November 1, 2023

Gleanings

The Gift of Specific Revelation

Gerald R. Chester, Ph.D.

The story of the apostle Paul’s journey to Malta was rife with challenges (Acts 27). The journey was long and arduous sailing, battling unfavorable winds. The last two weeks were the most challenging as the ship was caught in a violent storm. Fear gripped all 276 people on board, even among the Roman soldiers who were escorting Paul. Without divine intervention, all seemed to be lost. Disaster and death were looming.

This story is also imagery for life—full of unexpected, vexing challenges. The trip from Caesarea to the island of Malta took months. Travel was difficult; there were many uncertainties. During the last two weeks, the lives of all on board the ship were at risk because of being caught in a fierce storm. But in reality, all was under divine control. The will of the Lord was accomplished. This is a picture for us. Paul lived through this with grace and favor because he knew the Lord. One of the keys was that Paul was given specific revelation from God about his will for the trip.

At his sovereign pleasure, God chose to use revelation to communicate with humanity. The foundation of Christian epistemology is divine revelation. Humans cannot know anything without divine revelation of truth. And the common tool to discern truth—reason based on sense perception—is a gift from God.

Commonly, theologians separate divine revelation into two categories—general and special. General revelation refers to what can be known through creation, using reason based on sense perception and heuristic experience (trial and error). Rudimentary truth is available to all mankind through general revelation by common grace. This revelation is limited and is not salvific. Some examples are:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1 ESV)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:18–20 ESV)

The second category of revelation is special revelation. This is God's written revelation given through Scripture as illuminated by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13 and 1 Corinthians 2:14), who also uses reason based on sense perception and heuristic experience. Special revelation is canonical and salvific. Special revelation is inspired by God as explained by Paul to his spiritual son Timothy.

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)

But there is a third type of revelation found in Scripture. I call it specific revelation because it is given to a specific person(s) in a specific circumstance at a specific time. Consequently, this revelation is neither canonical for others nor salvific for anyone. There are several examples of specific revelation in the book of Acts. For example, Ananias and Sapphira sold an asset and falsely claimed to present all the proceeds to the apostles. They were not obligated to give all the proceeds but claimed that they did. Peter knew they lied. How would he have known? Most likely, through specific revelation. Here is the story.

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God." When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. (Acts 5:1–5 ESV)

Sometimes specific revelation is conveyed by the Holy Spirit (the Spirit) as illustrated by the following examples from Acts.

The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. (Acts 11:12 NIV)

One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) (Acts 11:28 NIV)

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:2 NIV)

It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements. (Acts 15:28 NIV)

When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. (Acts 16:7 NIV)

In another situation, specific revelation was spoken by the Lord in a vision.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." (Acts 18:9−10 NIV)

And on other occasions, specific revelation was provided through an angel.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. (Acts 12:7 NIV)

"For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'" (Acts 27:23−24 ESV)

Specific revelation may be delivered by request or promise or at the sovereign purview of God as illustrated below.

Request: On two separate occasions, David prayed seeking guidance from the Lord to respond to the military threat posed by his enemy (2 Samuel 5:19, 23).

Promise: Jesus promised his disciples that when they were brought before the authorities because of him, they were not to be concerned because in that moment, he would communicate what they needed to say (Luke 12:11–12).

Sovereignly given: Sometimes specific revelation was communicated at the sovereign pleasure of God without any human request, as happened with the apostle Paul in Acts 27:23–24.

In the latter text, Paul was on his journey to Rome in the custody of Roman soldiers. The ship was caught in a violent storm. All hope of surviving waned, but Paul was given specific revelation. Luke wrote the following:

"For this very night there stood before me (Paul) an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'" (Acts 27:23–24 ESV)

Paul’s confidence in the mercy of God to spare everyone on the ship was emboldened through the specific revelation.

Specific revelation clarifies, comforts, corrects, and guides. It can correct observations gleaned through general revelation using reason based on sense perception and heuristic experience. In the case of the apostle Paul on his journey to Malta, prior to being caught in the storm, he warned the leaders on the ship, probably based on heuristic experience, that physical life could be lost if the ship left Fair Havens on the island of Crete instead of wintering there. But later in the voyage, he received specific revelation clarifying that no life would be lost (Acts 27:10, 23–24).

Specific revelation is a wonderful gift from God to guide and protect his people. It is another expression of divine grace and love. May we receive this gift with humility and gratitude when it is extended.