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Imagination and Divine Revelation in Scripture

Divine revelation is the uncovering or bringing to light of what was previously hidden or obscure, through which God makes known himself, his purposes, and his plans [1]. This revelation has been committed to writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, forming the Scriptures, which are not merely a record of revelation but are the revelation itself in written form [1].

God has communicated with humanity in various ways throughout history, as noted in Hebrews 1:1, "at sundry times and in divers manners" [1, 12, 14]. This includes direct communication, such as when God spoke to prophets [7]. Dreams and visions are also presented in Scripture as vehicles for divine revelation [2, 5]. For instance, Daniel received revelations through visions and dreams [11, 6]. However, the understanding plays a more significant role in prophetic visions than in dreams, where the understanding is asleep [2]. While dreams were used for divine communication in the Old Testament, they are not referred to as vehicles of divine revelation under the Christian dispensation [2].

The concept of "imagination" in Scripture often carries a negative connotation, particularly when referring to human reasoning that opposes God's truth. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 10:5, speaks of "casting down imaginations" or "reasonings" that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God [8, 10]. These "imaginations" represent carnal reasonings against God, his providences, Christ, and the truths of the Gospel [8]. The preaching of the word is seen as capable of disproving and silencing such human wisdom [8].

In contrast to human imagination, which can lead away from God, divine wisdom transcends human reasoning [9]. Believers are said to have "the mind of Christ" through their connection to Christ and the Spirit, enabling them to understand Christ's thinking [9]. This spiritual understanding is distinct from divination, which is the practice of foretelling future events or discovering secrets through means other than God's direct revelation, often involving false systems or superior beings [3]. Divination is consistently condemned in Scripture and is associated with false prophets and pagan practices [3, 4].

