Pentecostals and Subordinate Revelation

 

To the Corinthian congregation, none of whom were apostles qualified to speak and write special revelation, Paul said, “When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation [apokalypsis], a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church” (1 Corinthians 14:26). He went on to point out that one gifted to prophesy might receive a “revelation” [apokalypto] while other prophets were speaking (14:30). The apostle dearly understood that the Holy Spirit could and did impart revelations through spiritual gifts to both church leaders and laypersons.

Apparently this language of revelation was rather common to the Pauline churches. In the Ephesian letter we find these words: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation [apokalypsis], so that you may know him better” (1:17).

Now Paul did not mean that any of these believers were to have their revelations raised to the status of Scripture. In fact, he insisted that their revelations were subordinate to his writings which we now recognize to be Scripture: “If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command” (1 Corinthians 14:37).

Rather, these revelations built upon existing Scripture and the apostolic witness and were primarily for the spiritual development of the local congregation. Prophecy, for example, is said to be for “strengthening, encouragement and comfort” and thus for the edification of the church (1 Corinthians 14:3,4). While prophecy may have on occasion been predictive, as in Agabus’ prophecies of famine (Acts 11: 27-30) and Paul’s arrest (Acts 21:10,11), it seems to have been more often an apt insight into scriptural and spiritual truth as it applied to the particular situation of the local church.

Sound theology depends upon careful definition of terms. Misunderstandings occur because theologians sometimes, of necessity, use terms more narrowly and technically than does the Bible. This is true of the word revelation which, as we have seen, has a broader meaning in the Bible than is recognized in the traditional concepts of general revelation and special revelation.

 

Tags: pentecostals, revelation, subordinate

Category: Biblical Studies, Spring 2003