04.20 - Historical Revelation in the New Testament

(20) Historical Revelation in the New Testament The historical element, which forms so prominent and essential a part of revelation in the Old Testament is equally apparent in the New. The New Testament is the record of those facts, transactions, and events by which God has revealed Him self and His gracious will and purpose to man, and in which man’s nature and destiny are historically concerned. These are not only the basis of the revelation of God to men, but they constitute the revelation, or set forth the relation between God and man which is the essence of revelation. The historical element which exhibits the teachings and works of Jesus Christ, the dealings of God with men that form the substance of the revelation of the New Testament as recorded by Evangelists and Apostles. The purpose of the record is to make us acquainted with the facts, events, and transactions by which the revelation was made: that knowing the facts we might come to understand the revelation. But the essential elements in the revelation are the historical the persons, facts, events and movements recorded in the Gospels and Epistles.