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Progressive revelation: revealing progress over time
1. Progressive revelation: revealing progress over time
This a start at explaining the idea of progressive revelation.
2. Progressive revelation: revealing progress over time
The idea of "
progressive revelation", in Biblical terms, is that as time progresses (goes forward) , God has revealed his plan and goal. Some type of value has been added.
A fundamental question in any revealing is whether that revealing of information is completely new or just new to the person obtaining that information.
Another question is how a false teacher could use the ideas of "
progressive revelation" to deceive others.
3. Inerrancy and infallibility
The ideas of Biblical inerrancy and Biblical infallibility are related to the idea of progressive revelation.
4. An errant look at Biblical inerrancy and infallibility
Is the Bible without errors?
The word "inerrant" means "without error".
The word "infallible" means "not capable of error".
Some people use the terms interchangeably.
There is no way to know that something is "
without error" or "
not capable of error" so the ideas are assumptions. The danger is that assumptions can be misused.
Inerrancy reasoning fallacy:
How can you find errors in the Bible unless you know what it is supposed to say. Do you have to, in a sense, make yourself God, or become as God, to make these decisions.
5. Progressive revelation
Here we are interested in the idea of "progressive revelation".
Let us first define some terms and look at their etymologies.
6. Matthew 10:26 Revelation
7. Matthew 10:26
KJV: Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Greek: μη ουν φοβηθητε αυτους ουδεν γαρ εστιν κεκαλυμμενον ο ουκ αποκαλυφθησεται και κρυπτον ο ου γνωσθησεται
Latin: ne ergo timueritis eos nihil enim opertum quod non revelabitur et occultum quod non scietur
Wycliffe: Therfor drede ye not hem; for no thing is hid, that schal not be shewid; and no thing is priuey, that schal not be wist.
Tyndale: Feare the not therfore. There is no thinge so close that shall not be openned and no thinge so hyd that shall not be knowen.
8. Mark 15:38 Cover
9. Mark 15:38
KJV: And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
Greek: και το καταπετασμα του ναου εσχισθη εις δυο απο απ ανωθεν εως κατω
Latin: et velum templi scissum est in duo a sursum usque deorsum
Tyndale: And the vayle of the temple dyd rent in two peces from the toppe to the boottome.
Luther: Und der Vorhang im Tempel zerriß in zwei Stücke, von oben an bis unten aus.
10. Revelation of Jesus to John
The Revelation of Jesus to John is a book where Jesus "
reveals" things to John that were previously "
hidden". This is stated in the first verse of Revelation.
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: [kjv]
αποκαλυψις ιησου χριστου ην εδωκεν αυτω ο θεος δειξαι τοις δουλοις αυτου α δει γενεσθαι εν ταχει και εσημανεν αποστειλας δια του αγγελου αυτου τω δουλω αυτου ιωαννη [gnt]
1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. [kjv]
ος εμαρτυρησεν τον λογον του θεου και την μαρτυριαν ιησου χριστου οσα ειδεν [gnt]
11. Revelation 1:1
KJV: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Greek: αποκαλυψις ιησου χριστου ην εδωκεν αυτω ο θεος δειξαι τοις δουλοις αυτου α δει γενεσθαι εν ταχει και εσημανεν αποστειλας δια του αγγελου αυτου τω δουλω αυτου ιωαννη
Latin: apocalypsis Iesu Christi quam dedit illi Deus palam facere servis suis quae oportet fieri cito et significavit mittens per angelum suum servo suo Iohanni
Wycliffe: Apocalips of Jhesu Crist, which God yaf to hym to make open to hise seruauntis, whiche thingis it bihoueth to be maad soone. And he signyfiede, sending bi his aungel to his seruaunt Joon,
Tyndale: The reuelacion of Iesus Christe which god gave vnto him for to shewe vnto his servauntes thinges which muste shortly come to passe. And he sent and shewed by his angell vnto his servaunt Ihon
Luther: Dies ist die Offenbarung Jesu Christi, die ihm Gott gegeben hat, seinen Knechten zu zeigen, was in der Kürze geschehen soll; und hat sie gedeutet und gesandt durch seinen Engel zu seinem Knecht Johannes,
Slavonic: Апокалипсис Иисуса Христа, егоже даде Ему Бог, показати рабом Своим, имже подобает быти вскоре. И сказа, послав чрез Ангела Своего рабу Своему Иоанну,
Russian: Откровение Иисуса Христа, которое дал Ему Бог, чтобы показать рабам Своим, чему надлежит быть вскоре. И Он показал, послав оное через Ангела Своего рабу Своему Иоанну,
Spanish: La revelación de Jesucristo, que Dios le dio, para manifestar a sus siervos las cosas que deben acontecer presto; y la declaró, enviándola por suángel a Juan su siervo,
Portuguese: Revelação de Jesus Cristo. Deus encarregou-o de manifestar aos seus servos as coisas que brevemente devem acontecer e que Ele comunicou pelo anjo que enviou ao seu servo João,
12. Revelation 1:2
KJV: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Greek: ος εμαρτυρησεν τον λογον του θεου και την μαρτυριαν ιησου χριστου οσα τε ειδεν
13. Shortly
The Greek word translated by the
KJV (King James Version) as "
shortly" usually means "
quickly". That is, when it happens, it will happen "
quickly".
