ed.WilliamH.Goold(Edinburgh:TheBannerofTruth,1968),281-421.



ReformedandPuritandoctrineofScriptureisstillusefulandstillrelevantinourtwenty-firstcenturycontext.ButhavingcommendingouruseoftheConfessioninformulating

ourdoctrineofScripture,Ialsowanttoaddacautionarynote.ItisvitallyimportantforustorememberthattheBible,nottheConfessionortheReformedtraditionisourultimateauthority.Infact,theConfessionitselfremindsusofitssubordinatepositionundertheScripture:Thesupremejudge,bywhichallcontroversiesofreligionaretobedetermined,andalldecreesofcouncils,opinionsofancientwriters,doctrinesofmen,andprivatespirits,aretobeexamined,andinwhosesentencewearetorest,canbenootherbuttheHolyScripturedeliveredbytheSpirit,intowhichScripturesodelivered,ourfaithisfinallyresolved(2LCF1.10).Hence,ifwewouldemploytheReformedtraditiontoarticulatea

doctrineofScripture,wemustrememberthattheverytraditionwearecommendingrequiresustoplacetheConfessionneitherontopoftheBiblenorbesidetheBiblebutunderneaththeBible.InusingtheBaptistConfessiontoarticulatea“ReformedDoctrineofScripture,”wedon’twanttofallintothesnareofhyper-confessionalismor“symbolatry,”which,accordingtoPhillipSchaff,“isaspeciesofidolatry,andsubstitutesthetyrannyofaprintedbookforthatofalivingpope.”10Consequently,we’llusetheConfessionforourstudyoftheDoctrine

ofScripturemuchthesamewayC.H.SpurgeonexhortedhiscongregationtousetheConfession:asaguide,butnotasafetter.OUTLININGTHECONFESSION’SCHAPTERONSCRIPTURE

Sincewe’regoingtousetheConfession’stextasaguideforourexposition,Ibelievewillbehelpfultooutlineforthechapter.Thishelpusseethelogicalflowofeachsectionandofthechapterasawhole.

Part1:TheNecessityofScripture,§1I. TheinsufficiencyofgeneralrevelationII. Thecessationofspecialrevelation

10CreedsofChristendom,1:7.



Part2:TheCanonofScripture,§§2-3I. Thecanondefinedpositively(§2)II. Thecanondefinednegatively(§3)Part3:TheAuthorityofScripture,§§4-5I. TheBible’sinherentauthority(§4)II. TheBible’seffectiveauthority(§5)Part4:TheAdequacyofScripture,§§6-7I. TheBible’ssufficientrevelation(§6)II. TheBible’sclearrevelation(§7).Part5:TheAvailabilityofScripture,§8I. ThetransmissionofScriptureII. ThetranslationofScripturePart6:TheSupremacyofScripture,§§9-10I. Forbiblicalinterpretationinparticular(§9)II. Forallreligiousquestionsingeneral(§10)Addendum1:TheReliabilityofScriptureAddendum2:NTProphecyandTonguesToday?

I’llcitetheConfession’stextatthebeginningofeachmajorsectionorheading,bothinitshistoricformanditsmodernEnglishupdate.11

11Forthe“historictext”I’lluseTheBaptistConfessionofFaithof1689(Edinburgh:The

BannerofTruth,2012).Thistextisbasedontheoriginaleditionof1677butincludesmodestupdatesinspellingandpunctuationtoconformtomodernusage.Forthe“modernversion”I’llcitefromConfessingtheFaith:The1689BaptistConfessionforthe21stCentury(CapeCoral:TheFoundersPress,2012).



THENECESSITYOFSCRIPTURE(1.1)

HistoricText ModernVersion§1TheHolyScriptureistheonly

sufficient,certain,andinfallibleruleofallsavingknowledge,faith,andobedience,1althoughthelightofnature,andtheworksofcreationandprovidencedosofarmanifestthegoodness,wisdomandpowerofGod,astoleavemeninexcusable;yetaretheynotsufficienttogivethatknowledgeofGodandHiswillwhichisnecessaryuntosalvation.2ThereforeitpleasedtheLordatsundrytimesandindiversmannerstorevealHimself,andtodeclarethatHiswilluntohischurch;3andafterwardforthebetterpreservingandpropagatingofthetruth,andforthemoresureestablishmentandcomfortofthechurchagainstthecorruptionoftheflesh,andthemaliceofSatan,andoftheworld,tocommitthesamewhollyuntowriting;whichmakeththeHolyScripturestobemostnecessary,thoseformerwaysofGod’srevealingHiswilluntoHispeoplebeingnowceased.4

1:1TheHolyScripturesaretheonlysufficient,certain,andinfalliblestandardofallsavingknowledge,faith,andobedience.Thelightofnatureandtheworksofcreationandprovidencesoclearlydemonstratethegoodness,wisdom,andpowerofGodthatpeopleareleftwithoutexcuse;however,thesedemonstrationsarenotsufficienttogivetheknowledgeofGodandHiswillthatisnecessaryforsalvation.Therefore,theLordwaspleasedatdifferenttimesandinvariouswaystorevealHimselfandtodeclareHiswilltohischurch.TopreserveandpropagatethetruthbetterandtoestablishandcomfortthechurchwithgreatercertaintyagainstthecorruptionofthefleshandthemaliceofSatanandtheworld,theLordputthisrevelationcompletelyinwriting.Therefore,theHolyScripturesareabsolutelynecessary,becauseGod’sformerwaysofrevealingHiswilltohispeoplehavenowceased.

12Tim3:15-17;Isa8:20;Luke16:29-31;Eph2:20.2Rom1:19-21;2:14,15;Psa19:1-33Heb1:14Prov22:19-21;Rom15:4;2Pet1:19,20.

The1689LBCfollowsthewordingoftheWCF(andSavoy)almostverbatimexceptthatinsertsaprefatorysentenceattheheadofthesection;namely,“TheHolyScriptureistheonlysufficient,certain,andinfallibleruleofallsavingknowledge,faith,andobedience,”12whichI’veunderlinedinthetextabove.ThisprefatoryassertionmaysimplyserveasasuccinctsummaryoftheentirechapteronScripture.Or,moreprobably,itservestoreinforcethethesisofthissection.ThethesisoftheopeningsectiontheConfessionisthenecessityof

Scriptureforsavingknowledge,faithandlife.Twopremisesaregiventosupportthisthesis.Firstofall,Scriptureisnecessarybecauseoftheinsufficiencyofgeneralrevelation:“Althoughthelightofnature,andtheworksofcreationandprovidencedosofarmanifestthegoodness,wisdom,andpowerofGod,astoleavemeninexcusable,yet

12Ihavenotbeenabletolocateanyantecedentliterarysourceforthisprefatorystatementinthe2LBC.ItbearssomeresemblancetothefirstoftheIrishArticles(1615),whichreads,“ThegroundofourreligionandtheruleoffaithandallsavingtruthisthewordofGod,containedintheHolyScripture”(§1).Otherminorvariationsfoundinsections2,3,5,6,7,9and10,whichwewillattempttohighlightbelowinourexposition.



aretheynotsufficienttogivethatknowledgeofGodandhiswillwhichisnecessaryuntosalvation.”Generalrevelation,whichI’lldiscussmorebelow,issufficienttoleavemenwithoutexcusebutisnotsufficienttoimpartsavingknowledge.Itshouldbenotedthatthisfirstpremiseonlyprovesthenecessity

ofspecialorsupernaturalrevelation.AstheConfessiongoesontoindicate,Scriptureisnottheonlyformofspecialrevelation:“Therefore,itpleasedtheLordatsundrytimesandindiversmannerstorevealhimself,andtodeclarethathiswilluntothechurch;...”(emphasismine).SincetheScripturesareonlyoneofthose“diversmanners”(ormodes)ofspecialrevelation,itdoesnotfollowthatScripturesareabsolutelynecessary.Conceivably,Godcouldrevealhissavingtruthtousinanotherway.Thatbringsustothesecondpremise.Whereasthefirstpremise

necessitatesspecialrevelation,thesecondpremisenarrowsthenecessitytooneformofspecialrevelation,namely,Scripture.TheBiblealoneisnecessarybecauseofthecessationofspecialrevelation:“whichmakeththeHolyScripturetobemostnecessary,thoseformerwaysofGod’srevealinghiswilluntohispeoplebeingnowceased.”SotheabsolutenecessityofScriptureispredicateduponthecessationorclosureofspecialrevelation.Forthisreason,Scripturecanbedescribednotonlyasasufficient,

certain,andinfalliblerulebutastheonlysufficient,certain,andinfalliblerule.13Thus,theprefatorysentenceintheBaptistConfessionservestomakemoreexplicitthethesisofsectionone,aswellastoreinforcetheteachingoftheothersectionsinthischapter.

13TheWCFandSavoydonotusethelimitingadjective“only”whenexpoundingthe

Scripture’sattributesas,forexample,sufficiency.However,theideaiscertainlyimplicit.Thestricturesagainst“newrevelation”and“traditionsofmen”insectionsix,forinstance,implythesolesufficiencyofScripture.Thus,whenexpoundingtheWCF’ssectiononthesufficiencyofScripture,B.B.Warfieldremarks,“This,itistobeobserved,istomakeScripturesomethingmorethanaruleoffaithandpractice;somethingmorethantheruleoffaithandpractice,inthesenseofmerelythefullestandbestextantrule;somethingmoreeventhanasufficientruleoffaithandpractice.Itistomakeittheonlyruleoffaithandpractice,towhichnothingneedstobeaddedtofittoserveasourrule,andtowhichnothingistobeaddedtomakeitaltogethercompleteasourauthoritativelaw.Itcontainsnotonlyenoughtoserveallthepurposeofaruleoffaithandpractice,butallthatistobelaidasauthoritativelawoflifeontheconsciencesofChristians.”Emphasishis;“TheWestminsterDoctrineofHolyScripture,”225.



Withthisoverviewofsectiononeinview,letusexaminemorecloselytheteachingofthissectiononthenecessityofScripture.THEINSUFFICIENCYOFGENERALREVELATION

Generalrevelation(revelatiogeneralis)hasalsobeencalled“naturalrevelation”(asopposedto“supernaturalrevelation”)or“creationalrevelation”(asopposedto“redemptiverevelation”).TheConfessionspecifiesthevehicles(ormodes),thecontent,andtheefficacyofthistypeofgeneralrevelation.1.Thevehiclesofgeneralrevelation

Thevehiclesofgeneralrevelationareidentifiedas“thelightofnature”and“theworksofcreationandprovidence.”Let’sconsidereachoftheseexpressionsinreverseorder.1)The“worksofcreationandprovidence”

Thisphraseisobviouslyreferringtothevisibleuniverse,whichGodbroughtintoexistenceoutofnothing(Gen1:1;John1:3;Col1:15)andwhichGodsustainsbythewordofhispower(Ps104;Acts14:14-17;Heb1:3).TheseworksofGodservetorevealGod.InthewordsofthePsalmist,“TheheavensdeclarethegloryofGod,andtheskyaboveproclaimshishandiwork”(Ps19:1). TheApostlePaulwholeheartedlyagrees:ForthewrathofGodisrevealedfromheavenagainstallungodlinessandunrighteousnessofmen,whobytheirunrighteousnesssuppressthetruth.ForwhatcanbeknownaboutGodisplaintothem,becauseGodhasshownittothem.Forhisinvisibleattributes,namely,hiseternalpoweranddivinenature,havebeenclearlyperceived,eversincethecreationoftheworld,inthethingsthathavebeenmade.Sotheyarewithoutexcuse(emphasisadded;Rom1:18–20ESV). Accordingtotheseverses,oneofthesourcesthroughwhichGod

mediateshisgeneralrevelationsiscreation,namely,“thethingsthathavebeenmade.”PauldoesnotdirectlyrefertoprovidenceasrevelationinRomans

one.Hedoesrefertoprovidence,however,inanotherplace.ComewithmetoActs14:14-17.