The ultimate revelation is given through Jesus Christ, who is considered greater than angels and through whom God has spoken in these last days [12, 13, 14]. The entire Bible is understood as a revelation of Jesus Christ, with all revelation coming through him and centering on him [13].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dreams — The Scripture declares that the influence of the Spirit of God upon the soul extends to its sleeping as well as its waking thoughts. But, in accordance with the principle enunciated by St. Paul in (1 Corinthians 14:15) dreams, in which the understanding is asleep, are placed below the visions of prophecy, in which the understanding plays its part. Under the Christian dispensation, while we read frequently of trances and vision, dreams are never referred to as vehicles of divine revelation. In exact accordance with this principle are the actual records of the ”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Divination — is a "foretelling future events, or discovering things secret by the aid of superior beings, or other than human means." It is used in Scripture of false systems of ascertaining the divine will. It has been universal in all ages, and all nations alike civilized and savage. Numerous forms of divination are mentioned, such as divination by rods, (Hosea 4:12) divination by arrows, (Ezekiel 21:21) divination by cups, (Genesis 44:5) consultation of teraphim, (1 Samuel 15:23; Ezekiel 21:21; Zechariah 10:2) [[442]Teraphim]; divination by the liver, (Ezekiel 21:2”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Divination — Of false prophets (Deut. 18:10, 14; Micah 3:6, 7, 11), of necromancers (1 Sam. 28:8), of the Philistine priests and diviners (1 Sam. 6:2), of Balaam (Josh. 13:22). Three kinds of divination are mentioned in Ezek. 21:21, by arrows, consulting with images (the teraphim), and by examining the entrails of animals sacrificed. The practice of this art seems to have been encouraged in ancient Egypt. Diviners also abounded among the aborigines of Canaan and the Philistines (Isa. 2:6; 1 Sam. 28). At a later period multitudes of magicians poured from Chaldea and A”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Dreams — Visions in sleep -- Job 33:15; Da 2:28. Often by imaginary -- Job 20:8; Isa 29:8. Excess of business frequently leads to -- Ec 5:3. God's will often revealed in -- Nu 12:6; Job 33:15. False prophets Pretended to. -- Jer 23:25-28; 29:8. Not to be regarded in. -- De 13:1-3; Jer 27:9. Condemned for pretending to. -- Jer 23:32. Vanity of trusting to natural -- Ec 5:7. The ancients Put great faith in. -- Jdj 7:15. Often perplexed by. -- Ge 40:6; 41:8; Job 7:14; Da 2:1; 4:5. Anxious to have, explained. -- Ge 40:8; Da 2:3. Consulting magicians on. -- Ge 41:8; Da 2:”
  6. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Revelation 1:1 cross-references: Psalms 25:14, Daniel 2:28, Daniel 8:16, Daniel 9:21, Daniel 9:23, Amos 3:7, John 3:32, John 8:26, John 12:49, John 15:15, John 17:8, Romans 16:25, Galatians 1:12, Ephesians 3:3, Revelation 1:3, Revelation 1:9, Revelation 1:19, Revelation 4:1, Revelation 21:2, Revelation 22:6, Revelation 22:16”
  7. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:10: revealed . . . by . . . Spirit--The inspiration of thoughts (so far as truth essential to salvation is concerned) makes the Christian (Co1 3:16; Co1 12:3; Mat 16:17; Joh 16:13; Jo1 2:20, Jo1 2:27); that of words, the PROPHET (Sa2 23:1-2; Kg1 13:1, Kg1 13:5), "by the word of the Lord" (Co1 2:13; Joh 20:30-31; Pe2 1:21). The secrets of revelation are secret to some, not because those who know them will not reveal them (for indeed, the very notion of revelation implies an unveiling of what had been veiled), but because those to whom they are announ”
  8. 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:5: Casting down imaginations,.... Or "reasonings"; the carnal reasonings of the minds of natural men against God, his providences and purposes, against Christ, and the methods of salvation, and every truth of the Gospel; which are all disproved, silenced, and confounded, by the preaching of the word, which though reckoned the foolishness and weakness of God, appears to be wiser and stronger than men; and whereby the wisdom of the wise is destroyed, and the understanding of the prudent brought to nothing: and every high thing that exalteth itself against the know”
  9. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 2:16: 2:16 This quotation from Isa 40:13 shows how divine wisdom transcends the limitations of human reasoning (cp. Rom 11:34). • we have the mind of Christ: Linked to Christ, believers have the Spirit of Christ to reveal Christ’s thinking to them.”
  10. 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 10:5: imaginations--rather, "reasonings." Whereas "thought" expresses men's own purpose and determination of living after their own pleasure [TITTMANN]. high thing--So it ought to be translated (Rom 8:39). A distinct Greek word from that in Eph 3:18, "height," and Rev 21:16, which belongs to God and heaven from whence we receive nothing hurtful. But "high thing" is not so much "height" as something made high, and belongs to those regions of air where the powers of darkness ::exalt themselves" against Christ and us (Eph 2:2; Eph 6:12; Th2 2:4). exa”
  11. Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 2:22: revealeth-- (Job 12:22). So spiritually (Eph 1:17-18). knoweth what is in . . . darkness-- (Psa 139:11-12; Heb 4:13). light . . . him-- (Jam 1:17; Jo1 1:4). Apocalypse (or "revelation") signifies a divine, prophecy a human, activity. Compare Co1 14:6, where the two are distinguished. The prophet is connected with the outer world, addressing to the congregation the words with which the Spirit of God supplies him; he speaks in the Spirit, but the apocalyptic seer is in the Spirit in his whole person (Rev 1:10; Rev 4:2). The form of the apocalyptic re”
  12. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 1 (introduction): THE HIGHEST OF ALL REVELATIONS IS GIVEN US NOW IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO IS GREATER THAN THE ANGELS, AND WHO, HAVING COMPLETED REDEMPTION, SITS ENTHRONED AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND. (Heb 1:1-14) at sundry times--Greek, "in many portions." All was not revealed to each one prophet; but one received one portion of revelation, and another another. To Noah the quarter of the world to which Messiah should belong was revealed; to Abraham, the nation; to Jacob, the tribe; to David and Isaiah, the family; to Micah, the town of nativity; to Daniel, the exact”
  13. Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 1:1: Here we have, I. What we may call the pedigree of this book. 1. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ. The whole Bible is so; for all revelation comes through Christ and all centres in him; and especially in these last days God has spoken to us by his Son, and concerning his Son. Christ, as the king of his church, has been pleased thus far to let his church know by what rules and methods he will proceed in his government; and, as the prophet of the church, he has made known to us the things that shall be hereafter. 2. It is a revelation which God gave unto Chris”
  14. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 1:1: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners,.... The apostle begins the epistle with an account of the revelation God has made of his mind and will in former times: the author of this revelation is God, not essentially, but personally considered, even God the Father, as distinguished from his Son in the next verse; for the revelation under the Old Testament is divine, as well as that under the New; in this they both agree, in whatsoever else they differ: and this revelation was made at several times, at different seasons, and to different persons; and consisted of ”
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