14. Revelation 1:1 Revealing an uncovering revelation
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: [kjv]
αποκαλυψις ιησου χριστου ην εδωκεν αυτω ο θεος δειξαι τοις δουλοις αυτου α δει γενεσθαι εν ταχει και εσημανεν αποστειλας δια του αγγελου αυτου τω δουλω αυτου ιωαννη [gnt]
The Greek word for "
hide" is part of the Greek word for
"Revelation" which means
"uncovering" or
"revealing" as in a
"revelation" (the Latin word). The name of the book of Revelation comes from the Greek word for
"uncovering". That ancient Greek word
"ἀποκάλυψις" ≈ "disclose, reveal" and comes from two Greek words.
The ancient Greek word "ἀπο" ≈ "away from" which has the idea of separation from.
The ancient Greek word "καλύπτω" ≈ "cover" which appears to be related or have influenced the meaning of the ancient Greek word "κρύπτω" ≈ "hide" as in the English words "cryptic" and "cryptographic".
15. Strongs - revelation
- *G602 *18 ἀποκάλυψις (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis) : from G601; disclosure:--appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation.
- αποκαλυψιν *7
- Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory ...
- Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
- Romans 16:25 ... of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
- 1 Corinthians 1:7 ... no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 ... hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let ...
- Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them ...
- Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; ...
- αποκαλυψει *5
- 1 Corinthians 14:6 ... to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, ...
- 2 Thessalonians 1:7 ... when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with ...
- 1 Peter 1:7 ... and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
- 1 Peter 1:13 ... that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
- 1 Peter 4:13 ... when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
- αποκαλυψεως *3
- Romans 2:5 ... the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
- Galatians 1:12 ... was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 1:17 ... the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
- αποκαλυψεις
- 2 Corinthians 12:1 ... to visions and revelations of the Lord.
- αποκαλυψεων
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn ...
- αποκαλυψις
- Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave ...
16. Luke
The only place in the Gospels where the word for "
revelation" is used is in Luke.
Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. [kjv]
Note that the modern Greek has changed the
GNT (Greek New Testament) word for "
reveal" to the Middle Age change to "
enlighten".The Latin Vulgate follows the
GNT.
The
OCS (Old Church Slavonic) follows the
GNT while the modern Russian follows the Middle Ages change to "
enlighten".
17. Luke 2:32
KJV: A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Greek: φως εις αποκαλυψιν εθνων και δοξαν λαου σου ισραηλ
Latin: lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israhel
Wycliffe: liyt to the schewyng of hethene men, and glorie of thi puple Israel.
Tyndale: A light to lighten the gentyls and the glory of thy people Israel.
Luther: ein Licht, zu erleuchten die Heiden, und zum Preis deines Volks Israel.
Slavonic: свет во откровение языком, и славу людий Твоих Израиля.
Russian: свет к просвещению язычников и славу народа Твоего Израиля.
Spanish: luz para revelación a los gentiles, y la gloria de tu pueblo Israel.
Portuguese: Luz para se revelar às nações e glória de Israel, teu povo. »
18. Progressive revelation
In order to better define "
progressive revelation" the etymology and meaning of "
progress" is now covered.
19. Progress
The English word
"progress" comes from the Middle English word
"progresse" ≈ "moving forward" which, through French, comes from the Latin word
"progressus" ≈ "advance" which comes from two Latin words.
The Latin prefix "pro" ≈ "forward, before" .
The Latin word "gradi" ≈ "walk, go" as in the English words "grade", "gradient", "retrograde", etc.
Matthew 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. [kjv]
και προελθων μικρον επεσεν επι προσωπον αυτου προσευχομενος και λεγων πατερ μου ει δυνατον εστιν παρελθατω απ εμου το ποτηριον τουτο πλην ουχ ως εγω θελω αλλ ως συ [gnt]
… progressus … [v]
20. Matthew 26:39
KJV: And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Greek: και προελθων μικρον επεσεν επι προσωπον αυτου προσευχομενος και λεγων πατερ μου ει δυνατον εστιν παρελθετω παρελθατω απ εμου το ποτηριον τουτο πλην ουχ ως εγω θελω αλλ ως συ
Latin: et progressus pusillum procidit in faciem suam orans et dicens mi Pater si possibile est transeat a me calix iste verumtamen non sicut ego volo sed sicut tu
21. Grades
The Latin word
"gradi" ≈ "walk, go" as in the English words "
grade", "
gradient", "
retrograde", etc.
