Simply Put – “Special Revelation” (August 26, 2025)

Host: Barry Cooper – Ligonier Ministries

Episode Overview

This episode of Simply Put focuses on the theological concept of special revelation, contrasting it with general revelation to explain how God makes Himself known to humanity. Host Barry Cooper unpacks these terms with accessible language and illustrations, helping listeners grasp why special revelation is necessary and how it is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ and Scripture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Human Attempts to Portray God

• Barry opens with a classroom anecdote about children painting pictures, culminating in a boy named Geoff claiming to have painted God.
• This lighthearted story illustrates human creativity and subjectivity when imagining God, posing the crucial question: How do we know what God is truly like?

"But would any of our pictures be accurate? How would we know? The only way we'd know for sure is if God had actually revealed himself." (01:00)

2. General Revelation Defined

• General revelation is described as God revealing Himself to all people through the created universe—nature and human conscience.
• Biblical references include:
  • Psalm 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God.”
  • Romans 1: God’s eternal power and divine nature “have been clearly perceived… in the things that have been made.”
• Examples cited include the Glasswing butterfly, the Pacific Ocean, the Hourglass Nebula, and human conscience.

"General revelation is very narrow in what it can say about God. Yes, it reveals to us that there is a divine and eternally powerful creator, but it can't reveal anything more specific..." (02:25)

3. The Limitation of General Revelation

• General revelation is limited: while it establishes the existence and power of a Creator, it does not specify God’s character or the nature of humanity’s relationship with Him.
• Cooper draws this out: "You don't need to be an Oxford don to understand instinctively that a creation requires a creator." (02:03)

4. Special Revelation Explained

• Special revelation is God revealing Himself in particular ways to particular people.
• Hebrews 1:1-2 is cited: God spoke to the fathers by the prophets and now has spoken by His Son, Jesus Christ.
• Special revelation includes:
  • God’s communication through prophets (Old Testament).
  • God supremely revealing Himself through Jesus.
  • The giving of Scripture.

5. The Ultimate Revelation: Jesus Christ

• Jesus is presented as the ultimate example of special revelation:

"He is nothing less than the artist stepping into his own creation and meeting us in the flesh." (04:09)

• Recall of Jesus’ words: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14), affirming the incarnation as God’s self-disclosure.

6. Special Revelation in Scripture

• Scripture is highlighted as God’s self-portrait:
  • Each biblical writer was “carried along by God’s spirit” to ensure truthfulness and reliability.
• The implication: debates about who has the truest picture of God are settled in the Bible.

"In Scripture, God Himself has painted his self-portrait." (05:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• (01:00) — “But would any of our pictures be accurate? How would we know? The only way we'd know for sure is if God had actually revealed himself.” (Barry Cooper)
• (02:03) — “You don't need to be an Oxford don to understand instinctively that a creation requires a creator.” (Barry Cooper)
• (02:25) — “General revelation is very narrow in what it can say about God. Yes, it reveals... a divine and eternally powerful creator, but it can't reveal anything more specific about what this creator is like and how we're supposed to relate to him.” (Barry Cooper)
• (04:09) — “He is nothing less than the artist stepping into his own creation and meeting us in the flesh.” (Barry Cooper, on Christ)
• (05:10) — “In Scripture, God Himself has painted his self-portrait.” (Barry Cooper)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – Opening story: Children painting “pictures of God”
• 01:00 – The accuracy of our ideas about God; the need for revelation
• 01:30 – Explanation of general revelation (nature, conscience)
• 02:25 – General revelation’s limitations
• 03:10 – Need for special revelation; intro to Hebrews 1:1-2
• 04:09 – Jesus Christ as ultimate special revelation (“artist inside creation”)
• 05:05 – The scriptural self-portrait; cessation of guesswork through the Bible

Takeaway

Barry Cooper’s episode builds a compelling case for special revelation: while creation points toward a Creator, only in Scripture—and supremely in Christ—does God fully disclose Himself. Christians can set aside speculation, trusting God’s “self-portrait” in the Bible as the reliable revelation of who He is and how to relate to Him.

For further exploration: Listen to the episode or visit simplyputpodcast.com for more in the series.