How would you say God “speaks” to mankind?
If you started asking people, you would get answers ranging from Scripture, prayer, and angels, to nature, dreams, and inner voices. All of these, and numerous others, are aspects of “Divine Revelation”—ways that God has revealed Himself to humanity throughout history.
The dangerous thing about divine revelation is that it’s hard to prove or disprove. As a result, people have been known to say and do some of the most outlandish things, all because “God told them to.” Wars have been started, and whole nations of people slaughtered, all because someone, somewhere thought God was telling them to do so. (Yes, many such accounts are found in Scripture. We’ll deal with that later.)
A Hierarchy of Revelation
Somewhere along the way, some people got tired of arguing about what God really said, and who really was “hearing from God” or not, and so they decided to organize and categorize all the various forms of divine revelation, and create a hierarchy. Typically, out of all the various forms of revelation, Scripture is placed at the very top. When it comes to hearing from God, Scripture is the “king of the hill.”
So, for example, if you look at the divine revelation in nature and see bulls impregnating as many heifers as possible, and think that you can do the same thing, someone can step in with a passage from Scripture which says this is not the way for humans to behave (e.g. 1 Cor 7:2).
The hierarchy of revelation helps Scripture become the revelation “trump card.” It overrules the other forms of revelation. Below is a broad hierarchy of Divine Revelation.
But first, Divine Revelation is broadly divided into General Revelation (available to all people, everywhere, throughout time), and Special Revelation (a unique message directly from God to a certain person or people group). Special Revelation is considered to be more reliable and accurate, and is therefore the standard by which the other forms of revelation are judged.
Special Revelation
- Scripture
- Jesus Christ
- Church
- Prophecy
- Angels
- Dreams/Visions
- Miracles
- Inner Voice of God
General Revelation
- Conscience
- History
- Nature
There is a lot more to be said about all of these forms of revelation, but for now, what do you think of this hierarchy? Was it wise for theologians to develop it? Is it legitimate? Are there dangers or problems with such a hierarchy?
I tend to think of general revelation in its own little world, but perhaps that’s a wrong way to think about it.
I do think that classifying and adding a hierarchy to revelation is wise to a point. It’s crucial that we understand scripture’s absolute dominance in this area, but after that – it’s more of a loose arrangement.
Agreed, but the general rule of thumb is if it goes against the revealed word of God, and no one else in your community can affirm it, it can be deemed as false
Many take that stance. Scripture at the top (WAY at the top). Everything else thrown in a pot down at the very bottom.
I haven’t decided yet if I am going to argue for or against this idea… So keep checking back!
Well, because that list isn’t in the Bible, I take it with a grain of salt, regardless of how good the list may be.Thingk of Joseph, Jesus’ father. He could look through scripture all day long and find nothing to prove Mary was telling the truth. For example, if my wife gave birth to a Chinese baby, I would seriously question her fidelity. She could say the “Inner voice of God” told her she was going to give birth to a Chinese baby. That’s #8 on the list! So is its truthfulness more in question? If she said God told her directly in a flash of light, but my own self-worth was so low that I believed her, would that mean God really told her? Joseph should have been on the list of the faithful in Hebrews. I was taught that any revelation that goes against the revealed word of God is false. But there are many things in the Bible itself that go against itself!
I like the way you are thinking here!
Jeremy,
I would think by putting scripture at the top of the list just makes people worship the book instead of who the book is about.
God told me to write that…
Swanny
Tell God he is wrong.
…I’m kidding!!!
Yes, putting the Bible at the top does cause it to be worshiped by some. But then if not Scripture, what is at the top of the list of revelations from God?
It seems to me the question should not be about a level of trustworthiness. Rather, we ought to ask how we should evaluate any claim of revelation. All of those forms of revelation are valid, and if nature and dreams are in conflict, what is to say that dreams trump nature? Both are valid in the Scriptures. Rather, both must be weighted against a standard. So, we ought to look at all forms of revelation as valid, and weigh them against a set standard. Without going into depth, that standard MUST be the Scriptures.
Cory,
I am not trying to be contentious, but exactly what “scripture” is the standard? Is it the Catholics understanding of scripture, as they have had the longest to work on that understanding. Could it be the Presbeterian, the Baptist, the Pentacostal, maybe some other. Or do you mean a particular translation, KJV, or NASB, or maybe the truly spiritual “original language”.
This is exactly the point of Jeremy’s first posting in the Bibliology section. Every person, and denomination has a different understanding of the “scripture”, and they are all very much convinced of the correctness of their own unique position. When we cry “sola scriptura”, what we really mean is “sola (my particular understanding of the) scriptura”.
