Emmaus Bible College BT 252 Bibliology Lecture : THE NATURE OF SPECIAL REVELATION Introduction:

David J. MacLeod Professor

I. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIAL REVELATION1 A. Special Revelation is Particular

B. Special Revelation is Gracious (John 1:1718)

C. Special Revelation is Anthropic (a[nqrwpo~, anthropos)

See Bernard Ramm, Special Revelation and the Word of God, 3144; Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 20023; Clark Pinnock, Biblical Revelation, 2934.
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D. Special Revelation is Analogical

3 E. Special Revelation is Historical2

1. Revelation in History3

2. Revelation through History4

3. Revelation as History5

In addition to Ramm, Erickson, and Pinnock, cf. Paul K. Jewett, Special Revelation as Historical and Personal, in Revelation and the Bible, ed. Carl F. H. Henry, 4557. 3 G. E. Wright, God Who Acts, 107. 4 John Baillie, The Idea of Revelation in Recent Thought, 64; Emil Brunner, Revelation and Reason, 25, 33; Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics 1.1.12425. 5 Wolfhart Pannenberg, ed. Revelation as History, 4546, 133.

4 F. Special Revelation is Verbal

G. Special Revelation is Personal

H. Special Revelation is Propositional 1. The Meaning of the Term Propositional

2. The Contemporary Clich: Revelation is Personal not Propositional

5 3. The Historical View: Revelation is Personal and Propositional

I. Special Revelation is Organic6

J. Special Revelation is Progressive7 1. The Erroneous Use of the Term Progressive Revelation

2. The Correct Use of the Term Progressive Revelation

6 7

Cf. Ramm, Special Revelation and the Word of God, 99103. Ramm, Special Revelation and the Word of God, 1035; Erickson, Christian Theology, 22123; Pinnock, Biblical Revelation, 21415; Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Dispensationalism Today, 3336, 4243.

6 II. THE MODES OF SPECIAL REVELATION8 A. The Locus Classicus on the Modalities, Hebrews 1:12 1. The Source of Revelation

2. The Stages of Revelation

B. A Survey of the Modalities 1. The Lot (Prov. 16:33; Acts 1:2126)

2. The Urim and Thummim (Ex. 28:30; 1 Sam. 28:6)

Abraham Kuyper, Principles of Sacred Theology, 481505; James Orr, Revelation and Inspiration, 79 87; Louis Berkhof, Introductory Volume to Systematic Theology, 13436; Benjamin B. Warfield, The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, 8396; idem., Revelation, in ISBE, 4 (1939): 257782; Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology, rev. ed., 6976; Bernard Ramm, Special Revelation and the Word of God, 4448; A. Oepke, ajpokaluvptw, in TDNT, 3 (1965): 571.

7 3. A Deep Sleep (Job 4:13; 33:15)

4. The Dream (Gen. 37:56; Dan. 7:1; see Gen. 41:1; Dan. 2:1)

5. The Vision (Isa. 1:1; Dan. 8:1; Joel 2:28; Matt. 17:9)

6. The Theophanies a. The Angel of the Lord (Gen. 16:7, 13; 24:7; Mal. 3:1)

8 b. The rapturous vision of God (Ex. 33:1723; Isa. 6:15; Ezek. 1:26; Dan. 7:910; Rev. 4:23)

c. Supernatural phenomena (Gen. 15:17; Ex. 3:2; 19:9, 1617; 33:9)

d. Signs/symbols (Ex. 2540; Num. 9:15)

7. Angels (Dan. 7:10; Acts 7:39; Gal. 3:19)

9 8. Historical Events

9. Divine Speech a. Inaudible speech

b. Audible speaking

c. Concursive inspiration

10. Incarnation

10 Christ revealed God in three ways: a. In His speaking (John 17:14)

b. In His character (John 12:45; 14:9)

c. In His redemptive acts (1 John 4:9, 10; Rom. 6:4)

C. The Importance of the Modalities 1. The Crucial Value of the True Modalities

2. The Spurious Use of the True Modalities (Deut. 18:2021)

3. The Perverse Use of the False Modalities (Deut. 18:912)

11 III. THE PRODUCT OF SPECIAL REVELATION9 A. The Place of Holy Scripture

B. The Necessity of Holy Scripture

C. The Purpose of Holy Scripture

Conclusion:

Ram, Special Revelation and the Word of God, 6369, 12587; Erickson, Christian Theology, 22123; Pinnock, Biblical Revelation, 3337; Ned B. Stonehouse, Special Revelation as Scriptural, in Revelation and the Bible, ed. Carl F. H. Henry, 7386.