PaulandBarnabashavebeenpreachingthegospeltopagansinthecityofLystra,AsiaMinor.AfterwitnessingPaulandBarnabasperformamiraculoushealing,thepagancrowdviewsPaulandBarnabasasgods.Theyprepareananimalsacrificeandattempttoworshipthemissionaries.Butconsidertheapostles’response:ButwhentheapostlesBarnabasandPaulheardofit,theytoretheirgarmentsandrushedoutintothecrowd,cryingout,“Men,whyareyoudoingthesethings?Wealsoaremen,oflikenaturewithyou,andwebringyougoodnews,thatyoushouldturnfromthesevainthingstoalivingGod,whomadetheheavenandtheearthandtheseaandallthatisinthem.Inpastgenerationsheallowedallthenationstowalkintheirownways.Yethedidnotleavehimselfwithoutwitness,forhedidgoodbygivingyourainsfromheavenandfruitfulseasons,satisfyingyourheartswithfoodandgladness”(emphasisadded;Acts14:14–17ESV).Accordingtoverse17,Godhasnotbeensilent!“Hedidnotleave

Himselfwithoutawitness.”Onthecontrary,GodhadbeenrevealingHimselftotheseGentilesbyprovidentiallyprovidingfortheirneedsthroughouttheirhistory.Andsoprovidence,aswellascreation,bearswitnesstoapowerfulandbenevolentCreator.Thatbringsustothenextvehicleorsourceofgeneralrevelation.2)The“lightofnature”

Thephrase“lightofnature”isemployedfourtimesintheBaptistConfessionandfiveintheWestminster.14TheReformersandPuritanssometimesusedthephrase“lightofnature”(lumensnaturae)torefertonaturalrevelationingeneral.15OthertimesthephraseisusedtorefermorenarrowlytotheinnateknowledgeofGodwithinman,

14The2LCFfollowstheSavoyandinsertsanextrachapterinthemiddleoftheConfession,whichresultsindifferentchapternumbersforthesametopicsinthelatterpartoftherespectiveconfessions.Moreover,the2LCFomitssectionfourofthechapteronChristianliberty,whichemploysthephrase“thelightofnature.”Accordingly,thefourreferencesforthephraseinthe2LCFare1.1,6;10.4;22.1,andthefivefortheWCFare1.1,6;10.4;20.4;21.1.SeealsotheLargerCatechismQs2,60,121.

15ThomasWatson,acontemporaryoftheWestminsterAssemblydivines,referstothe“lightofnature”asthe“bookofnature,”andhedistinguishesitfromtheconscience.ABodyofDivinity(reprint,Edinburgh:BannerofTruthTrust,1986),39-41.LaterReformedwritersalsoemploytheterminthebroadersense.See,forexample,CharlesHodge,ACommentaryonRomans(reprint,Edinburgh:BannerofTruthTrust,1983),37.



whichisaparticularmodeofnaturalrevelation.Thisissometimescalledthe“senseofdeity”(sensusdeitatis).16Suchinnateknowledgewouldincludehumanreason17andtheconscience,18whichonescholaraptlycalls,“Thesenseofdeityinimperativemode.”19Moreover,the“lightofnature”wouldalsoincludeman’sreligiousbent,whichCalvincallsthe“seedofreligion”(semensreligionis).20“Ultimately,”saysRobertMartin,“[thelightofnature]isallthosefaculties,moralandotherwise,thatseparatemenfrombeastsandthatconstitutetheimageofGodinman.”21ThequestionarisesastowhatsensetheframersoftheConfession

intended.Attimestheyseemtousethephraseinthebroader,moreinclusivesenseofgeneralrevelation(e.g.,2LCF22.1).22Inotherplaces,theyclearlyemploythephrasemorenarrowlytorefertoman’sinnateknowledgeofGod(e.g.,2LCF10.4).Foranumberofreasons,I’minclinedtointerpretthephraseherein

chapteroneinthenarrowersense.First,theprooftextsinboththeWCFandthe2LCFincludepassagesthatclearlyreferenceman’sintuitiveawarenessofDeityandconscience.23Second,the

16SeeJohnCalvin,TheInstitutesoftheChristianReligion,2volumes,trans.FordLewisBattles,ed.JohnT.McNeill(Philadelphia:WestminsterPress,1960),I,4.2.Calvinalsospeaksofthisinnateknowledgeasthesenseofdivinity(sensusdivinitatis)withinman(I,3.1,3).

17Referringtocertainrationalistswhoexaltedtheabilityofhumanreason,theReformedtheologianFrancisTurretincomments,“Thereforetheygiveustheiropinionthatreason(orthelightofnature)isabundantlysufficientforthedirectionoflifeandtheobtainmentofhappiness.”InstitutesofElencticTheology,trans.GeorgeMusgraveGiger,ed.JamesT.Dennison(Phillipsburg:PresbyterianandReformed,1992),55.CommentingonthispartoftheWestminsterConfession,RobertShawremarks,“WhenweaffirmthatthebeingofGodmaybediscoveredbythelightofnature,wemean,thatthesensesandthereasoningpowers,whichbelongtothenatureofman,areabletogivehimsomuchlightastomanifestthatthereisaGod.”AnExpositionoftheWestminsterConfessionofFaith(1845;reprint,Scotland:ChristianFocusPublications,1992),2.

18MatthewHenryassociatesthe“lightofnature”withthehumanconscienceinhisexpositionofRomans2:12-16.ACommentaryontheWholeBible,vol.6(NewJersey:FlemingH.RevellCompany,n.d.),374-77.

19MeredithG.Kline,KingdomPrologue:GenesisFoundationsforaCovenantalWorldview(Eugene,OR:Wipf&Stock,2006),62.

20Institutes,I,4.1,4.21“TheSecondLondonConfessionontheDoctrineofScripture,PartI,”ReformedBaptist

TheologicalReview4:1(Jan2007):72.22Ifthisisthesenseof“lightofnature”inchapterone,thefollowingphrase,“theworksof

creationandprovidence,”mustbeunderstoodasanappositive,i.e.,“thelightofnature,namely,theworksofcreationandprovidence.”

23Ihaveafacsimileofthe2LCF,originallypublishedin1677.ItincludesRomans1:19-21



punctuation—placementofthecomma—suggeststhattheframersoftheConfessionaremakingadistinctionherebetweentheinternalrevelationofnature,i.e.,“thelightofnature,”andtheexternalrevelationofnature,i.e.,“theworksofcreationandprovidence.”24Yetthesetwodistinctaspectsofgeneralrevelation(theinwardandtheoutward)areinterdependentandco-functional.TociteMartinagain,Thefacultieswhichthedivineimagebestowsalsofunctionastheapparatusbywhichmanprocessestheexternal(i.e.,toman’sself-consciousness)informationaboutGodthathehasrevealedinhisworksofcreation(i.e.,inwhathehasmade)andprovidence(i.e.,inwhathehasdoneandcontinuestodointheworld.25DoestheBibleportraythehumanconscienceasasourceofdivine

revelation?Itmostcertainlydoes.NotonlydoesitteachthatallhumanbeingshaveaconsciencethatprovidesthemwithinnateknowledgeofGodandhiswill,butitalsoteachesthatthehumanconscienceinman’ssinfulconditionisstillintact.a) AllmenhaveaconscienceConsiderwithme,forexample,theteachingofRomans2:12-16.ThecontextisGod’scomingDayofJudgment.Verse12reads:“For

allwhohavesinnedwithoutthelawwillalsoperishwithoutthelaw,andallwhohavesinnedunderthelawwillbejudgedbythelaw.”(Rom2:12ESV).Paulactuallyfinishesthisthoughtinverse16:“onthatdaywhen,accordingtomygospel,GodjudgesthesecretsofmenbyChristJesus.”Soverses13-15actuallyfunctionasaparentheticalcomment.That

is,verses13-15answertwoquestionsraisedbyverse12.Paulassertedinverse12thatboththose“withtheLaw”andalsothose“withouttheLaw”willbejudgedatthelastday.Thefirstquestionraisedbythisassertionis,WhywillGodjudge

thosewho“sinnedundertheLaw,i.e.,theJews?Paulanswersin

and2:14-15.The1647facsimileoftheWCF,printedinSchaff’sCreedsofChristendom,alsoincludesRomans1:32and2:1.

24Eachofmyfacsimilesplacesacommabetween“lightofnature”and“theworksofcreationandprovidence.”Notethatthereisnocommabetween“creation”and“providence.”

25“TheSecondLondonConfessionontheDoctrineofScripture,PartI,”72.



verse13:“ForitisnotthehearersofthelawwhoarerighteousbeforeGod,butthedoersofthelawwhowillbejustified.”Itisnotenoughmerelytopossessspecialrevelation.Wemustrespondtospecialrevelationwithanobedientfaith.Butthatraisesasecondquestion.WecanunderstandwhyGod

wouldjudgethosewhoheardthegospelbutdidnotrespondinfaith.However,HowcanGodcondemnthosewhohaveneverheardawordofspecialrevelation,i.e.,theGentiles?You’veprobablyheardsomeoneraisethequestion“Whatabouttheheathenwhoneverhearthegospel?”Paulanswersthissecond,moredifficultquestioninverses14-15:ForwhenGentiles,whodonothavethelaw,bynaturedowhatthelawrequires,theyarealawtothemselves,eventhoughtheydonothavethelaw.Theyshowthattheworkofthelawiswrittenontheirhearts,whiletheirconsciencealsobearswitness,andtheirconflictingthoughtsaccuseorevenexcusethem(emphasisadded;Rom2:13–15ESV).TheheartofPaul’sanswerisinverse14,namelythephrase,“they

[theGentiles]are[the]lawtothemselves.”Byitselfthephraseisobscure.However,theimmediatecontexthelpstoexplainthemeaning:First,“theLaw”isareferencetospecialrevelation—especially,tothe

morallawofGod.Weknowthisbecauseaccordingtoverse12,“theLaw”inviewisthestandardbywhichmenwillbejudged.Furthermore,whenPaulcontinueshisdiscussionof“theLaw”inverses17-23,hecitesthreeofthe10commandments.Second,accordingtotheseverses,God’smorallawispartofthe

constitutionandnatureofeveryman.Verse14:“[TheGentiles]bynaturedowhatthelawrequires.”Apparently,thelawispartoftheinnerconstitutionofeveryhumanbeing.Inverse15a,Paultellsusthat“theworkofthelaw”hasbeen“writtenintheirhearts.”Thatraisesthequestion:Whatis“theworkofthelaw”?Somecommentatorsseethisasareferenceto“thedeedsofthe

law.”Theideawouldbethatmanhasaninnateawarenessofwhatthe



lawrequires.26Othersarguethat“theworkofthelaw”isareferencetotheactofpassingjudgment.27Inotherwords,thelawnotonlydefineswhatisrightandwhatiswrong,butitalsojustifiesorcondemnsone’sactions.Thisinterpretationfitswellwiththelasthalfofverse15:“theirconsciencealsobearswitness,andtheirconflictingthoughtsaccuseorevenexcusethem.”Actually,bothoftheseideasmayhavebeeninPaul’smind.Inthefirstcase,Godisjustifiedinjudgingallhumans,including

Gentiles,becauseallhumansinstinctivelyknowwhatthemorallawrequires.Infact,Paulhadalreadyalludedtothisrealityearlierinthepassage.LookatRomans1:32.Paulhasjustbeendescribingthedepravity

ofmankindandheconcludesbysaying,ThoughtheyknowGod’srighteousdecreethatthosewhopracticesuchthingsdeservetodie,theynotonlydothembutgiveapprovaltothosewhopracticethem(Rom1:32ESV).Doyouseethewordtranslated“righteousdecree”?TheGreekword

(to\ dikai÷wma)referstoa“requirement”or“regulation.”ThesepeopleknowtherequirementofGod.Thatis,theyareconsciousofthefactthatthosewhopracticetheabovementionedsinfulpractices(29-31)areworthyofdeath.Andyet,eventhoughtheypossessthisknowledge,theynotonlycommitsomeofthewickedpracticesthemselves,buttheyalsoapproveofthosewhopracticethem.Inthesecondcase,theynotonlyknowwhatthelawrequires,but

theyalsopassjudgmentupontheirownandothers’behavior.ListentothewordsofRomans2:1-3:Thereforeyouhavenoexcuse,Oman,everyoneofyouwhojudges.Forinpassingjudgmentonanotheryoucondemnyourself,becauseyou,thejudge,practicetheverysamethings.Weknowthatthe

26JohnMurray,TheEpistletotheRomans(GrandRapids:EerdmansPublishingCompany,

1968),74-76;C.E.B.Cranfield,Romans:AShorterCommentary(GrandRapids:EerdmansPublishingCompany,1985),51.

