JOURNAL ARTICLE CRITIQUE

of
Weaver, Gilbert The Doctrine of Revelation and Inspiration in the Old Testament Grace
Journal vol. 6 no.1 (Winter 1965): 16-27.

THEO 510 LOU (fall 2016)

Survey of Theology

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary

Coral Nichols (ID# 24430947)

January 26, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.

Introduction3
Brief Summary...3
Critical Interaction.4
Conclusion.....5
Bibliography..6

I.

Introduction

Biblical understanding rooted in a solid foundation of Biblical Theology can mean

something different to many different people that pursue knowledge and understanding from
the bible. One of the components that scholars rely on for their understanding is the concept
of Revelation. Revelation must be understood before it can be defined in the context of the
Doctrine of Revelation. The Enns text defines it from the Greek word apokalupis, which
means disclosure or unveiling. Hence revelation signifies God unveiling Himself to
mankind1. Weaver addresses through this article the concepts of revelation; how has God
revealed Himself to man in the old testament. Within the context of how God has revealed
himself there are two different types of this revelation. This paper critiques the authors angle
in the exploration of The Doctrine of Revelation and Inspiration in the Old Testament.
II.
Brief Summary
Revelation and inspiration are used within the same context within the thesis expressed
within this particular journal article. Weaver intertwines them with the notion that revelation
pertains to that which God makes known at a particular time, inspiration refers to the divine
process of recording that revelation.2 The reader of the article gains the knowledge that this
inspiration and revelation happen by the means of the Spirit of God. Weaver examines
revelation has two division defined as general and special.3 These two types of revelation
take place within the context of the writers of the Old Testament text. There is a further break
1

Enns, Paul P. The Moody Handbook of Theology. 25th ed. Chicago: Moody, 1989.

2 Weaver, Gilbert. "The Doctrine of Revelation and Inspiration in the Old Testament. Grace

Journal 6, no. 1 (Winter 1965): 16.

3 Ibid., 16.

down of these books into periods and how God spoke, interacted and revealed Himself to
man within the context of the periods. These periods are also related to how man was
interacting with God and the nature of the relationship between God and man.
III.
Critical Interactions
The writer of the article approaches the topic with a matter of fact presentation of the
information. He does not assume nor presume that he can provide all the documentation
necessary to back up this perspective. The documentation, scriptures and reference would
need more than the journal article could allow. Revelation happens by means of relationship
between God and man, the stature of the man is not the significant fact; relationship is where
revelation dwells. Relationship brings the supernatural enlightenment that is necessary for
revelation and inspiration to take place. Weaver supports this by the prophet quote of the
word of the Lord came unto me, it is the O.T.s teaching concerning this supernatural divine
communication which is the study.4 There is a considerable amount of information given by
the writer to help the reader understand how the relationship between God and man evolved
from the book of Genesis through the writings of the major and minor prophets. There is a
direction reference to the person to person basis5 between God and man as referenced in
Genesis in the garden of Eden. When the relationship changed after the fall and through the
area of Moses there became a time of a prophetic revelation that continues through the rest of
the Old Testament. According the materials in this article, the voice of God was removed and
revelation began by ways of inspiration.
Weaver begins his explanation of the O.T. theology of inspiration by provided the proof
that there is no much mention of inspiration in the doctrine of the O.T. Weaver calls into the
article scriptures from the New Testament. This creates within the context of the article and
4 Weaver, 17.
5 Ibid, 19.

the focus on the O.T. revelation and inspiration questions of origin of the doctrine. This is
related back to the authority of a prophet and how they received the revelation from God to
speak His words to the people. This is understood by the mention of thus said the Lord
occurring over 3500 times on the O.T.6 The concluding factor for this doctrine is understood
that all through the Old Testament with scripture to support God spoke to man and man
recorded the words and it produced the Word of God that we have today.
IV.
Conclusion
There was a great deal of materials presented for the argument that the author of the
article presents to his case for the doctrine. The article did not present any facts that would
lead one to believe contrary to what he presented for his case for this doctrine. It did seem
that he leads off on more detail regards prophets, inspiration to prophets and prophetic
revelation. The article completely supported his perspective on the ideals of inspiration and
revelation and Gods relationship and desire to communicate with man. The coverage begins
from the beginning of creation when man walked with God and into some New Testament
scriptures that related to the O.T. relationship foundational pieces. There is more studying
into this doctrine required for further evaluation.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Enns, Paul P. The Moody Handbook of Theology. 25th ed. Chicago: Moody, 1989.
Weaver, Gilbert. "The Doctrine of Revelation and Inspiration in the Old Testament. Grace
Journal 6, no. 1 (Winter 1965): 16-27.
6 Weaver, 22.