The Difference Between General Revelation and Special Revelation

Before concerning ourselves with the difference between the two types of revelations, it is first important to understand what revelation is. Revelation is the gracious act of God whereby he reveals himself to mankind. God has kindly made himself known to humanity. This revealing of himself is then broken into two categories: general revelation and special revelation. 

General revelation is called general because it is communicated to all mankind through man's conscience and God's creation. In Romans 1:18-20, Paul explains that all people are guilty before God and are justly under his wrath because they have rejected him despite it being clear that he exists by what he has created. In addition, mankind has a general idea, though surely flawed, on what is moral and just (Romans 2:14-16). Even the most wicked civilizations generally understood that killing each other was an evil practice. 

Special revelation, on the other hand, is limited in who receives it. Now, special revelation itself is a broad idea because of the history of God's relationship with his people. For our purposes, special revelation refers to God's communication to humanity through His Word. (However, special revelation would also include any time God, directly or through a mean, communicated with humanity about his nature or will: e.g. God speaking with Adam, Noah, and the Patriarchs; the burning bush and other times God talked with Moses, angels speaking on God's behalf, inspired dreams and visions, the inspiration of prophecies both spoken and writing, and most profoundly in Jesus himself.) Whenever the message of the Bible is faithfully communicated, God is revealed to those who hear it.

There is one other big difference. Though God has graciously revealed himself in our conscience and his creation so that he can be know--that knowledge is limited and cannot produce salvation. "His eternal power and divine nature" (Romans 1:20) can be known, but his mercy, justice, and love cannot. It is only through special revelation that God can make himself, primarily his love and accomplishments on behalf of sinners in the person and work of Jesus, known in such a way that salvation can come to the sinner (2 Timothy 3:14-15). 

Written by Michael Naaktgeboren