27RobertHaldane,Romans(reprint;MacDillAFB,Fl.:MacDonaldPublishingCo.,n.d.),91;SamWaldron,ProlegomenatoSystematicTheologyI(unpublishedlectures),140-142.



judgmentofGodrightlyfallsonthosewhopracticesuchthings.Doyousuppose,Oman—youwhojudgethosewhopracticesuchthingsandyetdothemyourself—thatyouwillescapethejudgmentofGod?”(Rom2:1–3ESV)AllmenhaveaconsciencethattosomedegreemanifestsGod’slaw

writtenontheheart.Moreover,thatconsciencedoestheworkofthelawinthatitpassesjudgmentuponone’sownbehavioraswellasthebehaviorofothers.Furthermore,Paulisnotjusttalkingaboutnegativejudgment!Theconsciencenotonlyaccuses,butitalsodefends.Allwehavetodoislistentotheradiotalkshows,orreadtheopinionpage,orgetinthemiddleofaconversationatwork.TherewewillfindthehumanconsciencebearingwitnesstothelawofGod.b) ThehumanconscienceisstillfundamentallyintactSometheologianshavearguedthattotaldepravityhasrenderedthe

conscienceinoperable,sothatmenarenolongerabletodistinguishbetweenrightandwrong.Theyagreethattheheathenoncehadaconscience.However,theeffectsofsinhavebeensogreatsoastoeraseordisabletheconsciencesothatitnolongerfunctions.ButletmeexplaintoyouwhyIbelievethatpositionisuntenable.First,rememberthequestionPaulwasseekingtoanswerinverses14-

15:namely,HowcanGodbejustinsendingtohellthosewhohaveneverheardawordofspecialrevelation?Paul’sansweristhattheheathenhaveaconscience.Butifwedenythatthosewithoutspecialrevelationhaveafunctionalconscience,thenPaul’sstatementin2:14-15meaninglessandirrelevant!Second,Pauldescribingthe“depravedmind”ofthosewhonolonger

acknowledgeGodinRomans1:18-32.Andyet,accordingtoverse32these“depraved”sinnersstillknowthe“righteousdecrees,”thatis,themoralrequirementsofGod!Apparently,theirconsciencestillfunctionsatsomelevel!Illustration:Letmegiveyoutwobiblicalexamplesthatreveala

conscienceintheheathen.



Jonah1:4-10ButtheLORDhurledagreatwinduponthesea,andtherewasamightytempestonthesea,sothattheshipthreatenedtobreakup.Thenthemarinerswereafraid,andeachcriedouttohisgod.Andtheyhurledthecargothatwasintheshipintotheseatolightenitforthem.ButJonahhadgonedownintotheinnerpartoftheshipandhadlaindownandwasfastasleep.Sothecaptaincameandsaidtohim,“Whatdoyoumean,yousleeper?Arise,callouttoyourgod!Perhapsthegodwillgiveathoughttous,thatwemaynotperish.”Andtheysaidtooneanother,“Come,letuscastlots,thatwemayknowonwhoseaccountthisevilhascomeuponus.”Sotheycastlots,andthelotfellonJonah.(Jonah1:4–7ESV).Accordingtoverse7,thesesailorsbelievedthatsomegodwas

punishingthemonaccountofsomeone’ssin.Now,wheredidtheygettheideasof“sin”and“punishment”?Thesemenwerepagans.Theycertainlydidn’tlearnthatconceptfromtheJudeo-Christiantradition.Someonesays,“Maybetheylearnedthatfromtheirownculture.”Butwheredidtheirculturegetthoseideas?Culturalnormsorstandardsareoftennothingmorethanthecollectiveconscienceofindividuals.Acts28:1-4Afterwewerebroughtsafelythrough,wethenlearnedthattheislandwascalledMalta.Thenativepeopleshowedusunusualkindness,fortheykindledafireandwelcomedusall,becauseithadbeguntorainandwascold.WhenPaulhadgatheredabundleofsticksandputthemonthefire,avipercameoutbecauseoftheheatandfastenedonhishand.Whenthenativepeoplesawthecreaturehangingfromhishand,theysaidtooneanother,“Nodoubtthismanisamurderer.Thoughhehasescapedfromthesea,Justicehasnotallowedhimtolive”(Acts28:1–4ESV).ThecommentatorF.F.Brucemakesthefollowingobservationon

thispassage:TheMaltesebystanderslookedatthereptilehangingonPaul’shandbyitsfangs,anddrewtheirownconclusions.Itwasplainlythewillofheaventhatthismanlosehislife—nodoubthewasamurderer….Hehadescapeddrowningatsea,indeed,butdivine



Justicewasnotsoeasilybaffled:Shehaddevisedthisalternativewayofpunishinghim.28Granted,theirconceptofGodandHisjusticewasdistorted,butvery

clearlytheseislandersstillhadaconscience.Theystillhadamechanismdeeplyembeddedwithintheirhumanitythateitheraccusedorelseexcused.Tothesetwobiblicaltestimonies,letmeaddthetestimonyofJohn

G.Paton,missionarytothecannibalsintheSouthPacific.Patontellsofanincidentinwhichanativereturnedfromjusthavingmurderedamanfromanothertribe.Thenativebegantodescribetothecrowdhowhehadsmashedintheman’sskullwhilehehadbeensleeping.Hedescribedforthemtheblood,andthegurgling,andthelastfewconvulsivestruggles.Laterthatnight,Patonsays,Iwatchedfortheworkingsofanaturalman’sconscienceundertheguiltofmurder.Whenleftalone,[theman]shookeverynowandthenwithagitation,and[movedsuddenly]aroundwithaterrifiedgaze.Helookedthepictureofamanwhofeltthathehaddonetohisneighborwhathewouldnothavelikedanothertodotohim.Iwonderifthatconsciousnesseverdiesout,inthelowestandworst—thatlastvoiceofGodinthesoul?29AccordingtothetestimonyoftheScriptures,aswellasthe

testimonyofthatanxiousmurderer,conscience,thelastvoiceofGodinthesoul,nevercompletelydiesout!2.Thecontentofgeneralrevelation

Whatpreciselydoesgeneralrevelationreveal?TheConfessionspeaksofGod’s“goodness,wisdom,andpower.”AccordingtotheapostlePaul,thevisiblecreationmanifestsGod’s“eternalpower”(Rom1:20).ElsewherePaularguesthatdivineprovidencerevealsGod’s“goodness”(Acts14:17).AndthePsalmistseesGod’s“wisdom”displayedinbothcreationandhisprovidence(Ps104).

28TheBookoftheActs(GrandRapids:EerdmansPublishingCompany,1988),498.29JohnG.Paton:MissionarytotheNewHebrides,ed.JamesPaton(Edinburgh:Bannerof

TruthTrust,1994),199.



Butisthecontentofgeneralrevelationlimitedtothesethreedivineattributes?Idon’tbelieveweneedtointerpretthelanguageoftheConfessionhereasexhaustive.Rather,Iwouldinterpretthethreeattributesasasynecdoche,thatis,“apartforthewhole.”Afterall,theheavensdeclare“thegloryofGod”(Ps19:1).AllthoseattributesthatrelatetoGod’sLordshipandCreatorshipareincluded.What’smore,thelanguageoftheConfessionimplies,andtheScripturesexplicitlyassertthatgeneralrevelationaftertheman’sfallintosinrevealsGod’sjusticeandwrathagainstsin(Rom1:18ff.;2:1-16).30Generalrevelation,therefore,revealsmorethanjusta“GiantClock-

Maker”oran“UnmovedMover.”GeneralrevelationrevealsthesameGodthatspecialrevelationreveals.Thepicturemaynotbeasdetailedandcomplete(seebelow),butitisstillthesamepicture.313.Theefficacyofgeneralrevelation

Clearly,then,Godspeaksthroughcreation,providence,andhumanconscience.Butwhatistheeffect?IsGod’smessage“gettingthrough”orishiswitnessbeingwasted?TheConfessionclearlyaffirmsthatGod’sgeneralrevelationis

effectiveorefficacious.Itdoes“sofarmanifestthegoodness,wisdom,andpowerofGod,astoleavemeninexcusable.”And,asyoumaybeaware,thisconclusionisdrawndirectlyfromtheapostlePaul’steachinginRomansonewhereheasserts,ForthewrathofGodisrevealedfromheavenagainstallungodlinessandunrighteousnessofmen,whobytheirunrighteousnesssuppressthetruth.ForwhatcanbeknownaboutGodisplaintothem,becauseGodhasshownittothem.Forhisinvisibleattributes,namely,hiseternalpoweranddivinenature,havebeenclearlyperceived,eversincethecreationoftheworld,inthethingsthathavebeenmade.Sotheyarewithoutexcuse.ForalthoughtheyknewGod,theydidnothonorhimasGodorgive

30Notethesenseofdivinejusticeandwrathatworkevenintheheartsofpaganswith

littleifanygospellight:Jonah1:4-10andActs18:1-4.31AsSamuelWaldronavers,“ItisnotthatmenmayknowGod;northattheypotentially

knowGodandwillcometoknowhimiftheywillusetheirreasonaright.Itisnotthatmenbynaturalrevelationhaveacertainvaguenotionofsomeundefineddeity.ItisratherthatmenareimmediatelyconfrontedwithaclearandunavoidablerevelationofthetrueandlivingGod.”AModernExpositionofthe1689BaptistConfessionofFaith,secondedition(Durham,UK:EvangelicalPress,1995),39-40.



thankstohim,buttheybecamefutileintheirthinking,andtheirfoolishheartsweredarkened(1:18–21).Paulhighlightstheefficacyofgeneralrevelationhereinseveral

ways.First,accordingtoverse18,allmenareguiltyofsuppressing

[literally‘holdingdown]thetruthinunrighteousness.To“suppresstruth”presupposesthatoneisconfrontedwiththetruth.[Illustration:hidingtheballfromyourkidsintheswimmingpool]Second,verse19tellsusveryemphatically:“Forwhatcanbe

knownaboutGodisplaintothem,becauseGodhasshownittothem”Thewordtranslated“plain”(fanero/n)meansevident.AndnoticetheprepositionthatPauluses:Itisevidenttoorwithinthem(e˙n aujtoi √ß).[Illustration:Humansareliketransistorradiosthathavebeen

preprogrammedtoGod’s“frequency.”Althoughdamagedbythefall,theycanstillpickupthevoiceoftheirLordandCreator.]Third,we’retoldinverse20thatthecontentofgeneralrevelation

hasbeen“clearlyperceived”(noou/mena kaqora ◊tai)byhumans.Thephraseembracestheideasofempiricalobservationandrationalreflection.OursensoryperceptionandmentalapprehensionofgeneralrevelationeffectivelyconveytousarealknowledgeofDeitysothatwecannotblameourunbelieforrejectionofGodonhissilence.Finally,theefficacyofgeneralrevelationisclearlyimpliedinverse

21wherePaulexplicitlysaysthatdeepdownintheirhearts,humanbeingsknowGod:“ForalthoughtheyknewGod[gno/nteß to\n qeo\n],theydidnothonorhimasGodorgivethankstohim,buttheybecamefutileintheirthinking,andtheirfoolishheartsweredarkened.”SomehavearguedthatPaul’suseoftheaoristtenseindicatesman’s

pastcondition,whichisnolongertrueinthepresent.32Inthatcase,wewouldtranslatethephrase,“ForeventhoughtheyusedtoknowGod.”However,thesurroundingcontextclearlyindicatesthatPaulisdealingnotjustwithapast,butalsowithapresentsituation(18,19,

32AbrahamKuyper,PrinciplesofSacredTheology,trans.J.HendrikDeVries(GrandRapids:

EerdmansPublishingCompany,1954),377-78.



