General Revelation

Matt Waymeyer has posted the following excellent outline on general revelation on his blog.

The Definition of General Revelation

General revelation is the universal self-disclosure of God by which He makes Himself known to all people everywhere (Ps 19:1-6; Rom 1:18-23; 2:14-15; Acts 14:17).

The Means of General Revelation

1. God’s Creation (Ps 19:1-6; Rom 1:19-21)

• the heavens (Ps 19:1-4a)
• the sun (Ps 19:4b-6)
• the world (Rom 1:20a)
• “what has been made” (Rom 1:20b)

2. God’s Provision (Acts 14:17)

• the provision of rain (Acts 14:17a)
• the provision of fruitful seasons (Acts 14:17b)
• the provision of food (Acts 14:17c)

3. Man’s Conscience (Rom 2:14-15)

• “the Law written in their hearts” (Rom 2:15a)
• “their conscience bearing witness” (Rom 2:15b)

The Audience of General Revelation

1. All Men without Exception

• “all the earth” (Ps 19:4a)
• “to the end of the world” (Ps 19:4b)
• “nothing is hidden from its heat” (Ps 19:6)

2. All Men without Distinction

• Jew and Gentile (Rom 2:14-15; Acts 14:17)
• Righteous and Wicked (Acts 14:17; cf. Matt 5:45)

The Content of General Revelation

1. The Existence of God (Rom 1:19-25)

• “His divine nature” (20)
• “they knew God” (21)
• “the truth of God” (25)

2. The Glory of God (Ps 19:1a; Rom 1:19-23)

• “the glory of God” (Ps 19:1a)
• “the glory of the incorruptible God” (Rom 1:23)
• “that which is known about God” (Rom 1:19)
• “His invisible attributes” (Rom 1:20)

3. The Power of God (Ps 19:1b; Rom 1:20)

• “the work of His hands” (Ps 19:1b)
• “His eternal power” (Rom 1:20)

4. The Goodness of God (Acts 14:17)

• “He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good”

5. The Law of God (Rom 2:14-15)

• “the things of the Law” (14)
• “the work of the Law” (15)

The Outcome of General Revelation

1. The Comprehension of Truth (Rom 1:19-21)

• what “is known about God is evident within them” (19a)
• “God made it evident to them” (19b)
• “they knew God” (21)

2. The Suppression of Truth (Rom 1:18-25)

• “men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (18)
• “they did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (21)
• “they became futile in their speculations” (21b)
• “their foolish heart was darkened” (21c)
• “they became fools” (22)
• “exchanged glory of incorruptible God for image” (23)
• “exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (25)
• “worshiped/served creature rather than Creator” (25)

3. The Culpability of Unbelievers (Rom 1:18-23)

• “so that they are without excuse” (20)

The Limitations of General Revelation

1. Not Detailed in its Content (Ps 19; Rom 1-2; Acts 14:17)

• the existence of God (Rom 1:19-25)
• the glory of God (Ps 19:1a; Rom 1:19-23)
• the power of God (Ps 19:1b; Rom 1:20)
• the goodness of God (Acts 14:17)
• the law of God (Rom 2:14-15)

2. Not Salvific in its Effect (Rom 1:20; cf. 10:14)

• fails to save the unbeliever (1:20; cf. 10:14)
• renders him “without excuse” before God (1:20)