If private revelations agree with Scriptures, they are needless - John Owen

Posted on FB by a friend:



Discussion ensued:

Me: Then why have preachers?

K.T.: To preach God Word and not their own visions and day dreams.

Me: Isn't a "private" revelation the same as preaching about God's word?

K.T.: Not necessarily. Private revelations are usually someones vision or day dream about something. God speaks to us through his Word and spirit. Most private revelations don't agree with the principles that God has given us in His Word. God's Word is the standard by which everything is to be judged.

Me: I don't see the difference between a pastor reflecting on and sharing his insights into the Word vs. an individual reflecting on and sharing his insights into the Word.

The meme says that a private revelation is unnecessary if it agrees with God's word. But you say that most private revelations don't agree with God's Word. So we aren't talking about those, we are talking about revelations that do agree.

If God speaks to us through His Spirit, then the meme is negated.

K.T.: God speaks to us through his Word AND Spirit. Never the one without the other. When some one has a revelation apart from God's Word it's usually with a spirit that's the human spirit and not the Holy Spirit.

Me: Again, the meme says in agreement with God's Word, not apart from God's Word.

K.T.: I think he must be speaking of preachers telling of their own revelations. If they agree with Scripture there's no need for them as ministers are to preach God's Word and not their own "revelations". Those are the false prophets we're warned about in Scripture.

Me: Not meaning to dispute with you, just trying for clarification. 

Preachers by definition are preaching their own insights into the Word. By definition they are private insights. Either these are Scriptural or they are not. If they are Scriptural, they need not be preached, if the meme is correct.

What I'm trying to get at here is the idea that anything apart from Scripture is heresy, that is, there is no revelation today except Scripture. That's what the meme suggests, and I think it's muddled thinking, as we are discussing.

If there is nothing today for us but Scripture, then insights into Scripture are private revelation and are prohibited. A preacher should then only preach Scripture quotes. Anything else is going beyond Scripture.