20;24-32).Tobemoreprecise,Paulisdescribingsomethingthatbeganinthepastandcontinuesonintothepresent.

v TheyknewGod,andtheystillknowHimv TheydidnothonorhimasGod,andtheystilldonothonorhim.v Theydidnotgivethanks,andtheystilldonotgivethanksv Theybecamefoolishintheirspeculationsandtheyarestillfoolishintheirspeculations.

v Theirfoolishheartwasdarkened,andtheirfoolishheartremainsdark.

ThisisthereasonwhyGod’swrathispresentlybeingrevealedfromheaven—notonlybecausemensuppressedthetruthinthepast,butalsobecausetheycontinuetosuppressthetruthevenasPaulwaswritesthisepistle.33Therefore,accordingtoverse21allmenstillknowGod.God

continuestoconfrontthemwithgeneralrevelation,andtheycontinuetoreceivethatgeneralrevelationintheirheartofhearts.Asonetheologianhasobserved,HumanlifeinitsdeepestdepravitydoesnotstandoutofconnectionwiththerevelationofGod.Manisnotsituatedinasilent,purposeless,andsenselessworldinwhichnovoiceaddresseshim.34Onthecontrary,Godisspeaking,andhumanscreatedinGod’s

imagecannotescapeHisvoice!AsPaulputsit,menare“withoutexcuse,”whichtranslatedtheGreekwordfor“apologetic”withthe

33Theaoristtenseinthiscasewouldbeconstative.Cf.H.E.DanaandJuliusR.Mantey,AManuelGrammaroftheGreekNewTestament(NewYork:MacMillanPublishingCompany,1955),195-96;R.C.H.Lenski,TheInterpretationofSt.Paul’sEpistletotheRomans(Columbus:WarburgPress,1945),101-02.

34G.C.Berkouwer,“GeneralandSpecialRevelation,”RevelationandtheBible,ed.CarlF.H.Henry(GrandRapids:BakerBookHouse,1958),16.Inthesamevein,RichardLintswrites,“Godcanbeknownbecausehisself-revelationiscomprehensibletohiscreatures.OurknowledgeofGodisalwayspartial,butitisnonethelessauthenticbecauseitisinseparablylinkedtothedivinedisclosureandthefactthatwehavebeencreatedintheimageofGod.WhenGodspeaks,hecanbeunderstoodbythedivineimage-bearers.TheFabricofTheology:AProlegomenontoEvangelicalTheology(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1993),63-64.



alpha-privative(aÓnapologh/touß).Literally,theyhavenoapologeticdefensefortheirunbelief.Insummary,generalrevelationisefficacious—itgetsthrough.

However,theunregeneratemandoesnotproperlyrespondtogeneralrevelation.

v Theysuppressthetruthinunrighteousness(18)v TheydonothonorGodasGod,nordotheythankhim(21)v Theyengageinfutilespeculations(21)v Theirfoolishheartisdarkened(21)v Theybecomefools(22)v Theybelievealie(25)v TheydonotacknowledgeGod(28)v Theirmindbecomesdepraved(28)v Theyare‘hatersofGod’(30).Letmeputitthisway:Ontheonehand,allmenpossessknowledge

ofGod.DeepdownintheirheartofheartstheyhaveaconstitutionalknowledgeofGod.Ontheotherhand,allmendonothaveatrueandaccurateknowledgeofGod.Instead,theyhavedistortedwhateverknowledgeofGodtheypossess.Thevariousreligionsandphilosophiesoftheworldconfirmthis

observation.DoyourealizethatalltheunbiblicalreligionsandphilosophiesintheworldaresimplywrongresponsestoGod’srevelation?Buddhism,Hinduism,Islam,Rationalism,Empiricism,Existentialism,Pragmatism—allthesebearwitnesstoanawarenessoftheCreator.ButtheyalsobearwitnesstoasinfulheartdistortingGod’s

revealedtruth.Theyarenotinnocentattemptstoarriveatthetruth.Theyaresuppressionsofthetruth.Theyaredistortionsofreality.Theyareperversionsofadepravedmind!4.Thelimitationsofgeneralrevelation

Generalrevelationisrealandeffective.Itleavestheunbelieverwithoutanyvalidreasonstojustifyhisposition.Nevertheless,allthat



we’vesaidaboutgeneralrevelationintermsofthevehicles,content,andefficacyisnotthemainpointoftheConfession’steachinginthefirsthalfofsectionone.Thisisevidentinthefactthateverythingwe’veexpoundedthusfar

ispartofaconcessiveclausethatbeginswiththeconjunction“although.”Themainclausebeginswiththeconjunction“yet”andreads:“yetarethey[i.e.,thelightofnature,andworksofcreationandprovidence]notsufficienttogivethatknowledgeofGodandhiswillwhichisnecessaryuntosalvation”(emphasisadded).TheConfessionreinforcesthispointattheendofchapterten(OfEffectualCalling)whenitasserts,“MuchlesscanmenthatreceivenottheChristianreligionbesaved,betheyneversodiligenttoframetheirlivesaccordingtothelightofnatureandthelawofthatreligiontheydoprofess”(2LCF10.4).ThebookofnaturemakesusawareofGodandHislaw,butit

cannotinformusofHisgospel.Toborrowanillustration,generalrevelation,likeanX-raymachine,isadequatetorevealman’sdisease,but,likeanX-raymachine,itcannotprovidearemedy.35Thisfactmakesspecialrevelationabsolutelynecessary.Noteveryonewouldagree.Throughoutchurchhistorytherehave

beensomewhohavedeniedtheabsolutenecessityofspecialrevelationandhaveallowedforthesalvationofsomeheathenthroughthelightofnature.JustinMartyr(circaA.D.100),forexample,arguedinhisFirstApology,WehavebeentaughtthatChrististhefirst-bornofGod,andwehavedeclaredabovethatHeistheWordofwhomeveryraceofmenwerepartakers;andthosewholivedreasonablyareChristians,eventhoughtheyhavebeenthoughtatheists;as,amongtheGreeks,SocratesandHeraclitus,andmenlikethem.36ThisisnowtheofficialpositionoftheRomanCatholicChurchas

articulatedbyVaticanII.Insection16ofLumenGentium,weread,

35I’mfairlycertainIpickedupthisillustrationfromanothersource,whetherabook,

lecture,orsermon.ButIhaven’tbeenabletorecallorfindthatsource.36JustinMartyr,FirstApologyinTheAnte-NiceneFathers,vol.1,editedandtranslatedby

AlexanderRobertsandJamesDonaldson,inTheMasterChristianLibrary,version5[CD-ROM](Albany,OR:AgesSoftware,1997),326.



ThosealsocanattaintoeverlastingsalvationwhothroughnofaultoftheirowndonotknowthegospelofChristorHisChurch,yetsincerelyseekGodand,movedbygrace,strivebytheirdeedstodoHiswillasitisknowntothemthroughthedictatesofconscience.37ThispositioncanevenbefoundamongearlyProtestants,suchas

UlrichZwingli,38andlaterProtestants,suchasAugustusStrong.39ItwasacommonviewamongDeistsandModernists.Anumberofcontemporaryevangelicals,includingClarkPinnock,40haveadoptedthepositionaswell.41Inresponsetothosewhodenytheinsufficiencyofgeneral

revelation,itshouldbepointedoutthatatnoplacedoestheScriptureeverattributesavingefficacytogeneralrevelation.SomehavearguedthattheGentilesinRomans2:14who“do

instinctivelythethingsofthelaw”areinfactacceptedofGod.However,asJohnMurraypointsout,verse14isansweringaquestionraisedbyverse12:“IftheGentilesarewithoutthelaw,howcantheyberegardedashavingsinned?”42Moreimportantly,howcantheyjustly“perishwithoutthelaw”?Verses14and15answerthatquestionbyaffirmingthattheGentilepossessesthemorallawconstitutionally.Thatis,God’slawiswrittenuponhisconscience.Thus,farfromextendinghopetothosewhoneverheard,thepassagevindicatesGod’sjusticeintheirdamnation.43Othersallegethatthe“devout”and“God-fearing”Corneliusisan

exampleofsomeonesavedapartfromthegospel(Acts10:1-2).However,thefollowingevidenceprovesthathewasnotyetsaved:

37“LumenGentium”inTheDocumentsoftheVaticanII,editedbyWalterM.Abbott,S.J.,

translationeditor,VeryRev.Msgr.JosephGallagher(NewYork:TheAmericaPress,1966),35.38GeoffreyW.Bromiley,“UlrichZwingli”inGreatLeadersoftheChristianChurch,editedby

JohnD.Woodbridge(Chicago:MoodyPress,1988),200.39AugustusStrong,SystematicTheology(ValleyForge:JudsonPress,1985),842-43.40ClarkPinnock,“TowardanEvangelicalTheologyofReligions,”JournaloftheEvangelical

TheologicalSociety30:3(1990):359-68.41Forahelpfuldiscussionandrefutationofthisposition,seeRobertL.Reymond,ANew

SystematicTheologyoftheChristianFaith(Nashville:ThomasNelson,1998),1085-93.42JohnMurray,TheEpistletotheRomansinTheNewInternationalCommentaryonthe

NewTestament,editedbyF.F.Bruce(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1968),1:72.43Ibid,1:70-79.Cf.SamWaldron,ProlegomenatoSystematicTheology[unpublished

lecturenotes],132-45.



First,Petertold“devoutmen”(Acts2:5)atPentecostthattheyhadtorepentandbebaptizedfortheforgivenessofsins(Acts2:37-38).Thus,beingdevoutisnotthesameasbeingsaved.Second,PeterpromisesCornelius“forgivenessofsins”ifhewillbelievethemessageofthegospel(Acts10:43,andalso“shallbesaved”in11:14).Third,theJewishChristianswhoheardaboutPeter’sworkamongCornelius’householdrespondedbysaying(11:18):“ThenGodhasgrantedtheGentilesrepentanceunto[thatleadsto]life.”Finally,theBibleclearlymakesfaithinthegospelofaRedeemera

prerequisiteforsalvation.Belowareafewkeytexts:Jesussaidtohim,“Iamtheway,andthetruth,andthelife.NoonecomestotheFatherexceptthroughme(John14:6).Andthereissalvationinnooneelse,forthereisnoothernameunderheavengivenamongmenbywhichwemustbesaved(Acts4:12).Howthenwilltheycallonhiminwhomtheyhavenotbelieved?Andhowaretheytobelieveinhimofwhomtheyhaveneverheard?Andhowaretheytohearwithoutsomeonepreaching?Andhowaretheytopreachunlesstheyaresent?Asitiswritten,“Howbeautifularethefeetofthosewhopreachthegoodnews!”Buttheyhavenotallobeyedthegospel.ForIsaiahsays,“Lord,whohasbelievedwhathehasheardfromus?”Sofaithcomesfromhearing,andhearingthroughthewordofChrist(Romans10:14–17). WhoeverhastheSonhaslife;whoeverdoesnothavetheSonofGoddoesnothavelife(1John5:12). Accordingtothesepassagesspecialrevelation,i.e.,thegospelof

Christ,isasinequanonofsalvation.Hence,boththeConfession44andtheScriptureteachtheinsufficiencyofgeneralrevelationandtheneedforspecialrevelation.Thatleadsustooursecondpremise.THECESSATIONOFSPECIALREVELATION

Havingestablishedtheinsufficiencyofgeneralrevelation,theConfessiongoesontoaffirmthesufficiencyofspecialrevelation.

