Otkrivenje i nadahnuće

• Main Author: Bemmelen, Peter M. van; Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, SAD
• Format: Text
• Language: Croatian
• Published: Adriatic Union College; [e-mail] 2000
• Subjects: Biblija; otkrivenje; nadahnuće; Bible; Revelatio; Inspiration; Osnova; sami
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/99733; http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/146839

Da se živi Bog sam otkrio i nastavlja otkrivati ljudskome rodu, osnova je kršćanske vjere. Sveto pismo, Stari i Novi zavjet podjednako, izvještavaju o načinu na koji se Bog objavio u povijesti čovječanstva – posebice u povijesti Izraela, a konačno u osobi Isusa Krista. Bez ove božanske objave čovječanstvo bi propalo ne poznavajući pravi Božji karakter i volju, otuđeno od Njega grijehom i krivnjom. U Svetom pismu stvaranje svijeta i veličanstvo, ljepota i obilje što ga nudi priroda tumači se kao očitovanje Božje slave, mudrosti i ljubavi ispunjene brigom za Njegova stvorenja. Teologija ovo očitovanje naziva općim otkrivenjem. Međutim, sadašnje stanje ljudskoga roda i ovoga svijeta ispunjenoga grijehom, poremećajima, nedaćama i smrću postavlja ozbiljna pitanja o mogućnosti istinske spoznaje Boga putem svijeta prirode ili ljudskog iskustva. Sveto pismo smatra da mudrost i znanje koje možemo steći iz ovih izvora samo po sebi nije dovoljno da nam pruži pravo razumijevanje Božjeg karaktera ljubavi i Njegove nakane da nas izbavi od grijeha i smrti. Bog se u ovom teškom položaju odlučio osobno otkriti ljudima. Teološkim jezikom to se naziva posebnim otkrivenjem, ono je posebno zato što je otkriveno i zapisano u Svetome pismu. Potpuno svjesni različitih kritika upućenih na račun Biblije – etičkih, povijesnih, lingvističkih, znanstvenih, filozofskih i teoloških – odlučili smo usredotočiti se na tvrdnje koje su sami biblijski pisci izrekli o svojim spisima i spisima drugih, a posebno na Isusov odnos prema Svetome pismu i njegovoj uporabi. Proroci, apostoli i sam Isus prihvaćali su Sveta pisma kao pouzdanu i autoritativnu Božju riječ, danu Svetim Duhom na ljudskome jeziku. Otkrivenje i nadahnuće svakako su priznati kao božanske tajne; međutim, čak i naše ograničeno ljudsko razumijevanje ovih predmeta od presudnog je značenja za zrelu, razumnu kršćansku vjeru. That the living God has revealed Himself and continues to reveal Himself to the human family is foundational to Christian faith. The Scriptures, both OT and NT, present a record of the way God manifested Himself in human history—especially the history of Israel, and supremely in the person of Jesus Christ. Without this divine revelation, human ity would perish, ignorant of God’s true character and will and estranged from Him through sin and guilt. In Scripture the creation of the world and the majesty, beauty, and bounteous provisions of nature are perceived as manifestations of God’s glory, wisdom, and loving care for His creatures. Such manifestations are referred to in theology as general revelation. However, the present condition of humanity and this world, filled with sin, disruption, disaster, and death, raises serious questions about the pos¬sibility of a true knowledge of God through the natural world or through human experience. Scriptural evidence suggests that such wisdom and knowledge as can be gained from these sources by themselves is inadequate to give us a true understanding of God’s character of love and His intention to save us from sin and death. God has met this predicament by making Himself known to human beings on a personal level. In theological language this is called special revelation, particularly as it is revealed and recorded in the Scriptures. Fully aware of the various criticisms of the Bible—ethical, historical, linguistic, scientific, philosophical, and theological—we have chosen to focus on the claims made by the biblical writers regarding their own and each other’s writings, and especially on Jesus’ attitude toward and use of the Scriptures. The prophets, apostles, and supremely Jesus Himself accepted the Scriptures as the trustworthy and authoritative Word of God, given by the Holy Spirit in human language. Revelation and inspiration are ultimately acknowledged as divine mysteries; however, even our limited human understanding of these subjects is of crucial importance for a mature, intelligent Christian faith.