Westminster Confession of Faith and the Cessation of Special Revelation, The
Book Description
In this scholarly exploration of Reformed theology, Garnet Howard Milne examines a pivotal question that has shaped Christian understanding for centuries: how does God continue to guide believers after the completion of Scripture?
Drawing from careful analysis of the Westminster Confession of Faith, Milne reveals the nuanced position held by its authors regarding divine revelation. Rather than viewing God's communication as completely ended, these theologians distinguished between two forms of revelation. They firmly believed that immediate, direct revelation from God had concluded with the completion of biblical Scripture, which contains everything necessary for salvation and Christian living throughout history.
However, Milne demonstrates that the Westminster divines also recognized a continuing form of "mediate" revelation. This ongoing guidance operates through Scripture itself, not merely as intellectual understanding but as practical application of God's already-revealed truth to specific situations facing individuals, churches, and nations. Within this framework, spiritual experiences like dreams, visions, and gifts of the Spirit could continue to function as valid means of divine direction, provided they remained consistent with biblical teaching.
The book carefully explores how these Reformed thinkers maintained the essential unity between God's Word and Spirit while distinguishing authentic spiritual guidance from mere personal opinion. For readers seeking to understand how divine guidance operates within a biblical framework, this work offers valuable insights into balancing scriptural authority with ongoing spiritual experience in the Christian journey.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)
📄 Length: 350 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Puritans
- ✓ Explore History of doctrines
- ✓ Explore Reformed Church
- ✓ Explore Private revelations
- ✓ Explore Doctrines
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Strengthen your faith journey
- ✓ Explore History
