General revelation is a term used by theologians which refers to a universal aspect of God, of God's knowledge and of spiritual matters, discovered through natural means, such as observation of nature

Nature

Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...

 (the physical universe), philosophy

Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...

 and reasoning, human conscience or providence or providential history. Evangelical theologians use the term to describe knowledge of God

God

God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....

, which they believe, is plainly available to all mankind. These aspects of general revelation are believed to pertain to outward temporal events that are experienced within the world or this physical universe.

Within this type of revelation, it is believed that God does not use specific words, or specific actions, but more general or encompassing events that occur in creation, conscience

Conscience

Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgement may derive from values or norms...

, and history

History

History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...

. This belief in general revelation claims to have its support from the scriptures of Romans 1:20, Psalms 19:1-6, and Matthew 5:45. The idea is that general revelation is to show the works and existence of God in indirect ways.

In the context of General Revelation it is believed that:

1. Physical Universe - God uses the laws and nature of this physical universe to create or influence events to display God's existence, power, order, rightness, wisdom, knowledge, greatness, supremacy and goodness.
2. Human Conscience - God has instilled the innate ability in all persons to discern the differences between right and wrong, to choose and act on these discernments and judgments according to free will and conscience, and to experience guilt when the act or choice is wrong. This aspect of General Revelation implies that God exists, but that depends on the willingness and openness of the person to recognize such an inference.
3. Providence - refers to things affected by the providence of God. The word providence is to mean, "divine providence; proceeding from divine direction or superintendence; as the providential contrivance of things; as a providential escape from danger."

General Revelation is understood as to the experience of life by a person, and is solely dependent on the ability of the person(s) to clearly comprehend any part of God's hand in external events or things.

General revelation is in contrast with special revelation

Special revelation

Special revelation is a theological term used mainly by evangelical scientists and theologians which refers to the belief that knowledge of God and of spiritual matters can be discovered through supernatural means, such as miracles or the scriptures, a disclosure of God's truth through means other...

 and direct revelation

Direct revelation

Direct revelation is a term used by some Christian churches to express their belief in a communication from God to a person, by words, impression, visions, dreams or actual appearance. Direct revelation is believed to be an open communication between God and man, or the Holy Spirit and man, without...

, the former refers to the knowledge of God and spiritual matters which can be discovered through supernatural

Supernatural

The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...

 means, such as scripture or miracle

Miracle

A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...

s, and the latter refers to a direct communication from God to a person.

See also

• Special revelation
  Special revelation
  Special revelation is a theological term used mainly by evangelical scientists and theologians which refers to the belief that knowledge of God and of spiritual matters can be discovered through supernatural means, such as miracles or the scriptures, a disclosure of God's truth through means other...
  
  
• Biblical inspiration
  Biblical inspiration
  Biblical inspiration is the doctrine in Christian theology that the authors and editors of the Bible were led or influenced by God with the result that their writings many be designated in some sense the word of God.- Etymology :...
  
  
• Continuous revelation
  Continuous revelation
  Continuous revelation or continuing revelation is a theological belief or position that God continues to reveal divine principles or commandments to humanity...
  
  
• Private revelation
  Private revelation
  In the teaching of the Catholic Church, a private revelation refers to visions and revelations from God to a specific Christian which have taken place since the completion of the New Testament...
  
  
• Theophany
  Theophany
  Theophany, from the Ancient Greek , meaning "appearance of God"), refers to the appearance of a deity to a human or other being, or to a divine disclosure....
  
  

External links

• Scripture and general revelation, by Andrew S. Kulikovsky at the Creation Ministries International
  Creation Ministries International
  Creation Ministries International is a non-profit young Earth creationist organisation of autonomous Christian apologetics ministries that promote a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis...
  
   website - a discussion of the evangelical
  Evangelicalism
  Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
  
  notion of revelation in contrast to the common understanding.