Acts 21:35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. [kjv]
οτε δε εγενετο επι τους αναβαθμους συνεβη βασταζεσθαι αυτον υπο των στρατιωτων δια την βιαν του οχλου [gnt]
… gradus … [v]
The German word
"Grad" ≈ "degree" as in a thermometer.
22. Acts 21:35
KJV: And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
Greek: οτε δε εγενετο επι τους αναβαθμους συνεβη βασταζεσθαι αυτον υπο των στρατιωτων δια την βιαν του οχλου
Latin: et cum venisset ad gradus contigit ut portaretur a militibus propter vim populi
Wycliffe: And whanne Poul cam to the grees, it bifel that he was borun of kniytis, for strengthe of the puple.
Tyndale: And whe he came vnto a grece it fortuned that he was borne of the soudiers of the violence of the people.
Luther: Und als er an die Stufen kam, mußten ihn die Kriegsknechte tragen vor Gewalt des Volks.
23. Time
Time "
as we know it" always goes forward and never backward.
Thus, by definition, time is always progressing.
As a marketing ploy, or deception, the idea of "
progress" is to make one think that something is better rather than just being a change. That progress depends on how one defines "
better".
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Details are left as a future topic.
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24. Time
Einstein had insight into the true nature of time.
People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion. Albert Einstein's (Physicist)
That is, the laws of physics are reversible.
25. Time reversal
Physicists In quantum physics talk of time going backward. It appears that what is meant is that given the uncertainty in measurements (Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle), time can appear to go backward within a Planck's length of measurement. It is not clear that this can be extrapolated to larger time intervals.
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Details are left as a future topic.
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26. Back to the future
Literature and movies, such as "
Back to the future" entertain with the idea of going "
back in time".
27. Reality
The reality appears to be as follows.
We can look back in time but not see forward in time (with certainty).
We can go forward in time but not back in time.
Discuss the following:
Can God look forward in time?
Can God go backward in time?
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Details are left as a future topic.
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Let us return to the idea of "
progressive revelation".
28. Imply and infer
The distinction between imply and infer can be useful here.
God implies by speaking and sending messages (through prophets, etc.).
Humans infer from messages and information obtained.
Just because God sends a message does not mean that humans will infer it correctly.
Humans may not understand the message.
Humans may refuse to accept the message.
Humans may change the message for their own gain.
29. Hidden
When something is revealed that was hidden, an obvious question arises.
Was that something there before but not noticed?
Is it really "new"?
If it was changed, how was it changed?
Has the original message been understood correctly?
Let us investigate.
30. Nothing new
The saying "
there is no new thing under the sun" a saying from Ecclesiastes 1:9.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. [kjv]
τι το γεγονος αυτο το γενησομενον και τι το πεποιημενον αυτο το ποιηθησομενον και ουκ εστιν παν προσφατον υπο τον ηλιον [lxx]
It does happen that old ideas get repackaged and may or may not be recognized as such.
Discuss: Provide some historical examples of old ideas that become new ideas.
31. Ecclesiastes 1:9
KJV: The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Hebrew: מה שהיה הוא שיהיה ומה שנעשה הוא שיעשה ואין כל חדש תחת השמש׃
Greek: τι το γεγονος αυτο το γενησομενον και τι το πεποιημενον αυτο το ποιηθησομενον και ουκ εστιν παν προσφατον υπο τον ηλιον
32. Concealed and revealed
Saint Augustine (Early Christian father) :
The New Testament is in the Old Testament "concealed".
The Old Testament is in the New Testament "revealed".
One can find hints of this "
after the fact", but such truths are not plain or obvious "
before the fact".
Do you see it? Do you need to see to believe? Or can you believe and then see?
33. Remez: Concealed and revealed
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The Hebrew word "רמז" (remez) ≈ "remez". There are many places in the Old Testament that have hint of what can be considered a "remez".
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From the Hebrew, a "
remez" is a hint of some deeper meaning.
A "
remez" is a form of what in the security field is called "
steganography". That is, a message concealed such that it does not, at first glance, appear that there is a hidden message there.
34. Syntax and semantics
Syntax has to do with the alphabet, punctuation, grammar, etc.
Semantics has to do with meaning.
In messages that have been transmitted without corruption, one has the syntax which was implied (written, spoken, etc.). However, one must infer the meaning from the syntax. And this assumes that the syntax of the message has not been corrupted.
35. Software engineering
Many remez's in the Bible have been found. There may be many that have not been found.
There is a principle in software engineering that finding more bugs in software means that there are yet more bugs to be found.
