The revelation of God through the Scriptures was progressive. God did not reveal all of Himself or His will in one moment. Instead, He revealed it to humanity, over a span of time. For example, God did not reveal everything about His redemptive plan through Jesus at once. God revealed to Adam and Eve that the Savior would come through the seed of the woman, but not which woman (Genesis 3:15).
God revealed the means of Jesus’ death to David (Psalm 22:1, 7-9, 16b-19).
God revealed to Micah, where Jesus would be born (Micah 5:2).
Progressive Revelation does not mean that older revelation is irrelevant or less Scriptural than newer revelation, since all Scripture is given by God. As R. C. Sproul states, “The Bible is to be regarded as a holistic book in which the Old Testament helps us understand the New Testament and the New Testament sheds significant light on the Old Testament.”1
ENDNOTES:
1. R. C. Sproul, Can I Trust the Bible?, vol. 2, The Crucial Questions Series (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2009), 17.
- And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel. - Genesis 3:15
God revealed the means of Jesus’ death to David (Psalm 22:1, 7-9, 16b-19).
- My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. [...] All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him. [...] They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots. But You, O Lord, be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance. - Psalm 22:1, 7-9, 16b-19
God revealed to Micah, where Jesus would be born (Micah 5:2).
- But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. - Micah 5:2
Progressive Revelation does not mean that older revelation is irrelevant or less Scriptural than newer revelation, since all Scripture is given by God. As R. C. Sproul states, “The Bible is to be regarded as a holistic book in which the Old Testament helps us understand the New Testament and the New Testament sheds significant light on the Old Testament.”1
ENDNOTES:
1. R. C. Sproul, Can I Trust the Bible?, vol. 2, The Crucial Questions Series (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2009), 17.
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