The main purpose of this study is to show that any disconnect between the doctrines of revelation and redemption is unwarranted. Divine communicative action is to enable personal knowledge of God, and this has not only epistemological but also soteriological implications. A survey of Calvin‘s understanding concerning the activity of speech, both human and divine, is undertaken first. The role of Scripture in conveying divine speech is discussed and Calvin‘s concept of accommodation is reviewed. As communication can only function in particular contexts, it is argued that an appropriate context for divine-human communication is provided in the doctrine of the imago Dei. The main contemporary views are considered and a recent major statement of the functional view is summarised and an initial critique offered. Further objections are then raised to the primacy (or exclusivity) of the consensus view. Also the imago is located in the wider framework of biblical theology and Calvin‘s concept of the imago is also examined. The identity of the covenant-making God is considered and this is done with particular reference to the experience and testimony of Israel. The significance of the notions ‗experience‘ and ‗testimony‘ are examined especially in their relation to knowledge. The Exodus texts concerning the ―revelation of the divine name‖ are then analysed, which opens up questions about the identity of YHWH, his action and the links with his speech. Some contemporary thinking on the Epistle to the Hebrews is surveyed and this leads to the conclusion that to ignore the speech of YHWH is to render both his identity and action opaque at the very least. In the context of God‘s ―design plan‖, human beings are made for relationship with him and divine communicative action is necessary to effect that relationship – bringing both revelation and redemption together.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:580548 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Johnson, Douglas |
| Contributors | Beattie, Christina ; MacDonald, Neil |
| Publisher | University of Roehampton |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | https://pure.roehampton.ac.uk/portal/en/studentthesis/the-word-of-life(a4292447-ebd8-4cf7-989f-e88cb965a338).html |
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