Common saying: If you see one cockroach, there are many more in hiding.
36. Hidden insights
John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. [kjv]
εστιν δε και αλλα πολλα α εποιησεν ο ιησους ατινα εαν γραφηται καθ εν ουδ αυτον οιμαι τον κοσμον χωρησειν τα γραφομενα βιβλια [gnt]
Finding previously hidden insight in the Bible means that there are yet more insights to be found.
37. John 21:25
KJV: And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Greek: εστιν δε και αλλα πολλα οσα α εποιησεν ο ιησους ατινα εαν γραφηται καθ εν ουδε ουδ αυτον οιμαι τον κοσμον χωρησαι χωρησειν τα γραφομενα βιβλια αμην
38. Graduate school: German
In graduate school, for a Ph.D. in computer science, we needed to pass a scientific language such as German. But one could not just take the test. Since computer science had funds, some of those funds were used to support language graduate students. After a few lessons, the teacher said I could come when I wanted to and take the test at the end, since I had an advanced knowledge of German.
39. Graduate school: German
Near the start, I did ask her the following. If I could produce a English sentence that she could not translate into German, then I would get an A and pass the course. She did not accept but wanted to know the sentence. The sentence was, "
This sentence is in English". If you translate it into "
Dieses Satz ist auf Englisch", then the sentence is now false since it is no longer in English. But if you translate it into "
Dieses Satz ist auf Deutsch" then the sentence is true but is not an accurate translation of the original sentence. This concept is related to many logical paradoxes involving self-reference.
40. Translation difficulties
There are many translation difficulties.
Some of the original GNT appears to have spoken in Aramaic (common Hebrew of the time). It is unclear if it was ever written in Aramaic.
The GNT is then in Koine Greek.
The GNT was translated into the Latin Vulgate while the original Greek was often not available.
When the original Greek did became available, over a thousand years later, the Latin mindset effected the translation.
The Middle Ages mindset effected the translation of texts, including the KJV.
The English in the KJV changed meaning over hundreds of years.
Some people then insist that the
KJV, as written, is inspired and inerrant.
41. No errors in the text
In one church I attended for a while, I visited a Sunday School class. During the discussion, I mentioned a mistranslation issue in the text we were studying, a simple and clear translation issue similar to the one above. The Sunday School teacher was outraged and emphatically exclaimed, "
There are no translation errors in my Sunday School class!".
A few days later, I received a call from the Pastor. He was known as a "Bible preaching" pastor. After a short discussion, he informed me that even if there were translation errors in the Bible or something was said in Sunday School class about the Bible that was not correct, I was not to mention anything about it in any Sunday School at his church.
He appeared more interested in getting people into the church to support his own belly, to use Paul's words, than that they hear the truth.
42. Romans 16 A belly-ache pun on useful Christ-like words
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. [kjv]
οι γαρ τοιουτοι τω κυριω ημων χριστω ου δουλευουσιν αλλα τη εαυτων κοιλια και δια της χρηστολογιας και ευλογιας εξαπατωσιν τας καρδιας των ακακων [gnt]
Near the end of Romans, Paul says that false teachers, to support their "
belly", will use "
useful words" and "
good logic" to deceive the overly-trusting congregation. Paul makes a pun between "
Christ" and "
useful" (words).
The ancient Greek word "χρηστός" ≈ "good, useful".
The ancient Greek word "χριστός" ≈ "anointed one".
In modern Greek these words are pronounced the some.
The modern Greek word "χριστός" (hree-STOS) ≈ "Christ, anointed one" .
The modern Greek word "χρηστός" (hree-STOS) ≈ "useful" where "useful".
In ancient times, there was a small difference in how they sounded.
43. New revelation
One example of "
new" revelation is that of the Trinity as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Can the Holy Spirit be found in the OT (Old Testament)?
A dimension is a way of looking at something. The dimensions of God are the ways of looking at God (not always literally). Are there other ways (i.e., dimensions) of looking at God?
44. Modalism
Some people get obsessed with the ancient idea of "
modalism" without understanding the scientific idea of "
dimensions".
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Details are left as a future topic.
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45. Monotonicity
A function is
monotonic if it never decreases.
In terms of information, progressive revelation would like to be montonic in that once something is understood, new revelation should not change what was known previously. If it were to be changed, this would be nonmotonic.
There are examples of what appear to be changes to the original.
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Details are left as a future topic.
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46. Future topics
Future ideas to be added here are the following.
Special revelation
Direct revelation
Continuous revelation
other revelation types as identified
47. End of page
Matthew 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. [kjv]
μη ουν φοβηθητε αυτους ουδεν γαρ εστιν κεκαλυμμενον ο ουκ αποκαλυφθησεται και κρυπτον ο ου γνωσθησεται [gnt]