Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  1000 God  »  1400 God, knowledge of  »  1439 revelation  »  1441 revelation, necessity of

Finiteness and sin make it impossible to gain adequate knowledge of God through human effort alone. God in mercy makes himself known through the incarnation of the Son and the illumination of human minds to understand him.

The impossibility of fully knowing God without revelation

God is beyond unaided human knowing

John 1:18 See also Exodus 33:20; Isaiah 55:8-9; John 6:46; 1 John 4:12

The human mind is limited

Job 11:7 See also Job 9:4,10; Job 23:3-9; Job 26:14; Job 36:26; Job 37:5,23; Psalm 139:6; Psalm 145:3; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Isaiah 40:13-14,28; Romans 11:33

The human mind cannot discern God of its own accord

2 Corinthians 4:4 See also John 1:5; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 3:14; Ephesians 4:17-18

God is known fully only through Jesus Christ

Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 John 5:20 See also John 1:14-18; John 17:3; Colossians 1:15-20

See also

1055  God, grace & mercy
1150  God, truth of
1175  God, will of
2218  Christ, Son of God
3296  Holy Spirit in the world
5038  mind, the human
5135  blindness, spiritual
5395  lordship, human & divine
8321  perfection, divine
8355  understanding
8366  wisdom, source of