Bible Study 101: Progressive Revelation

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"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." - (Heb 4:14, NASB)

   "I love the Old Testament, and I want you to love the Old Testament too." These were the first words I heard in my OT survey class at SAGU my first semester. It stuck. My professor did an excellent job, because I love the Old Testament. One reason that I enjoy the OT so much is that is helps in understanding the deeper things of God pertaining to His nature and plan for man.

   Progressive revelation is a term that is not heard much in church these days. Charles Hodge describes progressive revelation nicely: "The progressive character of divine revelation is recognized in relation to all the great doctrines of the Bible... What at first is only obscurely intimated is gradually unfolded in subsequent parts of the sacred volume, until the truth is revealed in its fulness." As we move through the OT we can see how the people of God gradually get a better grasp on who God truly is. Beginning in Genesis God begins to unveil Himself to humanity, opening the curtain further and further as seen in the lives of Abraham and Moses, and temple worship. He opened it much further in the arrival and departure of Jesus Christ, and still further in the NT writings. The Revelation that John documented reveals that there is still much more to learn of Him; more than we already know. 

   Where am I going with all this? What we know of God begins in the OT. When we read the NT we understand the contents of the OT better. The opposite is also true: when we read the OT we understand the NT better. For example, we understand Jesus' role as our High Priest because we have the OT. The high priest represented the people before God as their advocate. Jesus is our advocate before God, enabling our prayers to be heard and answered. If we did not have the established pattern in the OT, this just would not make sense. This is progressive revelation. Like the phases of the moon, God pulls back the curtain little by little until we see the big picture. And, just when we think we have seen His full beauty, majesty, and immensity, we learn that we are still merely scratching the surface of our God.

   Much of the NT is fairly easy to understand, at least at face value. But if you wish to go deeper in the things of God, you much make the OT a regular part of your Bible study. Don't neglect the OT, embrace it, and watch what happens!

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