How God Reveals Himself

Does God reveal Himself in the Bible? How do we understand the Bible? How was the Bible composed? Studying God’s revelation of Himself in the Bible is called bibliology.

How God Reveals Himself

God reveals Himself to humans in various ways, generally in His creation and specially in other ways. One of those special forms of self-disclosure is the Bible. Let’s first look at general revelation.

1. General Revelation

Does all creation broadcast abundant and compelling evidence for God’s existence?

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4 NIV)

Do people suppress the truth of God’s existence? Do highly educated, very intelligent people bury the ubiquitous evidence for God under a cloud of excuses?

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:18-20 NASB)

Are the basics of God’s law universally instinctive throughout human cultures?

Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. (Romans 2:14-15 NLT)

Does God still lovingly provide even for those who ignore the obvious natural witnesses of His existence and instead worship things made by mankind?

… God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (Acts 14:15-17 NKJV)

How much information about God can we discover without extra revelation?

2. Special Revelation

Does God provide us with special revelation beyond what we can observe with our eyes or that human culture can discover naturally?

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. (John 5:39-40 NIV)

Must God condescend to and accommodate our limited human abilities? Does God reveal His will in special ways?

Dreams

Has God revealed Himself in dreams?

But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman." (Genesis 20:3 NIV)

Visions

Has God revealed Himself in visions, something seen in an ecstatic state?

Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, "Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great." (Genesis 15:1 NLT)

Theophanies

Has God used a theophany, a visible manifestation of Himself?

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him… I am the commander of the army of the Lord… Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13-15 ESV)

Divine Speech

Has God revealed Himself in voice only?

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? (Job 38:1-2 NASB)

Special Acts

Has God revealed Himself in special acts?

And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses. (Exodus 14:31 KJV)

Jesus Christ

Is God revealed in Jesus?

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:18 NKJV)

The Bible

Is the Bible a written form of special revelation? Is all of it inspired, even the parts that some people avoid?

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)