Progressive revelation

Definition

Progressive revelation is the theological concept that God reveals truth gradually over time, with each successive revelation building upon previous ones. This understanding emphasizes that later scriptures or divine communications can provide deeper insights and clarifications regarding earlier messages, often accommodating the cultural and historical context of the audience receiving the revelation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Progressive revelation suggests that understanding of God and His will unfolds over time, leading to a more comprehensive view of divine truths.
2. This concept helps to reconcile apparent contradictions or differences between various biblical texts by placing them within their historical and cultural contexts.
3. It allows for an evolving interpretation of scripture that can adapt to new insights and understandings without discarding earlier revelations.
4. Liberal theologians often embrace progressive revelation to argue that faith can evolve in response to contemporary issues while still being rooted in biblical foundations.
5. In contrast, fundamentalist perspectives might reject progressive revelation, emphasizing a literal interpretation of earlier texts as unchanging truths.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of progressive revelation help in understanding the relationship between the Old and New Testaments?
  • Progressive revelation illustrates how the New Testament builds upon the Old Testament by offering deeper insights into God's nature and intentions. It allows believers to see how Jesus' teachings fulfill and expand upon earlier scriptures, bringing clarity to God's plan for humanity. This perspective encourages an appreciation for both testaments as part of a continuous unfolding of divine truth.
• In what ways might liberal theology utilize progressive revelation to address contemporary ethical dilemmas?
  • Liberal theology often uses progressive revelation to argue that biblical teachings should evolve in response to modern ethical challenges. By emphasizing that God's truth unfolds over time, liberal theologians advocate for interpretations of scripture that reflect current understandings of justice, equality, and morality. This approach allows them to engage with contemporary issues while maintaining a connection to their faith traditions.
• Evaluate the implications of rejecting progressive revelation from a fundamentalist perspective and its effect on biblical interpretation.
  • Rejecting progressive revelation leads fundamentalists to uphold a static view of scripture, where earlier texts are seen as absolute and unchanging truths. This approach can result in a strict literalism that may overlook cultural context and historical development. Consequently, it may create tension between traditional beliefs and contemporary understandings, making it challenging for fundamentalists to engage with modern society while remaining true to their interpretations of faith.

Related terms

Inerrancy: The belief that the scriptures are without error or fault in all their teachings, particularly regarding theology and morality.

Canon: The collection of books that are accepted as authoritative scripture in Christianity, reflecting the process by which certain texts were recognized as divinely inspired.

Revelation: The act of God disclosing knowledge about Himself, His will, or truth to humanity, which can occur through various means such as scripture, nature, or personal experiences.