Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
For Calvin, "revelation is not immediately revelation of Jesus Christ. But revelation of the harsh judgment of God, although this is certainly finally oriented to Christ."
Basically, Calvin did not have any revelation problem as the center of his theology. He began with the reality that a person is alienated from God, but that God seeks the individual out and entices him/her to a way in which community with God may be discovered again. Calvin argued sin has damaged human reason; that not only do reason's limitations have to be overcome, but reason's inescapable disorientation also. Something, Calvin explained, has gone fundamentally wrong with the noetic machinery of the human mind.
To understand Calvin's argument, Steinmetz purports, one may find it helpful to distinguish the three following terms:
The natural knowledge of God, natural theology and theology of nature.
Calvin proposed the question of whether humans possess a natural knowledge of God, with the answer being: Yes. Another consideration Calvin presented in question form merited a No answer:
Can humans arrange what they know from nature into an intelligible pattern known as, natural theology
The third question Calvin posed addressed whether the redeemed, and only redeemed human create a genuine theology of nature by reclaiming nature as a constructive source of the true knowledge of God. This answer, Calvin also explained was: Yes. God continues to be transcendent at each point of contact with the universe, Calvin taught. The world, albeit serves as the theater of God's glory. In regard to world religions. Calvin noted, wherever humans live, they will practice some form of religion. Calvin, however did not perceive that all humans instinctively worshiped the true God. Calvin utilized three particular images to describe concepts relating to revelation. "The first image compared what fallen human beings can learn about God from nature to the scattered sparks that dot the ground around a dying campfire."
The sparks do not project heat or light unless they are raked together.
Consequently, unless the sparklike moments of discernment fallen humanity is capable of are drawn together into an intelligible pattern, they do not kindle affection or insight Calvin's second image compares a lonely countryside's darkness to a brewing storm. Thick clouds cover the moon and the stars, with sudden flashes of lightning providing the only light to the traveler crossing a meadow. Momentary flashes of light, however, prove to be superior to having no light at all. These revelations of light, albeit, serve more to warn of the traveler's predicament than providing a useful guide out of it. Calvin's third image most likely proves to be the most effective, as he compared sinners to an old man with eyesight dimmed by age. To ensure the old man can see, someone hands him a book. He cannot, however read it. The only way he can read the words is when someone hands him his glasses. In a similar sense, fallen humans cannot read the book of nature, and learn about God Scripture serving as glasses to assist them. Eyes blurred by sin can barely see the self-revelation of God in nature.
Revelation occurs, Calvin asserted, as humans "see scattered sparks of truth, momentary flashes of illumination, and blurred pages from the book of nature." Sinners who try to construct a natural theology that points to the true God, out of the fragments Calvin noted, they only assemble a picture of an idol, a deity not really God, but merely a cheap substitute for the one and only true God.
CONCLUSION
From the study completed during this thesis, the researcher notes that Calvin perceived that all humans do not instinctively worship the true God. Bloeshch, on the other hand, opens himself to all religions.
Bloeschs, unlike Calvin is critical of Scripture. Calvin purports Scripture to be God's word, to be read literally.
Both Bloeshch and Calvin, note the value of revelation. Both men also agree upon the primary focus of the revelation of God. Both men, although as the thesis purports, diametrically differ on revelation, per se, as well as how it occurs, both agree that the revelation of God is seen in Jesus Christ.
Works Cited antithesis. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/antithesis.Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
A antithesis. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. Aavailable at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/antithesis.Internet. Accessed 09.March 2009.
A antithesis. Random House, Inc. Available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/antithesis.Internet. Accessed 09.March 2009.
Bloesch, Donald G. "Deconstructing Evangelicalism: Conservative Protestantism in the Age of Billy Graham." The Christian Century, 31 May 2005, 39+. Database online. Available from Questia, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5009553421.Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
Holy Scripture: Revelation, Inspiration & Interpretation. InterVarsity Press, 2005; Introduction. Available at http://books.google.com/books?id=dYP2yehSASoC.Internet. Accessed 10 March 2009.
Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for apokalypsis (Strong's 602)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 11 Mar 2009; www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G602&t=KJV%20%3e.Internet. Accessed 10 March 2009.
Dictionary and Word Search for '"revelation" in the KJV." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 11 Mar 2009. Available at http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=%22revelation%22&t=KJV.Internet. Accessed 10 March 2009.
Engelsma, David J. Holy Scripture: Revelation, Inspiration & Interpretation by Donald G. Bloesch. InterVarsity Press, 1994. Available at http://www.prca.org/prtj/apr96e.html#analysis.Internet....
Accessed 6 March 2009. www.prca.org/prtj/nov2005.htm" the Last Things: Resurrection, Judgment, Glory, by Donald G. Bloesch. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity, 2004; available at http://www.prca.org/prtj/nov2005.htm. Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
Hooker, Richard. John Calvin. World Civilizations Home Page, 1999. Available at http://wsu.edu/~dee/REFORM/CALVIN.HTM. Internet. Accessed 11 March 2009.
Mann, Mark. Donald G. Bloesch: Mann Quick Notes.., 1997. Available at http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/courses/mwt/dictionary/mwt_theme%09829_bloesch.htm. Internet. Accessed 10 March 2009.
Steinmetz, David C. "Creator God: The Debate on Intelligent Design." The Christian Century, 27 December 2005, 27+. Database online. Available from Questia, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5014438373.Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
A synthesis. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006. Available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/synthesis?qsrc=2888.Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
A synthesis. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. Available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/synthesis.Internet. Accessed March 11, 2009.
