From "general," meaning available to all, and "revelation," from the Latin 'revelare,' meaning to unveil or disclose. It refers to the knowledge of God that is disclosed to all people, in all places, at all times.
Biblical Definition
General Revelation is the disclosure of God's existence, power, and moral character through the created order, human conscience, and the providential ordering of history. Unlike Special Revelation (Scripture and the person of Christ), General Revelation is not sufficient for salvation, but it is sufficient to render all people without excuse before God for their failure to acknowledge and worship Him. It is a universal testimony to God's eternal power and divine nature.
Webster's 1828 Definition
The term "General Revelation" is a theological construct not present in Webster's 1828 dictionary. The components are defined:
GENERAL: Comprehending many species or individuals; not special; not particular. Public; common.
REVELATION: The act of disclosing or discovering to others what was before unknown to them. The disclosure or communication of truth to men by God himself.
The combined meaning points to a common, public disclosure of truth from God to all mankind, as distinct from a particular or special communication.
Modern Corruption
The doctrine of General Revelation can be corrupted in several ways:
Natural Theology: The belief that humanity can reason its way to a saving knowledge of God through nature alone, thus making Special Revelation (the Bible, Christ) unnecessary.
Universalism: The erroneous conclusion that because all people have some knowledge of God through creation, all are or can be saved apart from an explicit faith in Jesus Christ.
Denial of its Sufficiency for Condemnation: Some argue that it is unjust for God to condemn those who have only received General Revelation, undermining the biblical teaching that this revelation makes all mankind accountable.
Scripture References
Psalm 19:1-4 - "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge... Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."
Romans 1:19-20 - "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
Romans 2:14-15 - "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness..."
Acts 14:17 - "Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."