44TheConfessionalsoaddressesthisissuein10:4(OfEffectualCalling).“…muchlesscan

menthatreceivenottheChristianReligionbesaved;betheyneversodiligenttoframetheirlivesaccordingtothelightofnature,andtheLawofthatReligiontheydoprofess.”SeealsoLBC20:3.



However,astheConfessionexplains,HolyScriptureisnotcoextensivewithspecialrevelationbutratherthefinalformormodeofspecialrevelation.Andbecauseallotherformsormodesofspecialrevelationhaveceased,theHolyScripturehasbecome“mostnecessary.”451.Thenatureandmodalityofspecialrevelation

InlightoftheinadequacyofgeneralrevelationtoimparttomanasavingknowledgeofGod,“itpleasedtheLordatsundrytimesandindiversemannerstorevealhimself,andtodeclarethathiswilluntohischurch.”Thisclausemaybeopenedundertwoheads:1)Thecovenantalcharacterofspecialrevelation

WhereasgeneralrevelationisGodspeakinguniversallytothewholeworld,specialrevelationis,accordingtotheConfession,Godspeakingparticularly“tohischurch.”Atfirstglance,thisstatementconcerningthefocusofspecial

revelationseemsoverlyrestrictive.Didn’tGodrevealhimselftoPharaohbysignsandwondersandpropheticwarnings?Isn’titthecasethatwefindamongtheOldTestamentprophetsnotonlyoraclesforIsraelbutalsooraclesforthenations?Anddidn’tJesuscommissionhisdisciplestopreachthegospeltoeverynation?WhydoestheConfessionnarrowthefocusofspecialrevelationtothechurch?Ithinktheanswertothatquestionresidesinthefactthatthe

framersoftheConfessionareusingtheterm“church”hereinthebroadersensetorefertoGod’scovenantpeople(whetherOTorNT).Moreover,theintentormeaningbehindthislanguage,Ibelieve,isnotsomuchastatementabouttherecipientsofspecialrevelationasitisaboutthenatureorcharacterofspecialrevelation.Specialrevelationis,bydefinition,covenantalincharacter.46

45Strictlyspeaking,theConfessiondoesnotteachtheabsolutenecessityofScripture.

WhatitdoesteachistheabsolutenecessityofspecialrevelationandtheconsequentnecessityofScripture.Inotherwords,Scriptureisnow“absolutely”necessaryasaconsequenceofthecessationofotherformsofspecialrevelation.Thus,FrancisTurretinexplains,“Thereforethequestionisnotwhetherthewritingofthewordwasabsolutelyandsimplynecessary,butrelativelyandhypothetically;notforeveryage,butnowinthisstateofthings;notrelativelytothepowerandlibertyofGod,buttohiswisdomandeconomyasdealingwithman.”InstitutesofElencticTheology,1:57.

46IthinkRobertMartinmakesthesamebasicpointwhenheremarks,“NotethattheConfessionspeaksofGod’swordasdeclaredtothechurch,nottotheworld.Thisshouldnot



Thispointiscrucialforunderstandingtheuniqueroleofspecialrevelationincontrastwithgeneralrevelation.Generalrevelation,aswe’veseen,doesconveytomeninGod’simageageneralknowledgeofGodandofhiswill.Thatis,menmayinferfromcreation,providence,andconscienceageneralknowledgeoftheexistenceoftheCreatorwhoisLordoverallandwhoexpectscreaturesmadeinhisimagetoreflecthismoralcharacter.Butthisgeneralrevelationaloneisinadequatetobringmenintoa

covenantrelationwiththeirCreatorandLord.Humansneed,asitwere,aspecialorcovenantalwordfromGod.Andthisneedforaspecialorcovenantrevelationisnotmerelyanexigencybroughtonbyman’sfallintosin.Evenbeforethefall,GodrevealshimselftoAdamandEvebothbymeansofgeneralrevelationandalsobymeansofspecialrevelation.HecommunicatestoAdamandEveinhumanlanguageandassignsthemtheircovenantaltasksashisvice-regentsovercreation(seeGen1:26-30;2:15-17).Thus,tocallgeneralrevelation“creational”andspecialrevelation“redemptive”canbemisleading.There’sasenseinwhichbothgeneralandspecialrevelationare“creational”formsofrevelation.47 beconstructedtomeanthatGod’swordhasnorelevancefortheworldorthattheworldisexcusedfromreceivingitorthatthechurchhasnodutytoproclaimittotheworld.ItmeansthattheBibleisthechurch’sbook,andthatthechurchhasadutyregardingit.”“TheSecondLondonConfessionontheDoctrineofScripture,PartI,”79,n.54.

47Sometheologiansgivetheimpressionthatspecialrevelationwas“added”onaccountofhumansinanddepravity.ThisgivestheimpressionthatAdamcouldhaveattainedasufficientknowledgeofGodandGod’swillthroughgeneralrevelationalonebeforethefall.Butthisnotionisfalse.Pre-fallenAdamneededthespectaclesofGod’sspecialrevelationinordertoviewGod’sgeneralrevelationrightly.SoGeerhardusVosremarks,“Nowtothisantecedentknowledgefromthetwosourcesofnature[i.e.,externalandinternalgeneralrevelation]canbeaddedasupernaturalself-disclosure.Thisissomethingweusuallyassociatewithredemption,butthisisnotexclusivelyso….Itisamistaketothinkthatthesoleresultofthefallwastheintroductionofsupernaturalrevelation.Asweshallpresentlysee,supernaturalisminrevelation,thoughitsneedwasgreatlyaccentedbysin,didnotfirstoriginatefromthefactofsin….Thepossibilityandnecessity[ofpre-fallsupernaturalrevelation]flowfromthenaturalofreligionassuch.ReligionmeanspersonalintercoursebetweenGodandman.HenceitmightbeaprioriexpectedthatGodwouldnotbesatisfied,andwouldnotallowmantobesatisfiedwithanacquaintancebasedonindirection,butwouldcrowntheprocessofreligionwiththeestablishmentofface-to-facecommunionasfriendholdsfellowshipwithfriend.”BiblicalTheology(1948;reprint,GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1988),19-20,22.Similarly,RobertLethamnotesinhiscommentaryontheConfession,“Evenbeforethefall,Adamwasgivenword-revelationinorderforhimtounderstandhisplaceinthecreatedorder.Histaskandresponsibilitieswerespelledoutverbally(Gen2:16-17),whileGod’swalkinginthegardenandcallingouttoAdamimmediatelyafterthefallimplythatcommunionbetweenGodandmanwaspartoftheoriginalcreatedorderandthatthis



Ontheotherhand,specialrevelationdoesassumea“redemptive”functionafterthefall.Godcontinuestorevealhimselftothemanandthewomannotonlythroughthephenomenaofincreasedpain,toil,anddeath,whichareformsofpost-fallgeneralrevelationthatrevealGod’sjusticeandwrath.Yet,Goddoesnotwithdrawhisspecialrevelation.Alongsidethegeneralrevelation,GodalsogivestoAdamandEveacovenantalinterpretationofthoseunpleasantphenomena(Gen3:8-19),andherevealshiscovenantalplanofredemptionin“seedform”(Gen3:15).Sopost-fallspecialrevelationisreallycovenantalrevelationwithanewlyassignedredemptivefunction.Insummary,generalandspecialrevelationaredistinctyetco-

functionalandcomplementary.Fromoneperspective,wecanviewgeneralrevelationasthebackdropagainstwhichGodconveysandmaninterpretsspecialrevelation.Forexample,wecanonlyinterpretthecovenantrevelationof“YahwehasShepherd”(Ps25)againstthebackdropofageneralknowledgeofshepherdsandsheep.Fromanotherperspective,however,wecanviewspecialrevelation

asgivingfullermeaningtogeneralrevelation.Bothformsofrevelationareequallydivineandauthoritative.However,specialrevelationisrelativelyclearerandmorespecificthangeneralrevelation.Wemaygainageneralnotionofdivinebenevolenceandcarefromwatchingshepherdsandsheep.ButthefullermeaningofthatgeneralrevelationcomestolightwhenwehearthevoiceofJesustheGreatShepherdcallusthroughthegospel(John10:11-18,27-30).2)Thevariedmodalityofspecialrevelation

Unlikegeneralrevelation,whichisconstantanduniversal,specialrevelationisoccasionalandlimited:“itpleasedtheLordatsundrytimesandindiversemannerstorevealhimself.”ThelanguageoftheConfessionherehasbeendrawnandadapted

fromHebrews1:1,whichreferstoGodspeakingthroughtheOTprophets“atmanytimesandinmanyways.”ThemainpointofthatpassageistosetupacontrastbetweentheformerrevelationsoftheOTprophets(1:1)withthefinalrevelationofChrist,theGreatProphet(1:2a).ThepointoftheConfession,however,isnottocontrastOldand includedpersonalcommunication.”TheWestminsterAssembly,123,n.11.



NewCovenantrevelationbuttosetupacontrastbetweenthevariousmodesofcovenantalrevelationfoundinbothtestamentaleraswiththefinalmodeofcovenantrevelation,namely,theHolyScriptures.Whataretheseotherformsofspecialorcovenantalrevelation?

Theywouldincludetheophanies,48angelicvisitations,49dreamsandvisions,50divinelysanctionedsymbols,51theUrimandThummim,52andpropheticoracles.53Wecouldalsoaddtheoraltraditionoftheapostolictradition.54WeknowabouttheseformsofspecialrevelationthroughScripture.Inthatsense,wecanspeakofScriptureasaninspired“record”ofspecialrevelation.However,theScripturesaremorethanmerelya“record”ofspecial

revelation.Being“God-breathed”(2Tim3:16)theScripturesarethevery“oraclesofGod”(Rom3:1)and,thus,theyfunctionasanothermodalityofspecialrevelation.55ThisraisesthequestionofGod’srationalefortheScriptures,whichtheConfessionaddressesnext.2.Theinscripturationofspecialrevelation

Formerly,Godwaspleasedtorevealhimselfinthevariedformsormodeshighlightedabove.But“afterward,”saystheConfession,forthebetterpreservingandpropagatingofthetruth,andforthemoresureestablishmentandcomfortofthechurchagainstthecorruptionoftheflesh,andthemaliceofSatan,andoftheworld,tocommitthesamewhollyuntowriting.SotheConfessionofFaithmovesfromspecialrevelationingeneral

toScriptureinparticular,anditportraysthelatterastheendofa

48Genesis3:8-18;Exodus3:2-6;13:21-22;19:16-18;2Chronicles7:1.49Genesis18:1-33;22:11-15;33:24-30;Exodus3:2;Joshua5:13-15;Judges2:1.50Genesis28:10-17;37:5-11;Isaiah6:1-13;Daniel7:1-2;Matthew1:20.51Genesis2:9,15-17;3:22-24;9:12-13;17:11;Exodus12:13;25:9ff.;Numbers21:9(w/

John3:14-15);Romans4:11;Colossians2:11-12;1Pet3:20-21.52Exodus28:30;Numbers27:21;1Samuel28:6;Ezra2:63.53Deuteronomy18:15-22;2Samuel12:1-15;23:2;2Kings20:1-7;Isaiah13:1ff.;Nahum

1:1ff.;Habakkuk1:1ff.;Zechariah12:1ff.;Acts11:28;21:10-11.541Corinthians11:2;15:2-8;2Thessalonians2:2,15.55ThusnotesWarfield:“ThenecessityofScriptureisthusmadetorestontheinsufficiency

ofnaturalrevelationandthecessationofsupernaturalrevelation—therecordofwhichlatterScriptureisdeclaredtobe,thougharecordofsuchsortthatitisitselfarevelationofGod,sinceitwasGodandnotmerelymanwhocommittedHiswill‘whollyuntowriting.’”“TheWestminsterDoctrineofHolyScripture,”195.



process.Inotherwords,thelanguageoftheConfessionsuggeststhatGodintendedtheScripturetobethefinalmodeorformofspecialrevelationforhiscovenantcommunity.Bywayofillustration,thinkforamomentoftheprocessandfinal

editedformofamovie.Whenmakingamovie,scenesareactedoutandspeechesaredelivered.Butthefinalmodeorformofallthatactingandspeakingisselectivelycaptureduponthefilm.Soitisinthecaseofspecialrevelation.Therearetheophanies,angelicvisitations,miracles,dreamsandvisions,propheticspeeches,andsoon.Later,theHolySpiritguidesthebiblicalwriterstoselectfromthosevariousrevelationsandtoincludetheminScriptureasthefinalformofspecialrevelationforthecovenantcommunity.ButdoestheBiblerepresentScriptureasthefinalproductorform

ofaprocess?Ibelieveitdoes.Considerthefollowinglinesofthought:1)Scriptureisportrayedasadivinelyselecteddepositofsavingtruth.