I personally believe that the revealed Word should take a very high position in the hierarchy of revelation, but to look at the written Word as an objective standard, ignores the fact that there is so little agreement among believers as to exactly what that written Word actually says. I know you said that you were not going into depth, but I would really like to understand what you mean when you say “that standard MUST be the Scriptures”.
Again,this is not intended to stir controversy, but just to gain an understanding of what you are saying.
In Christ,
FedEx,
President,
Men of Praise Motorcycle Ministry
FedEx,
You took the words right out of a post I will be publishing over the weekend! I really like how you put this.
Thanks for your thoughts. It was not contentious in my opinion, I appreciate your thoughts.
I agree with the need to understand things outside of a particular tradition of interpretation. I also agree that the vast number of interpretations in Church history makes that very difficult, if we are to use the Scriptures as a standard. However, disagreement does not mean the Scriptures are to be disregarded as the standard. The Scripture is objective, and the truth they contain is unchanging, regardless of our differing interpretations. The question, and challenge, then is who is right and weather we are willing to be wrong. It seems to me the posts follow this one are in line with my thinking, but worded in a much better way than I am explaining.
yes
Cory,
I agree with you, but with great caution and many footnotes.
I will try to explain in more detail in future posts. Hang around, as I would love to get your input!
Jeremy,
This is a tough one. I do agree that it is important to have some standard of what revelation is most important. We have preachers today running large ministries and performing “miracle healings” who claim God told them to divorce their wife and marry another woman. Without some objective standard, we can claim that God told us anything and justify (albeit falsely) our own fleshly desires.
I do also agree that there is a risk of idolizing the scriptural text. I also think that since there are so many different ways to translate and understand the written scriptures, “sola scriptura” is really not as objective as it might initially seem. Maybe what we need is a more holistic view of revelation that relies on more than one source of revelation and looks more for consistant patterns than for one single objective standard.
I feel that is is wise to look at God from the viewpoint of several of these forms of revelation. we can then identify consistant patterns which reveal truths agout who God is. When we encounter new revelation, we can check to see if that new revelation aligns with what we can consistantly see and understand about God from all the sources of revelation we already have.
FedEx,
President,
Men of Praise Motorcycle Ministry
Right on! As I mentioned above, you and I are thinking the same thoughts! It’s like you’ve been reading my post drafts before I publish them!
We all seem to agree there is revelation which is to say without the it the discussion is over concerning, general, special, doctrine, translations, etc.Some revelations are testable, “sure word of prophecy,”which clarify at least some essential elements or we are not even talking Christianity anymore,incarnation,vicarious atonement,salvation by grace by faith( a lot of people have a problem with that one which means they may have an even bigger problem) resurrection. it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize straying to far a field into humanistic interpretation of revelation( there is an oxymoron) we can drift way off course. So I ask does revelation have a salient application in your life. For me it contributes to evangelical, and apolgetic efforts. It also is a reminder of the holiness of G-d by virtue of existing in the first place. Also revelation is the least boring thing I can think about and and it contributes greatly to annoying my unbelieving friends.
Elias,
You use Scripture to annoy your unbelieving friends? 😯
re: using scripture to annoy unbelieving friends YES especially unbelieving Jews right out of the OT, it arouses them to jealosy,..also doctrinally challenged replacement theologians (who taught me pre supp apologetics) for example Israel is the adulterous wife of Jehovah, the church is the Virgin Bride of Christ,..so which ones are you guys? they are my friends,..and are accustomed to my “shenanigans”(from old Irish SIONACH – noun – FOX)
As long as they are friends, I hope they understand. Lots of us Christians are “annoying” enough I think, to go and annoy unbelievers. I am sure they understand your sense of humor though.
Two guys I knew in college dated the same young woman. They both wanted to marry her. Unknown to each other they both picked the same night to spend the “night in prayer” regarding whether or not she was the one.
Next morning at breakfast in the campus cafeteria, and that day in their respective classes, each announced to their friends that they had “prayed through” and that God had told (each of) them that they would marry her. Of course this provided a minor sensation on the campus of this small Christian college. As well as I remember, both had “scriptural confirmation” (I think one was the verse about God giving you the desires of your heart – very telling, huh?)
One of them married the young lady. The other guy married someone else.
I have more stories. They all tend to make a similar point, that we often “hear” what we want to hear. In similar fashion, we tend to find what we want in Scripture.
