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Contours of Christian Theology #8
The Revelation of God
"In modern times the Christian faith's claim to possess a unique revelation of God has faced numerous challenges. A central issue has been the role of the Bible. While some have continued to defend the view that the Bible, inspired by God, is God's self-revelation in a direct way, others have argued that God's revelation is to be found primarily in divine action or in the person of Jesus Christ, rather than in the Scriptures as such." Peter Jensen argues that it is better to follow the biblical categories of the knowledge of God and the gospel than to start from "revelation" as an abstract concept. First, Jensen focuses on revelation, whether special or general, from the viewpoint of the knowledge of God through the gospel. Next, he examines the nature and authority of Scripture and our approach to reading it. Finally, he turns to the revelatory work of the Holy Spirit through illumination. The result is a creative and compelling exposition of the evangelical understanding of revelation for the contemporary scene.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2002
About the author
Peter Jensen
8 books6 followersPeter Jensen was Archbishop of Sydney for 12 years, and is recognised as a key leader in the worldwide Anglican Church. He is a well-known and outspoken figure on the Australian religious scene. He was principal of Moore Theological College for 16 years, and has a Doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford University. He has lectured and addressed conferences in England, Ireland, Eastern Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile, Singapore, United States and Canada.
Peter Jensen is married to Christine. They have five adult children and 22 grandchildren.
Peter Jensen is married to Christine. They have five adult children and 22 grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 29, 2023
This book was both hard work and a joy. It helped me think deeply about the topic of the Scriptures and how God speaks today. It's dense and rigorously academic, yet still readable and practical. Jensen advocates for a theology of God's revelation centred on the gospel itself, and the Scriptures as the way in which the promises of the gospel come to us. Love it.
If you want to think deeply about the Scriptures and the gospel on a more academic level, with practical payoff, read this book.
I only gave it 4 rather than 5 stars in recognition that it's hard work and not the book I'd recommend for most Christians on the topic.
If you want to think deeply about the Scriptures and the gospel on a more academic level, with practical payoff, read this book.
I only gave it 4 rather than 5 stars in recognition that it's hard work and not the book I'd recommend for most Christians on the topic.
April 27, 2017
Excellent gospel centred approach to the way God reveals himself to us as Lord and Saviour.
Jensen engages with some heavyweights making some sections hard going.
Jensen masterfully provides a biblical theology of the doctrine of gospel and Its relation to
- revelation ch 1
- the kingdom ch 3
- human and religious experience ch 5-6
- authority ch 7, and
- the spirit ch 10
I also enjoyed many of his asides and applications, particularly his reflection on how the Bible in stressing the goodness and independence of the creation set the conditions out of which modern science arose (p. 117-118).
Jensen engages with some heavyweights making some sections hard going.
Jensen masterfully provides a biblical theology of the doctrine of gospel and Its relation to
- revelation ch 1
- the kingdom ch 3
- human and religious experience ch 5-6
- authority ch 7, and
- the spirit ch 10
I also enjoyed many of his asides and applications, particularly his reflection on how the Bible in stressing the goodness and independence of the creation set the conditions out of which modern science arose (p. 117-118).
June 28, 2021
The main strength of this book is found in Jensen showing how the shape of the gospel helps us to understand the doctrine of revelation. Also helpful is Jensens explanation of the Bible as God’s personal word to His people. It is weaker in dealing with certain topics in detail like inerrancy and the canon. It is too brief on some of those topics.
February 15, 2018
This book on the revelation of God is part of the Contours of Christian Theology series. Having used and been impressed with some others in this series, I looked forward to checking this one out. As with others in the series, it was a good mixture of going deeply into the subject while being written in an accessible manner. Even the systematic theologies I read do not go into the foundational subject of the revelation of God in their presentation of the doctrine of the Scriptures with near the thoroughness that this volume does. Though I can’t agree with all his conclusions, he gives you much to think about.
The author, Peter Jensen, believes the gospel is central to the idea of revelation from God. His first chapter makes a beautiful case for that fact. In chapter 2 he clarifies the nature of the gospel. In chapter 3 he explains the role the gospel plays in our grasping the knowledge of God. In the next chapter, where he explains the gospel as a pattern of revelation, he concludes that the gospel is the measure of all revelation. He makes a great case for his premise.
In chapters 5 and 6, he transitions to revelation and experience. In other words, he defines the essential revelation that we must grasp in the gospel. In chapter 7, he finally reaches the subject you would expect when analyzing this doctrine: the authority of Scripture. It is in this chapter that he explains the concept of inspiration. He takes a strong, conservative position and shares much great food for thought. The final chapters address our reading Scripture, the role of the Holy Spirit, and contemporary revelation.
This book taught me. It expanded my horizons and I was blessed by what I learned. I warmly recommend this book!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The author, Peter Jensen, believes the gospel is central to the idea of revelation from God. His first chapter makes a beautiful case for that fact. In chapter 2 he clarifies the nature of the gospel. In chapter 3 he explains the role the gospel plays in our grasping the knowledge of God. In the next chapter, where he explains the gospel as a pattern of revelation, he concludes that the gospel is the measure of all revelation. He makes a great case for his premise.