TheapostleJohnalludestothistowardtheendofhisGospel:NowJesusdidmanyothersignsinthepresenceofthedisciples,whicharenotwritteninthisbook;butthesearewrittensothatyoumaybelievethatJesusistheChrist,theSonofGod,andthatbybelievingyoumayhavelifeinhisname(John20:30–31). Thereweremanythingsrevealed,said,taught,done,andeven

writtenthatconstituteddivine,authoritativerevelationandwhicharenotincludedinourcanon(seeJohn21:35).WemustassumethatGodguidedthewritersofScripturetoincludejustwhatwasnecessaryforthesalvationofsinners.2)Scriptureisportrayedasameanstopreservespecialrevelation.

Prophetsandapostlesmaydie,buttheirinscripuratedwordswillabide.TheapostlePeterwasawareofthisreality,andthisisoneofthethingsthatmotivatedhimtoleaveaninspired,writtenaccountofwhathehadlearnedfromChrist:ThereforeIintendalwaystoremindyouofthesequalities,thoughyouknowthemandareestablishedinthetruththatyouhave.Ithinkitright,aslongasIaminthisbody,tostiryouupbywayofreminder,sinceIknowthattheputtingoffofmybodywillbesoon,asourLordJesusChristmadecleartome.AndIwillmakeevery



effortsothataftermydepartureyoumaybeableatanytimetorecallthesethings(2Pet1:12–15).ThisisnowthesecondletterthatIamwritingtoyou,beloved.InbothofthemIamstirringupyoursinceremindbywayofreminder,thatyoushouldrememberthepredictionsoftheholyprophetsandthecommandmentoftheLordandSaviorthroughyourapostles(2Pet3:1–2).Thus,Scriptureisameanstopreservespecialrevelationfor

subsequentgenerations.56AsFrancisTurretinobserves,Itwasnecessaryforawrittenwordtobegiventothechurchthatthecanonoftruereligiousfaithmightbeconstantandunmoved;thatitmighteasilybepreservedpureandentireagainsttheweaknessofmemory,thedepravityofmenandtheshortnessoflife;thatifmightbemorecertainlydefendedfromthefraudsandcorruptionsofSatan.57

3)Scriptureisportrayedasespeciallysuitedtobetheultimateandfinal

canonforthecovenantcommunity.

ScripturewasfirstgivenwhentheoldcovenantcommunityformedatMt.Sinai(Deut.4:10-14;cf.5:22-33;31:24-26).ThepreviouswaysofGod’srevealinghimselfwerenolongeradequatebythemselves.Therefore,GoddecidedtoinscripturateHisWordasthefinalandultimateformormodeordepositofspecialrevelation.Inthisform,

a) Scripturewasgiventobethetouchstonebywhichanyfurtherprophecywouldbejudged.

ThereisasenseinwhichScriptureistobetreatedwiththehighestauthorityofallmodesofrevelation.Thisdoesnotmeanthatoneformofdivinerevelationhaslessauthoritythananotherform.God’swordisjustasauthoritativewhetherhespeaksthroughcreationorconscienceordreamorprophetorScripture.ButbecauseScriptureismoreeasilyaccessibleandbecausethe

churchhasalreadyrecognizeditsauthority,Scripturenaturallysitsasjudgeoveranynewclaimstorevelation.Thus,oneofthetestswherebyaprophetistobeassessedas“true”or“false”iswhetheror

56SeealsoDeuteronomy6:4-9;Psalm78:1-9;Luke1:1-4.57InstitutesofElencticTheology,1:58.



nothisallegedwordfromtheLordconformstoextantcanonicalscripture.“Tothelawandtothetestimony!”saysIsaiah.“Ifthey[theprophets]donotspeakaccordingtothisword,itisbecausetheyhavenodawn”(Isa8:20,NAS;cf.1Cor14:27-33;1John4:1-6).EventheapostlePaulwasheldtothisstandard:ThebrothersimmediatelysentPaulandSilasawaybynighttoBerea,andwhentheyarrivedtheywentintotheJewishsynagogue.NowtheseJewsweremorenoblethanthoseinThessalonica;theyreceivedthewordwithalleagerness,examiningtheScripturesdailytoseeifthesethingswereso(Acts17:10–11).b) Scripturewasgiventobethesufficient,authoritativestandardof

faithandlifeforthecovenantcommunity.

IntheancientNearEast,contracts,covenants,ortreatiesthatwerevitalandnormativeforinterpersonal,social,orinternationallifewereusuallyputdowninwriting.58Thus,whenGodmakesaformalcovenantheengraveshisTenWordsonstone,whichareexplicitlyidentifiedasa“covenant”(Exod34:28).Later,heleadsMosestoputinwritingthehistory,stipulations,andsanctionsthatwereessentialtomaintainthecovenantrelationshiphehadestablishedwithIsrael(Exod24:7;Deut31:9-13,24-26).Itshouldn’tsurpriseusthatGodshouldgoverntheNewCovenant

communityinmuchthesameway.Soattheendofhislifeandpublicministry,theapostlePaulremindshiscomradeTimothy,Fromchildhoodyouhavebeenacquaintedwiththesacredwritings,whichareabletomakeyouwiseforsalvationthroughfaithinChristJesus.AllScriptureisbreathedoutbyGodandprofitableforteaching,forreproof,forcorrection,andfortraininginrighteousness,thatthemanofGodmaybecomplete,equippedforeverygoodwork.IchargeyouinthepresenceofGodandofChristJesus,whoistojudgethelivingandthedead,andbyhisappearingandhiskingdom:preachtheword;bereadyinseasonandoutofseason;reprove,rebuke,andexhort,withcompletepatienceandteaching(2Tim3:15—4:2).

58Forexamples,seeJamesB.Pritchard,ed.,AncientNearEasternTextsRelatingtotheOld

Testament,thirdedition(Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,1969),199-206,210-23;529-41.NotealsoMoses’allusiontothewritten“certificate”ofdivorce(Deut24:1,3),whichsignifiedabreachofcovenant.



WhenGodgivestohispeopletheBible,heisgivinguswhatheknowswouldbemostusefulandbeneficialtous.Therefore,weoughttobeperfectlycontentwiththeScripture.AcursoryreadingofPsalm119leavestheclearimpressionthatthePsalmistwasperfectsatisfiedandcontentwiththewrittenwordofGod.HowmuchmoretheNewCovenantbelieverwhohasaccesstoacompletedcanon!Thatleadstothefinalsectionofourexposition.

3.ThecessationofspecialrevelationandfinalityofScripture

We’veestablishedtheabsolutenecessityofsomeformofspecialrevelationbecausegeneralrevelationbyitselfisinsufficient.We’vealsoarguedthatHolyScriptureistheendofaprocesswherebytheHolySpiritguideshumanwriterstoselectivelycodifyspecialrevelationintheformofwritingorscripture.Fromthepassageswe’vecited,itwouldseemthatScriptureisthefinalformormodeofspecialrevelationGodintendedasthestandardforthefaithandlifeofhiscovenantcommunity.ButtheConfessionsaysmore.ItinformsusthattheHolyScriptures

havebecomenotmerelynecessarybut“mostnecessary”onaccountof“thoseformerwaysofGod’srevealinghiswilluntohispeoplebeingnowceased.”Sowhiletheinsufficiencyofgeneralrevelationmakesspecialrevelationnecessary,thecessationofspecialrevelationmakestheBiblemostnecessary.Sincethecessationofspecialrevelation,theBiblehasbecome“theonlysufficient,certain,andinfallibleruleofallsavingknowledge,faith,andobedience”(emphasisadded).Obviously,theframersoftheConfessionwere“cessationists,”at

leastwhenitcameto“Scripture-quality”formsofrevelation.59

59ItisnotpreciselycorrecttosaythattheReformersandPuritanswereabsolutecessationstoaman.IngeneraltheReformersseemtoargueforthecessationofextra-ordinarygifts.Butthereareinconsistenciesintheirwritings.Forexample,inhiscommentaryonEphesians4:11,Calvinarguesthattheofficesofapostle,prophet,andevangelisthaveceased,andonlytheofficesofpastorandteacherareperpetual.59InhisInstitutes,however,CalvinsuggeststhattheLord“nowandagainrevivesthemastheneedofthetimesdemand.”SeeCalvin’sNewTestamentCommentary,vol.11,ed.DavidTorranceandThomasTorrance(Eerdmans,1965),179-80,andTheInstitutesoftheChristianReligion,IV,3.4.GarnetH.MilnerecentlypublishedhisdissertationinwhichheconcludesthattheframersoftheWCFintendedtoaffirmacessationistviewofspecialrevelationwithsomequalification:“TheWestminsterdivinesintendedthecessationistclausetoaffirmthattherewastobenomoreextra-biblical,‘immediate’revelationforanypurposenowthatthechurchpossessedthecompletedScriptures….AtthesametimethedivinesdidnotintendtodenythatGodcould



However,knowingthatcessationismisahistoricalandconfessionalviewisreassuringtosomeofus.Butit’snotasreassuringasknowingthecessationofspecialrevelationisabiblicalviewaswell.TheprooftextsassignedtotheConfession’sassertionthatspecial

revelationhasceasedarenotbythemselvesdecisive(Prov22:19-21;Rom15:4;2Pet1:19,20).Atbesttheseversessupportthepointwe’vearguedforabove,namely,thattherearecertainbenefitstoScriptureoverothermodesofspecialrevelationandthatScriptureseemstobethefinalmodeofspecialrevelationintheeconomyofredemption.NowtobefairtotheframersoftheConfession,weshouldconcede

thattherearesomebiblicaldoctrinesthatcannotbederivedfromasingleproof-textbutmustdevelopedfromseveraldifferentlinesofbiblicalteaching.IthinkthedoctrineoftheclosingoftheNTcanonisoneofthosedoctrines.Afterall,howdoesaNTwriterassert,“Thecanonisclosed”whilehe’sintheveryprocessofwritingoneoftheNTcanonicalbooks?!Hence,wehavetoestablishthecessationofspecialrevelationandtheclosingofthecanoninamoreindirectway.Spacedoesnotallowforafullerargumentforthecessationof

specialrevelationandthefinalityofScripture.However,I’llattempttosummarizethebasiclinesofargumentationIwouldusetoprovidebiblicalrationaleforthedoctrine.60 stillspeakthroughspecialprovidencesthatmightinvolvedreamsortheministryofangels,forexample,butsuchrevelationwasalwaystobeconsidered‘mediate.’TheprimarymeanswasheldtobethewrittenScriptures,illuminatedbytheHolySpirit.TheunityoftheWordandSpiritwasmaintained,andGod’sfreedomtoaddressindividualcircumstancesremainedintact.”TheWestminsterConfessionofFaithandtheCessationofSpecialRevelation:TheMajorityPuritanViewpointonWhetherExtra-BiblicalProphecyisStillPossible(Wipf&Stock,2007),xvi-xvii.SeealsoByronCurtis,“‘PrivateSpirits’inTheWestminsterConfessionofFaith§1.10andinCatholic-ProtestantDebate(1588-1652),”WestminsterTheologicalJournal58(Fall1996),256-67;GarnetH.Milne,“‘PrivateSpirits’intheWestminsterConfessionofFaithandinProtestant-CatholicDebates:AResponsetoByronCurtis,”WestminsterTheologicalJournal61(Spring1999),102-11;DeanR.Smith,“TheScottishPresbyteriansandCovenanters:AContinuationistExperienceinaCessationistTheology,”WestminsterTheologicalJournal63(Spring2001),39-63.

60Itreatthissubjectinmoredetailinatwo-partaudioseriesentitled“TheCessationofSpecialRevelation:AHumbleArgumentfortheCessationofNTProphecyandTongues,”whichisavailableontheInternethere:http://drbobgonzales.com/2011/12/15/are-nt-prophecy-and-tongues-for-today-two-part-audio-series-by-dr-bob-gonzales-jr/(accessedOctober15,2014).SomehelpfulworksthataddressthisissueinsomedetailincludeB.B.Warfield,CounterfeitMiracles(1918;reprint,Edinburgh:TheBannerofTruth,1995);WalterJ.Chantry,SignsoftheApostles:ObservationsonPentecostalismOldandNew,secondedition(Edinburgh:TheBannerofTruth,1976);RichardGaffinJr.,PerspectivesonPentecost:New



1)Theargumentforcessationismsummarized

Iwouldsummarizethebasicthrustofmyargumentasfollows:v Majorpremise:Scriptureisthefinalformofspecialrevelationv Minorpremise:JesusChrististhehistoricalgoalofspecialrevelation.v Conclusion:Therefore,theapostolicwitnesstoChrist,i.e.,theNTcanon,bringsspecialrevelationtoitsfinalformandhistoricalgoal.

2)Theargumentforcessationismillustrated

TestamentTeachingontheGiftsoftheHolySpirit(Phillipsburg:PresbyterianandReformed,1979);VictorBudgen,TheCharismaticsandtheWordofGod:ABiblicalandHistoricalPerspectiveontheCharismaticMovement,secondedition(Darlington,UK:EvangelicalPress,1989);O.PalmerRobertson,TheFinalWord:ABiblicalResponsetotheCaseforTonguesandProphecyToday(Edinburgh:TheBannerofTruth,1993);KennethL.Gentry,Jr.,TheCharismaticGiftofProphecy:AReformedResponsetoWayneGrudem(Eugene,OR:Wipf&Stock,1999);SamuelE.Waldron,ToBeContinued?AretheMiraculousGiftsforToday?(Merrick,NY:CalvaryPress,2005);JohnMacArthur,StrangeFire:TheDangerofOffendingtheHolySpiritwithCounterfeitWorship(Nashville:ThomasNelson,2013).



3)Theargumentforcessationismexpounded

SpecialrevelationreachesitsredemptivegoalinthepersonandworkofChristwhoistheIncarnateWordofGod.Ihavethreepremisestoestablishthispoint.

a)God’sultimaterevelationhascomeinthepersonofHisSon.

ThebookofHebrewsisabookofcontrasts.Throughoutthebook,thewritercontraststheOldCovenantwiththeNewCovenant.Therefore,itshouldn’tsurpriseustofindthewriteropeninghistreatisewithacontrastbetweentheOldCovenantrevelationandtheNewCovenantrevelation.Longago,atmanytimesandinmanyways,Godspoketoourfathersbytheprophets,butintheselastdayshehasspokentousbyhisSon,whomheappointedtheheirofallthings,throughwhomalsohecreatedtheworld(emphasisadded;Heb1:1–2). NotethatboththeOldandNewrevelationsarespokenofas

completed—theaoristtensesuggestsapast,completedaction.Second,notethatthe“speakingoftheSon”isportrayedasthefinalstageinGod’sprocessofredemptiverevelation(i.e.,the“fulfillment”ofspecialrevelation).TheOTrevelationisrepresentedasasuccessionofvariousmodes

ofrevelationspokenthroughasuccessionofvariousdifferentprophets.Incontrast,theNTrevelationisspokenthroughtheSon.MuslimsviewMohammedasthelastgreatprophet.ButChristianityconfessesJesusChristtobeGod’sfinalgreatprophet!TheOTrevelationcame“longago,”orbetter,“informerdays;”

whereas,theNTrevelationofGod’sSonhascomein“thelatterdays,”whichisanotherwaytorefertothattimeimmediatelypreceding“theendoftheage.”Thus,WaltChantryiscorrectwhenhetellsus,“Thepassagebreathesunreservedfinality.Christ,theSonofGod,isthegrandfinaleofrevelation.”61NotonlyishethefinalHighPriestandthefinalSacrifice.ButJesusisthefinalWord!

61WalterChantry,TheSignsoftheApostles,31.Chantrycontinues,“Socompleteis[Christ]

asGod’srevelation,andsosufficientwashisworkasaprophetthattheapostlesandtheirNewTestamentbooksareviewedinHebrews2:1-4asmerelyconfirmingwhattheGreat



Toillustrate,picturespecialrevelationintheprocessofrain,rivers,andoceans.Rainfallsfromthesky,runsdownhillintheformofstreamsandrivers(diversmannersofspecialrevelation)whichinturnflowtogetheruntiltheyreachtheocean(Christ,thefinalrevelationofGod).OthertextsofScriptureseemtosupportthisunderstandingof

Christasthehistoricalgoalofspecialrevelation.Forexample,theapostleJohnpresentsChristasnotsimply“aWordfromGod,”but“TheWordofGod”whoassumed“fleshanddweltamongus”(John1:1,14).ThenJohnwrites,“ForthelawwasgiventhroughMoses;graceandtruthcamethroughJesusChrist.NoonehaseverseenGod;theonlyGod,whoisattheFather’sside,hehasmadehimknown”(John1:17–18).Inotherwords,God’spromissoryrevelationofgraceandtruthcame

inheOldCovenantthroughhismediatorMoses(seeExod34).ButGod’sfullandfinalrevelationofgraceandtruthcamethroughJesusChrist(1:14,17).JesusmadeknowntoustheFather,asMosescouldneverdo.62Andso,whenitwastimeforHimtoleavethisearth,Jesuscouldsay

totheFather:“IglorifiedYouontheearth,havingaccomplishedtheworkwhichYouhavegivenMetodo”(John17:4).AndHeidentifiesoneveryimportantfacetofthatworkinverse8:“forthewordswhichYougaveMeIhavegiventothem;andtheyreceivedthemandtrulyunderstoodthatIcameforthfromYou,andtheybelievedthatYousentMe.”Christ,theSonofGod,hasrevealedtousGodtheFather’sfinalword.SoourfirstpremiseisthatGod’sultimateandfinalrevelationhas

comeinthepersonofHisSon(Heb1:1-2a;John1:1-18).

Prophethadalreadysaid….ThesunofrevelationshoneinJesusChrist.Theapostles’writingswerenotnewbeamsoflight,butreflectionsoftheglorythatshoneintheSonofGod.”

62IexpoundthispassageanditsimplicationsfortheNTcanonmorefullyinmyexpositionofsectiontwobelow.



b)TherevelationofChristhasbeenmediatedtousthroughtheapostolicwitness.

IwanttodevelopthispointmorewhenweconsiderthecanonoftheNT.ButfornowIamsimplyremindingyouoftheobviousfactthatChristHimselfdidnotwriteanyoftheNTbooksofScripture.Instead,Hechosecertainindividuals(theNTapostlesalongwithNTprophets)whowouldmediateHisrevelationtothechurch.Thereforewemustpaymuchcloserattentiontowhatwehaveheard,lestwedriftawayfromit.Forsincethemessagedeclaredbyangelsprovedtobereliable,andeverytransgressionordisobediencereceivedajustretribution,howshallweescapeifweneglectsuchagreatsalvation?ItwasdeclaredatfirstbytheLord,anditwasattestedtousbythosewhoheard,whileGodalsoborewitnessbysignsandwondersandvariousmiraclesandbygiftsoftheHolySpiritdistributedaccordingtohiswill(emphasisadded;Heb2:1-4). ThisisnowthesecondletterthatIamwritingtoyou,beloved.InbothofthemIamstirringupyoursinceremindbywayofreminder,thatyoushouldrememberthepredictionsoftheholyprophetsandthecommandmentoftheLordandSaviorthroughyourapostles(emphasisadded;2Pet3:1-2). c)TheapostolicwitnesstotherevelationofChristiscomplete.

WehavearguedthatJesusChristisGod’s“finalword.”AllrevelationpriortoChristpointedtoHim.WehavealsoarguedthatJesuschosecertainmeninordertomediatethisfinalrevelationtothechurchandtheworld.NowwearearguingthatthisapostolicwitnesstothepersonandworkofChristhasbeencompleted.Inotherwords,weshouldnotlookforanynewrevelationfromGod.IbelievethisconclusionisimpliedinatextlikeEphesians2:20:[Thechurchhasbeen]builtonthefoundationoftheapostlesandprophets,ChristJesushimselfbeingthecornerstone.Theterm“foundation”canrefereither(1)tothebasisuponwhich

somethingrestsoritcanrefer(2)totheinitialstageinaprocess.Forexample,ifItoldyouthatIhad“laidthefoundationformyhouse,”Iwouldeitherbestressingthebaseuponwhichmyhousewillbebuilt,orIwouldbestressingthebeginningoftheprocessofbuilding.Thus,



whenwespeakof“thefoundationofthechurch,”wemayhaveinmindthedoctrinalbasisuponwhichthechurchisfounded,orwemayhaveinmindthehistoricalbeginningswhenthechurchwasfirstestablished.Biblically,bothideasaretrue.TheNTapostlesandprophetsaretheauthoritativebasisuponwhichthechurchisbuild.Andtheiractivityrepresentstheinitialstageintheprocessofthechurch’sconstruction.Buttheimportantquestionis,WhichofthesedoesPaulhaveinview?

Inthiscontext,Ibelievethatthesecondmeaningisprimarilyinview.Isaythisbecause,inthecontext,Paulisdiscussingthechurchintermsofitsplaceinthehistoryofredemption(Eph2:11-13,19-22;3:1-10):Thereforerememberthatatonetime[thepast]youGentilesintheflesh,called“theuncircumcision”bywhatiscalledthecircumcision,whichismadeinthefleshbyhands—rememberthatyouwereatthattime[thepast]separatedfromChrist,alienatedfromthecommonwealthofIsraelandstrangerstothecovenantsofpromise,havingnohopeandwithoutGodintheworld.Butnow[thepresent]inChristJesusyouwhooncewerefaroff[thepast]havebeenbroughtnearbythebloodofChrist….Sothenyouarenolonger[thepast]strangersandaliens,butyouare[thepresent]fellowcitizenswiththesaintsandmembersofthehouseholdofGod,built[aoristtense,i.e.,completedactivity]onthefoundationoftheapostlesandprophets,ChristJesushimselfbeingthecornerstone,inwhomthewholestructure,beingjoinedtogether,grows[presenttense,i.e.,ongoingactivity]intoaholytempleintheLord.Inhimyoualsoarebeingbuilttogether[presenttense,i.e.,ongoingactivity]intoadwellingplaceforGodbytheSpirit(emphasisadded;Eph2:11-13,19-22). Sothe“havingbeenbuiltonthefoundationoftheapostlesand

prophets”inEphesians2:20isareferencetoearlychurchhistory.The“beingjoinedtogether,”and“growingintoaholytemple,”and“beingbuilttogetherintoadwellingforGodbytheSpirit”areareferencetoongoingchurchhistory.Thus,wecaninferfromthispassagethattheapostolicstageof

churchhistoryhasbeencompleted.Theapostlesaredead,andweshouldexpectnonewapostles(Acts1:21-22;1Cor.15:7-8).Wemustconclude,therefore,thattheapostolicwitnesstoChrist,whoisGod’sfinalword,hasbeencompleted.



Insummary,God’sstreamofspecialrevelationhasreacheditshistoricaldestination—therevelationofJesusChrist.Thisfinalrevelationhasbeenmediatethroughtheapostolicwitness(andNTprophets).AndthisapostolicwitnesstoChristhasbeenselectivelydepositedintothefinalformofspecialrevelation,namely,theScripture(John20:30-31).Since,therefore,specialrevelationhasreacheditsultimateandfinal

destination,namely,theInscripturatedWordoftheIncarnateWord,wehaveabiblicalrationaletoaffirmtheteachingoftheConfessionwhenitasserts,Therefore,theLordwaspleasedatdifferenttimesandinvariouswaystorevealHimselfandtodeclareHiswilltohischurch.TopreserveandpropagatethetruthbetterandtoestablishandcomfortthechurchwithgreatercertaintyagainstthecorruptionofthefleshandthemaliceofSatanandtheworld,theLordputthisrevelationcompletelyinwriting.Therefore,theHolyScripturesareabsolutelynecessary,becauseGod’sformerwaysofrevealingHiswilltohispeoplehavenowceased(2LCF1.1b).

SOMEPRACTICALLESSONS

Whataresomepracticallessonswecandrawfromourexpositionabove?1.Generalrevelationgivesuscommongroundwithallmen—evenwiththosewhohaveneverheardthegospel.

Thecommongroundisthatdeep-seatedawarenessandperceptionofGodthroughHisgeneralrevelation.Atonelevel,onlyChristiansknowGod(John17:3).However,atanotherlevel,everyhumanisalreadyawareoftheGodwhomadehim(Rom1:19-21).Theremaybegenuinelanguageandculturalbarriersthatthe

missionarymusttrytoovercomewhenhegoestoaforeigncountry.Butthereisonelanguagethateverybodyknows—thelanguageofgeneralrevelation:TheheavensaretellingofthegloryofGod;andtheirexpanseisdeclaringtheworkofHishands.Daytodaypoursforthspeech,andnighttonightrevealsknowledge.Thereisnospeech,



noraretherewords;theirvoiceisnotheard.63[Yet]theirline[LXX-‘sound’]hasgoneoutthroughalltheearth,Andtheirutterancestotheendoftheworld(Ps19:1-4,NAU).Therefore,wedonothavetoaccommodatetheChristianGodtofit

theirbeliefsandvaluesofotherreligionsandworldviewsinordertohavecommonground.Wedon’thavetomaketheTriuneGodlooklikeAllah.Wedon’thavetomakeJesuslooklikeBuddhaorConfucius.Wedon’thavetoadopttheunbeliever’sworldlyphilosophyandthentrytofittheChristianGodintoitsmold—allinthenameofreachingthelost.No!!!Wealreadyhavecommonground.Wemayappealtowhatthey

alreadyknow!TheyknowtheGodwe’retalkingabout!Theyhaveheardhimspeakbefore.AnditisthatgeneralrevelationoftheCreatorthatbecomesourcommongroundforevangelism.2.Generalrevelationhelpsusunderstandourdutytotheunbeliever

HowshouldyouandIrespondtotheunbeliever?God’sgeneralrevelationisconstantlysurroundingthemandconfrontingthem.Theyrespondtothatrevealedtruthbysuppressingitinunrighteousness.Therefore,weoughttorespondtotheunbelieverbycallingdownfirefromheaventodestroytheserebels!Right?Wrong!Thisisapitiablesight.Menaresurroundedbyrevealed

truth,andyettheydonothaveatrueandsavingknowledgeofGod.TheyhavenohopeandarewithoutGodintheworld.Thatsceneoughttomoveustocompassion!Inlightofgeneralrevelation,ourresponsibilitytotheunbelieveristoshowcompassion!Butwhatisacompassionateresponsetotheunbeliever?Compassionisspeakingthetruthinlove.I’mdeeplyconcernedwhenIseesomanyprofessingChristians

todaywhowanttobetolerantandacceptingofotherpointsofview.TheyactasifalloftheseotherreligionsandphilosophieshavemuchtoteachChristianity,andweChristiansneedtolearnfromthem.

63TheNewKingJamesVersionreads:“thereisnospeechnorlanguagewheretheirvoiceis

notheard.”



ButisthisthewayPaulrespondedtotheunbeliever?LookathiminAthens—inacityfullfalsereligionsandhumanphilosophies.Asheinteractedwiththesevariouscultsandphilosophies,hewasn’tencouragedwithwhathesaw.Hedidn’tsitaroundadmiringthem.ThetexttellsusthatPaul’s“spiritwasprovoked.”Hewasangry!PaulwaszealousforGod’struth.ThatzealforGod’struthledPaul

todebatewiththephilosophersandtopreachthegospeltothem.Andherewashisbottomline:“Godisnowdeclaringtomenthatalleverywhereshouldrepent”(Acts17:30).Paulbelievedthattheywereentirely“withoutexcuse.”Thatis,theyhadnovalidreasonsforbelievingwhattheybelieve.Theywereinfact“suppressingthetruthinunrighteousness.”Pagan,Buddhist,Marxist,Hinduist,Atheist,Pragmatist,Rationalist,

Formalist—theymustallrepentofsuppressingGod’struth.Theyhavenorationalexcusefortheirunbelief.That’sthemessageofcompassion.Wemustcommunicatethismessagegraciously.Wemustcommunicateithumbly.Wemustcommunicateitpatiently.Butwehavenotshowncompassiontothelostuntilwespeakthetruthinlove.Thenwhat?That’swheregeneralrevelationstopsandspecial

revelationbegins.Wheneverymouthisshut,andtheworldisguiltybeforeGod,thenwecanbringmenthegospelofJesusChrist.Generalrevelationteachesustocompassionatelycallmentorepent;andthenbyitsverylimitation,generalrevelationteachesustobringmenthegospelofJesusChrist.3.Hereisaclearcalltoourmissionaryduty.Weneedtogetthegoodnewsofthegospeltothosewhohaven’theard.

DespitetheclaimsofsomeprofessedChristianleadersinthepastandtoday,thereisnobiblicalbasistobelievethatpagansandnon-believerscanbesavedandgotoheavenonthebasisoftheirvirtuousresponsesto“thelightofnature.”TheydesperatelyneedGod’sredemptivewordofrevelation,thatis,thegospel!AndthatgospelisnowexclusivelyrevealedintheHolyScripture.Thisfactoughttolightaflameofmissionaryzealunderthe

church’sfeet.AccordingtotheConfession,Goddidnotmerelyput



downhisspecialrevelationinwritinginordertopreserveitsothatthechurchcouldbeestablishedandcomforted.That’spartofthereason.ButtheConfessionalsohighlightsthefactthatGod’sspecialorredemptiverevelationhasbeeninscripturated“forthebetter…propagatingofthetruth.”HerewehaveanallusiontotheGreatCommission64andareminderthattheChurchMilitantexistsnotmerelytoprepareherselfforglorybuttocallothersintothefold.654.ToknowGod,theuniverse,andourselvesrightlywemustdrawfrombothformsofrevelation.

Ontheonehand,wemustrejecttheclaimsoftheDeistwhoinsiststhatwecanknowallweneedknowabouttheCreatorandhismoralstandardssimplythrougharightuseofreasonanddueconsiderationofgeneralrevelation.Ontheotherhand,wemustresistthetemptationtobecomehyper-pietisticandfailtostudyanddelightinGod’sworksincreationandprovidence(seePs111:2).GodourCreatorandRedeemerspeakstousthroughbothgeneral

andalsospecialrevelation,andHeintendsustousethemtogether.Asnotedabove,bothformsofrevelationaredistinctyetco-functionalandcomplementary.Hence,whiletheBibleisnotasciencetextbook,itsteachingaboutGod’sworksofcreationandprovidenceshouldinformourscientificendeavors.Moreover,becauseofthegreaterclarityandspecificityofScripture,thebiblicaldatamustalwaysinformandcontrolwhatevertheologicalconclusionswemightbetemptedtodrawfromthestudyofgeneralrevelationviaso-called“naturaltheology.”Inotherwords,allourstudies,whetherthesubjectmatterbethe

worksofGodorGodhimself,letusalwaysbewearingthespectaclesofHolyScripture.AsJohnCalvinwrites,

64AsRobertLethamnotes,“Godalwayshadamindtothewell-beingofhischurchandits

missionarytasktospreadthetruth;thedivines’recognitionofthisintheveryfirstsectionoftheConfessionbeliestheclaimsthattheylackedmissionaryzeal.”TheWestminsterAssembly,126.

65OneReformedtheologianshasputitratherstrongly:“Theentireministryofthechurchistobeoutward-facing,gearedtothesalvationofthelostandtheirtrainingtobematuremembersofthebody.Achurchthatisnotpreoccupiedwithreachingtheunsavedisnotmerelyaweakchurch;itisnotproperlyachurchatall.”EvangelicalReunion:DenominationsandtheBodyofChrist(GrandRapids:BakerBookHouse,1991),138-39.



Justasoldbleary-eyedmenandthosewithweakvision,ifyouthrustbeforethemamostbeautifulvolume,eveniftheyrecognizeittobesomesortofwriting,yetcanscarcelyconstruetwowords,butwiththeaidofspectacleswillbegintoreaddistinctly:soScripture,gatheringuptheotherwiseconfusedknowledgeofGodinourminds,havingdispersedourdullness,clearlyshowsusthetrueGod.66IwouldonlysupplementCalvin’sremarksbyremindingusthatthe

needforthespectacleofScriptureisnotjustduetothefallandtherealityofremainingsin.Evenbeforethefall,GodexpectedAdamtoviewandinterpretgeneralrevelationwiththespectaclesofspecialrevelation.4.Letusbecontentwiththefinalformofspecialrevelation,namely,theScriptures.

WeshouldnotfeeldiscontentwiththeBibleanddemandthatGodgiveusdreams,visions,andmiracles.Rather,letusadopttheattitudeofMartinLuther:IhavemadeacovenantwithGodthathesendmeneithervisions,dreams,norevenangels.IamwellsatisfiedwiththegiftoftheHolyScriptures,whichgivemeabundantinstructionandallthatIneedtoknowbothforthislifeandforthatwhichistocome.67ThegreatAmericantheologianJonathanEdwardsadoptedasimilar

posture.GodhadusedthepreachingandwritingofEdwardsintherevivalsoftheGreatAwakening.68SomeofEdwards’contemporariesbelievedinarestorationofthegiftsjustpriortotheLord’sreturn.ButEdwardsdisagreed.Inhisexpositionof1Corinthians13,heconcludes,“SincethecanonoftheScripturehasbeencompleted,the

66InstitutesoftheChristianReligion,I,4.1.Cf.I,14.1.Onceagain,itisimportanttonote

thattheneedforthespectaclesofScriptureisnot67IhavetakenthisquotefromapamphletandhavenotyetlocateditinLuther’swritings.68Inparticular,Edwards’sermon,“SinnersintheHandsofanAngryGod,”andalsohis

books,SomeThoughtsconcerningthePresentRevivalofReligioninNewEnglandandATreatiseconcerningReligiousAffections,didmuchtofurthertherevival.ForafulleraccountofEdwards’contributiontotheGreatAwakening,seeJosephTracy,TheGreatAwakening:AHistoryoftheRevivalofReligionintheTimeofEdwards&Whitefield(1842;reprint,BannerofTruth,1989),andIainH.Murray,JonathanEdwards:ANewBiography(BannerofTruth,1987).



ChristianChurchfullyfoundedandestablished,theseextraordinarygiftshaveceased.”69Notsurprisingly,heremarksinanotherplace,Therefore,Idonotexpectarestorationofthesemiraculousgiftsintheapproachingglorioustimesofthechurch,nordoIdesireit.Itappearstome,thatitwouldaddnothingtothegloryofthosetimes[offuturerevival],butratherdiminishfromit.Formypart,IhadratherenjoythesweetinfluencesoftheSpirit,showingChrist’sspiritualbeauty,infinitegrace,anddyinglove,drawingforththeholyexercisesoffaith,divinelove,sweetcomplacence,andhumblejoyinGod,onequarterhour,thantohavepropheticalvisionsandrevelationsthewholeyear.70

69CharityanditsFruits(1851;reprint,Edinburgh:TheBannerofTruth,1969),30.70TheWorksofJonathanEdwards(1834;reprint,Edinburgh:TheBannerofTruth),2.275.

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