General revelation
General revelation is a key concept in Christian theology asserting that knowledge of God is accessible to all people through nature and human moral sensibilities. It posits that the existence and order of the natural world reflect a creator, with examples such as the precise conditions necessary for life on Earth serving as evidence of intentional design. The notion of universal morality, where many cultures share similar ethical laws, is seen as further proof of a moral God influencing humankind's conscience.
Christian theologians distinguish between general revelation, available to everyone, and specific revelation, which involves individual experiences or insights into God's nature, often found in religious texts like the Bible. Verses from the Bible, such as those in Psalms and Romans, are cited to support the idea that God's attributes can be perceived in creation. Philosophers have proposed various arguments for God's existence, including the cosmological, teleological, anthropological, and ontological arguments. Overall, general revelation serves as a foundational concept, leading individuals toward deeper understanding and recognition of God's role in humanity and salvation, particularly through the figure of Jesus Christ.
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General revelation
General revelation is a concept in Christian theology that states that knowledge of God is available to all people because it is expressed primarily in nature and in humankind's own moral sensibilities, conscience, and reason. This revelation of a creator God comes indirectly through the observance of God's creation and the way it provides all the things humans need to survive. Revelation through morality and the conscience is demonstrated in a way that many cultures have similar laws regarding how people should act and treat one another. According to the concept of general revelation, the presence of this morality and the extent to which people adhere to these laws, even when there is no threat of legal or other earthly consequences, is proof of God's existence as the source of good and moral behavior.
Background
Christian theology holds that there are two main types of revelation: general revelation and specific revelation. Specific revelation is received by individuals or groups of individuals. This includes prophets and others who are given an understanding of God and his purpose. Specific revelations can come in dreams or visions. Some individuals who have claimed to have had revelations have contributed to writings in the Bible; reading and studying the Bible can also result in specific revelation.
The specific revelations contained in the Bible also provide verification of general revelation, according to theologians. They point to specific verses that address God's role in creation and how the creation (the world and humankind) reflects the power and glory of its creator. Theologians cite Psalm 19, verses 1 through 6, which begins, "The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" (English Standard Version) and continues on to describe other ways nature reflects God's power. They say this is verification of the general revelation that proof of God can be found in nature.
The letter of the apostle Paul to the Romans is cited as verification that this revelation is available to all when it says, "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made" (English Standard Version). Theologians say that this verse indicates that confirmation of God's existence is available to all people through the use of reason, which all humankind possesses. Other Bible verses said to support general revelation include Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17 and 17:24–28, Colossians 1:13, First Corinthians 11:14, and Romans 8:28.
Overview
Theologians define general revelation as the evidence of God that can be seen by all in the way the world is made. The theory holds that the way nature has unfolded throughout history and the many things that had to come together in a precise way for nature and humankind to exist and thrive are proof that God exists. In other words, because these creations exist, it goes without saying there must be a creator.
To illustrate this, some suggest considering a person who had never seen a car before, suddenly seeing one drive up in front of him. It is unlike anything around the person. Even if that person has no familiarity with any other type of technology, his first thought is going to be along the lines of "I wonder who made this amazing thing," not "I wonder how things happened to fall together in this form." There would be an assumption of intention to make the amazing and complicated product in front of them, not an assumption that it was an accidental happening.
General revelation proposes that the same holds true when considering the creation of the world and humankind. The fact that Earth is precisely as far from the sun as it needs to be for life to exist is seen as evidence that it was formed this way on purpose. Also seen as evidence of a creator is the way a healthy human body is in the exact arrangement that is needed for a person to function and thrive. Just as it is not necessary to see any other evidence of an ancient people who carved monuments or built buildings, the existence of the creation is proof of the creator.
Over the ages, philosophers have proposed five arguments in favor of the existence of a supreme being. The cause and effect, or cosmological, argument states that creation could not have come from nothing or created itself; therefore, there must be something—a creator—that caused it to be. The intelligent design, or teleological, argument says that the evidence of order and design to creation is proof that it was created and did not just happen. According to the anthropological argument, the very abilities and intelligence that humankind possesses are proof that humans were created as reflections of a superior God. Others cite the fact that many cultures share a sense that certain behaviors are right, others are wrong, and this common morality is proof of a good and moral God. Finally, the ontological argument (as described by St. Anselm and other philosophers) states that the definition of God as the greatest of all is proof that God exists. Something that exists only in thought cannot be greater than anything that exists in reality; therefore, the fact that God is considered the greatest means that he must exist.
In addition to the proof provided by the form and existence of nature, humankind's ability to reason and act morally is also evidence of God's existence, theologians and philosophers say. The existence of the creation proves the existence of God, the creator. The similarities in morality and reasoning are the revelation of God's nature directly to each individual.
Theologians claim this general revelation is important because it is the first step to receiving special revelation. Recognizing God's presence in creation prepares the person to learn more about God and to recognize that humankind is sinful and falls short of God's plan for creation. According to theologians, this is a necessary precursor for the special revelation that God has provided for humankind's salvation through the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Bibliography
Brown, Gregory. "General Revelation." Bible.org, bible.org/seriespage/2-general-revelation. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
"Catechism on Revelation." Wesleyan Theology, www.wesleyantheology.com/revelation.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Fant, Gene C. The Liberal Arts: A Student's Guide. Crossway, 2012, pp. 60–64.
Horton, David. The Portable Seminary. Bethany House, 2006.
Knoll, Mark, et al. When God & Science Meet: Surprising Discoveries of Agreement. National Association of Evangelicals, 2015.
Sproul, R. C. “What Is General Revelation?” Tabletalk Magazine, 19 Aug. 2022, tabletalkmagazine.com/posts/what-is-general-revelation-2020-01. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Trujillo, Kelli B. "God's Second Book." Today's Christian Woman, 22 July 2015, www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2015/july-22/gods-second-book-faith-science.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Wickman, Leslie. "For God So Loves the Cosmos." Today's Christian Woman, 22 July 2015, www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2015/july-22/for-god-so-loves-cosmos.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.