What is Revelation?

Continuing our study in Berkhof's Summary of Christian Doctrine, we now come to the topic of Revelation.  The topic is of greatest importance in that it provides the origin of religion altogether.  In other words, without revelation, there would be no religion.  Berkhof writes, "Man could not possibly have had any knowledge of God, if God had not made Himself known."

There are two types of revelation - general and special.

General Revelation.  General revelation comes before special revelation in point of time.  In it, God does not speak verbally to His creation "but in the facts, the forces, and the laws of nature, in the constitution and operation of the human mind, and in the facts of experience and history" (Ps. 19:1, 2; Rom 1:19, 20; 2:14, 15).

General revelation is insufficient to bring about salvation.  This is not God's fault but man's, it "being obscured by the blight of sin resting on God's beautiful creation." Berkhof continues, "While it conveys some knowledge of the goodness, the wisdom, and the power of God, it conveys no knowledge whatever of Christ as the only way of salvation."

This does not mean, however, that general revelation has no value at all.  It is essential in forming the "background for God's special revelation."  Without the facts, laws and history of language, people, communication and the like, there would be no ground for special revelation to stand on.  Here we see the two are inseparable in nature, all-the-while carrying certain essential distinctions.

Special Revelation.  Special Revelation is now embodied in the Scriptures.  It is essential and necessary because of the entrance of sin into the world.  Berkhof comments, "God's handwriting in nature was obscured and corrupted, and man was stricken with spiritual blindness, became subject to error and unbelief...Therefore it became necessary that God should re-interpret the truths of nature...and should illumine the mind of man and redeem it from the power of error."

The principal aspect of the character of special revelation is that it is a revelation of redemption.  The Doctor writes, "It reveals the plan of God for the redemption of sinners and of the world, and the way in which this plan is realized.  It is instrumental in renewing man; it illumines his mind and inclines his will to that which is good; it fills him with holy affections, and prepares him for his heavenly home."

Our Scriptures are amazingly powerful in that they not only illumine the mind, but they enlighten the heart to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  As they enter through the senses, they effect change through the soul.

I might add a note concerning this small book.  It is about 200 pages and is refreshingly simple and succinct.  It is not, however, exhaustive; but serves to be more of a primer to wet the appetite for a fuller meal!