Knowing God
Running head: KNOWING GOD
Knowing God
Module 2 Essay
Sheila D. White
Grand Canyon University
HTH 505
April 18, 2013
Knowing God: The Doctrine Of Revelation Theology is "the instruction concerning God" or "the deliberation of God."(Grenz, 2000, p.2) It endeavors to disclose the identity of God, the habitation of God, and the character, origin, position and importance of God. Humans commonly acquire information in three ways: through their senses, through their logic/reasoning, and through their faith which denotes confidence in the information given by another.(www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/theology/02rev.html) Theologians posit that knowledge of God is acquired through divine self-disclosure, e.g., God reveals Himself to humans. He does so by means of general revelation and special revelation. This paper will explain how the doctrine of revelation, general, reveals the issue of knowing God; provide the origins of knowledge: and furnish the challenges confronted in acquiring knowledge of God. In addition, it will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of identifying truth about God through general revelation.
General Revelation General revelation is sometimes referred to as natural revelation- the disclosure of God in nature, in providential history. and in the moral law within the heart, whereby all persons at all times and places gain a rudimentary understanding of the Creator and His moral demands.(Thomas, Robert L., 1998, pp. 5-6)
The gist of general revelation lies in the fact that all humans are created in the image/likeness of God, exist in God's creation and have the certainty of God imprinted on their sensibilities. This is a non-verbal, non-saving phenomenon which fails to guide anyone to salvation awareness of God. What general revelation accomplishes is "religion" - the comprehensive acknowledgement of humans to the closeness of God in creation, e.g., humans come to know God through the examination of nature. Consequently, it is
Knowing God
Module 2 Essay
Sheila D. White
Grand Canyon University
HTH 505
April 18, 2013
Knowing God: The Doctrine Of Revelation Theology is "the instruction concerning God" or "the deliberation of God."(Grenz, 2000, p.2) It endeavors to disclose the identity of God, the habitation of God, and the character, origin, position and importance of God. Humans commonly acquire information in three ways: through their senses, through their logic/reasoning, and through their faith which denotes confidence in the information given by another.(www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/theology/02rev.html) Theologians posit that knowledge of God is acquired through divine self-disclosure, e.g., God reveals Himself to humans. He does so by means of general revelation and special revelation. This paper will explain how the doctrine of revelation, general, reveals the issue of knowing God; provide the origins of knowledge: and furnish the challenges confronted in acquiring knowledge of God. In addition, it will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of identifying truth about God through general revelation.
General Revelation General revelation is sometimes referred to as natural revelation- the disclosure of God in nature, in providential history. and in the moral law within the heart, whereby all persons at all times and places gain a rudimentary understanding of the Creator and His moral demands.(Thomas, Robert L., 1998, pp. 5-6)
The gist of general revelation lies in the fact that all humans are created in the image/likeness of God, exist in God's creation and have the certainty of God imprinted on their sensibilities. This is a non-verbal, non-saving phenomenon which fails to guide anyone to salvation awareness of God. What general revelation accomplishes is "religion" - the comprehensive acknowledgement of humans to the closeness of God in creation, e.g., humans come to know God through the examination of nature. Consequently, it is
References: Bolt, John. (2011). Getting the "two books" straight: with a little help from Herman Bavinck and John Calvin. Calvin Theological Journal 46 no. 2 Nov. 2011, p. 315-332. Retrieved March 11, 2013 from ATLA Religion Database with ATLA Serials. Dockery, David. (1991). Revelation of God. Holman Bible Dictionary. Retrieved April 18, 2013 from http://wwwstudylight.org/dic/Hbd/viewcgi?numberT5333. Grenz, Stanley J. (2000). Theology for the community of God. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdman Publishing Co. Has God spoken? the doctrine of revelation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2013 from http://www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/theology/02rev.html Holy Bible, The. (New International Version).(2009). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Richards, Stephen A. (1999). Religious experience: an introduction. Retrieved March 11, 2013 from http://www.thatreligiousstudieswebsite.com/Religious_Studies/Phil_of_Rel/God/religiou s_experience_intro.php_religiousexperienceanintroduction.that religiousstudieswebsite. Thomas, Robert L. (1998). General revelation and biblical hermeneutics. The Master 's Seminary Journal 9/1, Spring 1998, pp. 5-23. Retrieved March 11, 2013 from ATLA Religion Database with ATLA Serials.