Notes from Dr. George Martin's "Biblical Basis of Christian Missions" class: Special Revelation

[Notice, these are NOT from the outline that Dr. Martin gave to the class, but are only an outline based on the lecture as I heard it.]

I. Definition
A. "God's particular communication of Himself to particular persons at particular times."
B. "Special revelation equals Scripture."

II. Necessity of special revelation
A. Special revelation is necessary for obtaining spiritual life.
1. Special revelation is necessary FOR US:
a. God was under no external obligation to grant us special revelation.
b. We have been given special revelation by grace.
2. Sin makes special revelation necessary for us if God's purpose in saving a people for Himself is to be fulfilled.
3. Knowledge of the gospel does not come through general revelation (nature nor conscience), but only through special revelation.
B. Special revelation is necessary for sustaining or maintaining spiritual life.

III. Forms of special revelation:
A. Historical events as recorded in Scripture
B. Divine speech
C. Covenants
D. Divinely revealed names of God

IV. Progression of special revelation
A. "From the beginning God has taught all truth [though not exhaustively- AJL], and nothing but truth."
B. "God was the first contextualizer."
C. "Later revelation builds upon earlier revelation."