The Bible may be word for word from the mouth of God, every word exactly as God said it (but in which translation, and even in which version of the “original”, since we lack autographs?) I’m fine if it is, but personally don’t need that. My faith does not stand or fall based on that idea.
Scribes and the early church probably added to, changed and deleted material in writings, some of which ended up in the NT (and some that were excluded because they said something those guys disagreed with). That doesn’t bother me. I still find the Bible informative, descriptive and helpful. But I also find other writings such.
Revelation is multifaceted, including the items on your list. However, I think it unwise to place too much reliance on the Bible, especially when there are so many “interpretations”, translations and even variations in the mss.
Great story about the college love triangle! We have all heard similar stories. I am so glad I was wrong about many of the things “God told me” many years ago.
I will be interested to get your input when we start dealing with inspiration and inerrancy next week.
Everyone here should read Frank Viola’s little booklet “Rethinking the Will of God”, it changed my life. But briefly, he explained how our life is like a parking lot. That is God’s will for us. To remain in his Sabbath rest, and we can do whatever we please in the parking lot. We can choose which slot to park our car in, etc. It doesn’t matter. We can live wherever we choose, and it’s still God’s will. We can marry who ever we choose if they are a Christian. However, we need wisdom. I can CHOOSE to marry a psycho, I have the freedom to do that, but is it WISE? I may hate snow, but I choose to be a missionary in Siberia..I would be perfectly in God’s will to do that, but it wouldn’t be wise. He also posed a great point. If a young man was a horny fellow, couldn’t get sex off of his mind, taking a vow of chastity would be VERY unwise! We are given MUCH freedom in our choices, however the IC (institutional church) usually ends up putting guilt on us (I did this myself) Frank has another great book called “Revise Us Again” which brings this topic up again. God doesn’t speak to us about other people as often as we may think. Now unless we definitely heard the voice of God, we should do it.
This is a great book by Frank Viola. As you say it is available for free on his website. It is here: http://www.ptmin.org/books at the bottom of the page.
From my perspective lists are one way man can try to be/stay in control. People like formulas, and lists like this can easily be misinterpreted as being the only way God communicates which can lead people into bondage and take the spontaneity out of relationship. God is not limited to only those ways of communicating.
I find it interesting that ‘inner voice’ is at the bottom of the list, yet from my perspective that would be the most natural of all to take place first with individuals. It’s also interesting that Holy Spirit didn’t even make it to the list, yet He is the one who works in conjunction with Jesus enabling us to communicate in the first place.
Hearing the voice of God is a fascinating topic that brings in the realm of our soul as well as our spirit. It is vital that we learn to know the difference between these two areas otherwise we can deceive ourselves into thinking we have heard from God when it was just our own soulish desires speaking; especially in the early stages of getting to know God.
The more we get to know and understand God, the more we recognize His voice and the way He communicates with us individually and corporately. It really doesn’t matter which way God chooses to speak with us, if there is no peace, a scratchiness on the inside, something doesn’t sit right, or we don’t fully understand what to do with what He is telling us, then something is probably wrong. On those occasions time and prayer are our best friends.
Ha! I could say a lot more on this topic. However, I shall restrain myself and leave you with a link to a relevant blog of mine
http://www.debradaviswrites.com/2016/10/30/why-god-asks-us-questions-when-he-already-knows-the-answer/
I agree in the hierarchy although with divine revelation I would move a few of the list around. Obviously Scripture is the most important. The others on the list can be tricky but with those ( which I’ve experienced a few on the list) it’s important to judge it based on God and His Word because He never contradicts Himself. The only drawback with scripture are the many translations and the fact that in some instances the Greek words used originally doesn’t have an accurate English interpretation so we don’t really get the full meaning of what the author was saying. Also when it comes to stuff like inner voice of God, prophecy, dreams and even podcast scripture I go to people I trust and get their input on it as well
I no longer follow a hierarchy of ‘revelation’ and my sole authority is truly the Spirit of Truth that has been promised to guide and teach us. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice”. He did not say, “You’ll get to read what someone else heard from Me.”
You say “The dangerous thing about divine revelation is that it’s hard to prove or disprove.”
It’s only dangerous when the nature of God is not clearly known or understood. God is LOVE and that should be the period behind every sentence.
How can we tell if a divine revelation or inspiration is from God? Simple, if it looks like Jesus and sets you free (into His freedom) you have truly encountered the Truth that sets free.
I don’t disagree, but I’m sure Eve thought the serpent’s presented fruit looked like truth and set her “free”.