In chapters 5 and 6, he transitions to revelation and experience. In other words, he defines the essential revelation that we must grasp in the gospel. In chapter 7, he finally reaches the subject you would expect when analyzing this doctrine: the authority of Scripture. It is in this chapter that he explains the concept of inspiration. He takes a strong, conservative position and shares much great food for thought. The final chapters address our reading Scripture, the role of the Holy Spirit, and contemporary revelation.
This book taught me. It expanded my horizons and I was blessed by what I learned. I warmly recommend this book!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
September 10, 2024
Peter Jensen makes the case that God's principal revelation to mankind is the message of the Gospel: Jesus is Lord. Any other claim to a revelation from God needs to be interpreted through the lens of the Gospel.
Some helpful take-aways:
1) 3 grounds for believing the Gospel:
- The Old Testament and the resurrection of Jesus attest to Jesus' identity as the Christ.
- The testimony of the apostles whose teachings and lives showed an unprecedented commitment
to the claim of Jesus' Lordship.
- The Gospel provides an authentic interpretation of human experience albeit with some restrictions.
2) Natural theology is not the means of knowing God, the Gospel is. At best natural theology instigates some form of curiousity about God.
"The Revelation of God" is thorough but sadly loses some of its sharpness because of its length. I would probably recommend "Guidance and the voice of God" by Phillip Jensen (are they related?) as a more approachable introduction to the doctrine of revelation and its implications for Christian living.
Some helpful take-aways:
1) 3 grounds for believing the Gospel:
- The Old Testament and the resurrection of Jesus attest to Jesus' identity as the Christ.
- The testimony of the apostles whose teachings and lives showed an unprecedented commitment
to the claim of Jesus' Lordship.
- The Gospel provides an authentic interpretation of human experience albeit with some restrictions.
2) Natural theology is not the means of knowing God, the Gospel is. At best natural theology instigates some form of curiousity about God.
"The Revelation of God" is thorough but sadly loses some of its sharpness because of its length. I would probably recommend "Guidance and the voice of God" by Phillip Jensen (are they related?) as a more approachable introduction to the doctrine of revelation and its implications for Christian living.
January 20, 2026
Um bom livro sobre a doutrina da revelação. O autor tenta construir uma abordagem a partir do evangelho e de suas implicações para todo o entendimento da revelação bíblica. Em alguns momentos deu certo, em outros acabou sendo vago e confuso sobre a proposta real.
Suas análises sobre a situação atual da igreja e da teologia cristã em relação às escrituras são excelentes e me ajudaram muito a rastrear algumas percepções que tinha, mas não sabia como enquadrá-las em um quadro mais amplo.
O ponto fraco é sua visão sobre inerrância, que me parece bem problemático. Ele me parece um infalibilista moderado (ou um inerrantista moderado?), mas não expressa com profundidade sua visão de que a Bíblia pode conter pequenos erros que não são relevantes para o propósito pactual e redentor que ela cumpre.
Um ótimo livro para aqueles que já estão por dentro de algumas minúcias da doutrina da escritura. Se está começando, melhor ir por outro caminho.
Suas análises sobre a situação atual da igreja e da teologia cristã em relação às escrituras são excelentes e me ajudaram muito a rastrear algumas percepções que tinha, mas não sabia como enquadrá-las em um quadro mais amplo.
O ponto fraco é sua visão sobre inerrância, que me parece bem problemático. Ele me parece um infalibilista moderado (ou um inerrantista moderado?), mas não expressa com profundidade sua visão de que a Bíblia pode conter pequenos erros que não são relevantes para o propósito pactual e redentor que ela cumpre.
Um ótimo livro para aqueles que já estão por dentro de algumas minúcias da doutrina da escritura. Se está começando, melhor ir por outro caminho.
July 27, 2011
The central thesis of this book, if I have understood it correctly, is that a Christian understanding of the revelation of God should be presented in terms of the biblical notion of the knowledge of God, and therefore in turn in terms of the gospel, which is the means by which that knowledge of God comes about. However, I don't think this makes sense, largely because of equivocation on terms like 'revelation' and 'knowledge', so I think the book lacks coherence precisely in what is supposed to be its core argument.
Individual chapters can still be read as insightful essays on topics around the title theme, and I found that certain passages profoundly affected how I thought about the Christian's relationship to God. I did not particularly enjoy it, though, because I found it frequently unclear: a freer use of subordinating conjunctions would have been appreciated. At times it seemed that the meaning was lost or obscured through a desire to appear subtle; alternatively the subtlety was simply lost on me -- though I am arrogant enough to want to take that as an indictment of theological discourse more broadly.
Individual chapters can still be read as insightful essays on topics around the title theme, and I found that certain passages profoundly affected how I thought about the Christian's relationship to God. I did not particularly enjoy it, though, because I found it frequently unclear: a freer use of subordinating conjunctions would have been appreciated. At times it seemed that the meaning was lost or obscured through a desire to appear subtle; alternatively the subtlety was simply lost on me -- though I am arrogant enough to want to take that as an indictment of theological discourse more broadly.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews