Divine Revelation

First published Fri Jul 17, 2020; substantive revision Wed Jun 26, 2024

“Revelation” (lat. revelatio) is a translation of the Greek word apokalypsis, which means the removal of a veil so that something can be seen. Many religions appeal to purported divine revelations in order to explain and justify their characteristic beliefs about God, and revelation has usually been understood as an epistemic notion.^[1] Paradigmatically, it refers to alleged instances of divine speaking or special divine acts in history, although in a more general sense “revelation” can denote any means of divine self-disclosure, for example through nature. The topic of divine revelation has been a long-standing and central focus in theology, and philosophical discussions have often taken their cues from Christian theological debates.^[2] This entry will treat theological perspectives only in so far as they are relevant for philosophical questions about the purported nature and means of divine revelation and the justification of revelatory claims. 

• 1. Conceptions of Divine Revelation
  • 1.1 General/Natural and Special Revelation
  • 1.2 Manifestational and Propositional Revelation
  • 1.3 Models of Revelation
• 2.The Justification of Revelatory Claims
  • 2.1 Traditional Views
  • 2.2 Non-Inferential Justification
    • 2.2.1 Perceptual Models
    • 2.2.2 The A/C-Model
    • 2.2.3 Testimonial Models
  • 2.3 Inferential Justification
    • 2.3.1 A Probabilistic Argument
    • 2.3.2 Holism
    • 2.3.3 Voluntarism
    • 2.3.4 Hybridism
  • 2.4 Sui Generis Approaches
• Bibliography
• Academic Tools
• Other Internet Resources
• Related Entries

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/divine-revelation/

to provide with something freely or naturally

endowed with a good sense of humor

she’s always been endued with an unquenchable optimism

In the New Testament, the usage of “behold” (Greek: ἰδού, idou) serves as a transitional phrase, drawing attention to a significant event, message, or revelation from God. This phrase is often used to:

1. Introduce a divine revelation: Behold is employed to signal the beginning of a divine disclosure, such as a vision, a prophecy, or a manifestation of God’s presence (e.g., Matthew 1:20, Luke 1:28, Revelation 1:1).
2. Emphasize the importance of a message: The phrase “behold” underscores the significance of a message or instruction from God, urging the reader to pay attention and take note (e.g., Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 9:35).
3. Highlight a manifestation of God’s glory: Behold is used to describe the revelation of God’s glory, majesty, or power, often in connection with theophanies or encounters with angels (e.g., Matthew 17:5, Luke 2:9, Revelation 1:7).
4. Link the Old Testament to the New Testament: In some cases, behold is used to bridge the Old and New Testaments, pointing to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies or the revelation of God’s plan through Jesus Christ (e.g., Matthew 1:22-23, Luke 24:44-47).

In relation to divine communication, behold serves as a catalyst, facilitating the transmission of divine truth and guidance from God to humanity. It:

1. Directs attention to the divine source: Behold emphasizes the origin of the message or revelation, making it clear that it comes from God Himself.
2. Conveys authority and authenticity: The use of behold underscores the authority and authenticity of the message, as it is directly from God’s mouth or through His agents (e.g., angels, prophets).
3. Invites response and obedience: By drawing attention to the revelation, behold encourages the reader to respond with faith, obedience, and worship, as they recognize the divine origin and significance of the message.

In summary, the usage of “behold” in the New Testament is closely tied to the concept of revelation and divine communication, serving as a transitional phrase that introduces, emphasizes, and authenticates divine disclosures, while also directing attention to God as the source and inviting response and obedience from humanity.

behold,

I send the promise of my Father upon you:

but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Based on the provided search results, here is a summary of the occurrences of “behold” in the New Testament:

• According to one source, “behold” is used approximately 586 times in the New King James Version (NKJV) of the New Testament.
• Another source mentions that God says “Behold” around 1,500 times in the entire Bible, including the Old Testament. However, this figure is not specific to the New Testament alone.
• A concordance excerpt lists several instances of “behold” in the New Testament, including:
  • Matthew 8:29: “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?”
  • Luke 13:35: “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”

While the exact frequency of “behold” in the New Testament is difficult to determine from the provided search results, it appears that it is used at least several dozen times throughout the text. However, without a comprehensive analysis of every New Testament passage, a precise count cannot be provided.