SPECIAL TOPIC: ILLUMINATION

God has acted in the past to clearly reveal Himself to mankind (i.e.,
creation, flood, call of Patriarchs, exodus, conquest, etc.). In
theology this is called “revelation.” He selected certain men to record and
explain this self-revelation (e.g., John 14:26; 16:12-15). In theology this is called
“inspiration.” He has
sent His Spirit to help readers understand Him and His promises and provisions,
especially the coming of Messiah. In theology this is called
“illumination.” The problem arises, if the Spirit is involved in
understanding God—why are there so many interpretations of Him and His will and
way?

Part of the problem lies in the reader’s pre-understanding or personal
experiences. Often a personal agenda is advocated by using the Bible in a
proof-text or atomistic fashion. Often a theological grid is imposed over the
Bible allowing it to speak only in certain areas and in selected ways. Illumination simply cannot be equated with inspiration although the Holy Spirit
is involved in each. Inspiration (see Special Topic: Inspiration)
has ceased with the NT (i.e., Jude 3,20). Most NT texts which relate to
illumination refer to knowledge about the gospel and the Christlike life (i.e.,
Rom. 8:12-17; 1 Cor. 2:10-13; Eph. 1:17-19; Phil. 1:9-11; Col. 1:9-13; 1 John
2:20-27). This, in reality, is one of the promises of the “new covenant”
(cf. Jer. 31:31-34, esp. v. 34).

The best approach to allow the Spirit to help believers understand revelation may be to attempt to assert the central idea of a
paragraph, not interpret every detail of the text. It is the topical thought
which conveys the original author’s central truth. Outlining the book or
literary unit helps one follow the intent of the original inspired author. No
interpreter is inspired. We cannot reproduce the biblical writer’s method of
interpretation (i.e., inspiration). We can and must attempt to understand what they were saying to
their day and then communicate that truth to our own day. There are parts of the
Bible that are ambiguous or hidden (until a certain time or period). There will
always be disagreements on some texts and subjects but we must state clearly the
central truths and allow freedom for individual believer’s interpretations within the
boundary of the original author’s intent. Interpreters must walk in the light
they have, always being open to more light from the Bible and the Spirit. God
will judge us based on the level of our understanding and how we live out that
understanding.