A thesis. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006; available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thesis;Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
A thesis. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. Available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thesis.Internet. Accessed March 11, 2009.
A van der Kooi, Cornelis. Donald Mader, Translator. As in a mirror: John Calvin and Karl
Barth on knowing God: a diptych. BRILL, 2005. Available at http://books.google.com/books?id=mwpfxCAQCDkC.Internet. Accessed 11 March 2009.
Donald G. Bloesch. Holy Scripture: Revelation, Inspiration & Interpretation. InterVarsity Press, 2005; Introduction; available at http://books.google.com/books?id=dYP2yehSASoC;Internet. Accessed 10 March 2009.
Richard Hooker. John Calvin. World Civilizations Home Page, 1999; available at http://wsu.edu/~dee/REFORM/CALVIN.HTM;Internet. Accessed 11 March 2009.
Mark Mann. Donald G. Bloesch: Mann Quick Notes. 1997; available at http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/courses/mwt/dictionary/mwt_themes_829_bloesch.htm#Donald%20G.%20Bloesch:%20Mann%20Quick%20Notes;Internet. Accessed 10 March 2009.
A thesis. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006; available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thesis;Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
A thesis. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian; available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thesis;Internet; Accessed March 11, 2009.
A antithesis. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006; available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/antithesis;Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
A antithesis. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian; available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/antithesis;Internet. Accessed 09.March 2009.
A antithesis. Random House, Inc. available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/antithesis;Internet. Accessed 09.March 2009.
A antithesis. Random House.
A synthesis. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2006; available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/synthesis?qsrc=2888;Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
A synthesis. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian; available at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/synthesis;Internet. Accessed 09.March 2009.
Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for '"revelation" in the KJV." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 11 Mar 2009; available at http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?
Criteria=%22revelation%22&t=KJV; Internet; accessed 10 March 2009.
Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for apokalypsis (Strong's 602)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 11 Mar 2009; available at http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G602&t=KJV;Internet. Accessed 10 March 2009.
Donald G.
Bloesch. "Deconstructing Evangelicalism: Conservative Protestantism in the Age of Billy Graham." The Christian Century, 31 May 2005, 39+. Database online; available from Questia, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=500955342;Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
Mann.
Bloesch. Holy Scripture... Introduction.
Bloesch. Holy Scripture... p. 15.
Bloesch. Holy Scripture... pp. 14-15.
Bloesch. Holy Scripture... p. 15.
Engelsma, David J. Holy Scripture: Revelation, Inspiration & Interpretation. InterVarsity Press, 1994; available at http://www.prca.org/prtj/apr96e.html#analysis;Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
David J. Engelsma. www.prca.org/prtj/nov2005.htm" the Last Things: Resurrection, Judgment, Glory, by Donald G. Bloesch. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity, 2004; available at http://www.prca.org/prtj/nov2005.htm;Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
Cornelis van der Kooi; Donald Mader, Translator. As in a mirror: John Calvin and Karl Barth on knowing God: a diptych. BRILL, 2005; available at http://books.google.com/books?id=mwpfxCAQCDkC;Internet. Accessed 11 March 2009.
A van der Kooi, p. 40.
David C. Steinmetz. "Creator God: The Debate on Intelligent Design." The Christian Century, 27 December 2005, 27+. Database online; available from Questia, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5014438373;Internet. Accessed 6 March 2009.
Steinmetz.
Mann.
Hooker.
The author expresses this when he describes the church as "neither cold or hot." It is easy to fall into the patterns of Christianity, thus becoming neither hot or cold. The author cautions the church in Laodicea that going through the motions of Christianity will cause it to be spit out of the mouth of God on Judgment Day. "17 for you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and
Age, race open. I'd like to chat so if you're interested. M4W: Are you ready to truly be happy? Me too...glad I found you - (Almost) 39 Are you looking for a man to treat you like you have never been treated before? Do you want a man who can't wait to hurry and get home to you at the end of the day and wrap his arms around you like
Revelation" by Flannery O'Connor "God's Grace via Violence" is a Major, Controversial Theme in Flannery O'Connor's Work Born in Savannah, Georgia on March 25, 1925 and deceased from Lupus at the age of 39, (Gordon), Flannery O'Connor led a brief but meaningful literal and literary life. Praised for attaining "an excellence not only of action but of interior disposition and activity' that struggled to reflect the goodness and love of God"
Everything That Rises Meets Good Country PeopleThe characters and situations of Flannery O�Connor�s stories give a unique glimpse into a grotesque world of the South�a world that O�Connor used to draw meaning about the moment of grace that touches and changes characters� lives forever (Fitzgerald). To do this, she often focused on the relationship between mystery and manners in everyday Southerners� lives, but did so in a way that relied
The book highlights the actions of the divine, rather than the actions of man. However, if one takes the historical interpretation of the Book of Revelation, the moral content is not lessened. It then stands as an example of what happens to one if they continue to act in a certain way. It is another example of God's punishment and wrath for those that do not obey his word. In
Her insistence of turning down the dirt road is what gets the family into trouble. She expects the family to do things her way and she expects everyone to live by her standards. She thinks much of herself and her heritage and tells John, "I wouldn't talk about my native state that way" (O'Connor 1938). When his comment to her is "Tennessee is just a hillbilly dumping ground" (1938),