Further Study: Revelation, and the God Revealed in It
Read Ellen G. White,
“Danger in Speculative Knowledge,” pp. 427-438, in The Ministry of Healing; “The Word Made Flesh,”pp. 746-749, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5; “Preface” and “Introduction,” pp. 5-7, in The Great Controversy.
“God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by human agencies, and He Himself, by His Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do this work. He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, nonetheless, from Heaven. The testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language, yet it is the testimony of God; and the obedient, believing child of God beholds in it the glory of a divine power, full of grace and truth.
“In His word, God has committed to men the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience. ‘Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.’ 2 Timothy 3:16-17.”-Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 8, 9.
Discussion Questions
- How confident can we be about our conclusions concerning God apart from information we may obtain from the Bible? Is there any room at all for an understanding of God from other sources? If so, what are those sources, and how can we be sure that the information they give us is correct?
- Why is any worldview that denies the supernatural in fatal contradiction to the Word of God?
- Science and technology have, in many ways, been a great blessing to humanity. In some ways, too, science has helped us to better understand the power of God (for instance, look at what it has shown us about the utter complexity of life!). What, though, are the obvious limits to what science can teach us about God? When, too, can science work against a true understanding of God?
- Why is the doctrine of a triune God (no matter how difficult to understand) so important to us as Seventh-day Adventists? Think what it would mean, for instance, if Christ were anything other than fully God?
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Revelation and Inspiration in Communication and Action
"The word"(ho logos) in Joh. 1:1 is actually masculine and from the outset a person, Christ in communion with the Father. We are not informed about the content of that conversation. However, the outcome is revealed in creation (vers 2).
A second outcome of that divine conversation is seen in redemption as the word became flesh and dwelt among us (vers 14). God is a God of communication and action. No speculative knowledge is revealed. It`s all about creation and restoring creation corrupted by sin, which is salvation.
Revelation and inspiration is not an end in itself. It cannot be contained within a match box. It calls for ever widening circles of communication in proclamation, filled with the Holy Spirit, to give convincing power of that testimony.
Winfried Stolpmann, Germany