How Do You Know?
The Relationship Between Reason and Revelation

  1. There are three basic ways of relating reason and revelation:

    1. Reason and revelation have nothing to do with one another.

    2. Revelation is built upon and finds its justification in reason.

    3. Reason is built upon and finds its justification in revelation.

  2. All true knowledge is grounded in God.

    1. Ephesians 1:11

    2. Hebrews 4:13, 1 John 3:20, Psalm 139:1-16

    3. Isaiah 43:12-13, Psalm 50:1-7

  3. Implications

    1. The concept of objectivity.

    2. The covenantal (personal) nature of truth.

    3. The ethical nature of truth.

      Proverbs 1:7

  4. Sin complicates the picture.

    1. Romans 8:20-23

    2. Romans 1:18-22

    3. Romans 2:14-15

  5. There are several God-ordained sources of knowledge, all of which work in harmony with one another.

    1. revelation -- the foundation

    2. reason

    3. intuition

    4. emotion

    5. observation

References

Every Thought Captive: A Study Manual for the Defense of Christian Truth by Richard Pratt, P&R, 1979, 142 pp. A very readable introduction to the view that revelation forms the basis for reason.
Availability: CPC library

Apologetics to the Glory of God: An Introduction by John M. Frame, P&R, 1994, 265 pp. A thorough introduction to the rationale and issues concerning a biblically justifiable defense of the faith. If you've never thought much about a rational defense of Christianity, you should read Pratt first. Frame's book is challenging but not insurmountable for those who really want to exercise the mind. It is rich reading!
Availability: CPC library