How Is God Known? : General Revelation in the Theology of Abraham Kuyper

국문 초록 (Abstract)

본 논문의 목적은 타락 후 일반계시의 중요성 및 불충분성에 대한 이해를 중심으로 아브라함 카이퍼(1837-1920)의 일반계시론에 대해 연구하는 것이다. 특별히 본 논문은 카피어의 일반계시론을 개혁주의 전통의 배경 속에서 이해하기 위해서 대표적인 개혁파 신학자인 존 칼빈(1509-1564)과 헤르만 바빙크(1854-1921)의 일반계시론과 비교하여 연구한다. 이러한 비교 연구는 다음과 같은 두 가지 결론을 보여준다. 첫째, 카이퍼, 칼빈, 바빙크는 타락 후에도 일반계시가 인간에게 여전히 주어지고, 이를 통해 불신자들도 어느 정도 하나님에 관한 지식을 얻을 수 있으며, 타락 이후에도 여전히 유용성이 있다고 주장한다. 하지만 이들 모두는 타락의 영향 때문에 특별계시를 통한 중생이 없이는 인간이 일반계시를 통해 구원에 이르는 것은 불가능하다는 점에 모두 동의한다. 이러한 사상들은 카이퍼의 일반계시론은 칼빈이나 바빙크의 일반계시론과 본질적으로 일치함을 보여준다. 따라서 이전 학계의 평가와는 달리 카이퍼의 일반계시론은 칼 바르트(1886-1968) 보다는 역사적 개혁주의 전통과 연속선상에 있다. 둘째, 카이퍼, 칼빈, 바빙크는 일반계시론에 있어서 대체로 일치되는 견해를 보이지만 칼뱅과 바빙크는 카이퍼보다 일반계시에 대해 좀 더 긍정적인 입장을 취한다. 이러한 차이점은 타락 후에도 계속되는 일반계시의 중요성에 대한 논의에서 분명하게 확인된다. 하지만 이 세 신학자들의 비교연구는 이들의 일반계시론에서 발견되는 차이점이 크지 않고, 전체적으로 볼 때 카이퍼의 일반계시론이 전통적 개혁주의 신학의 입장을 충실하게 따르고 있음을 입증한다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of this article is to examine Abraham Kuyper’s (1837-1920) doctrine of general revelation, focusing on his understanding of the insufficiency and the significance of general revelation for a post-Eden humanity. In order to perform substantive study of Kuyper’s doctrine of general revelation in the context of Reformed tradition, this study particularly compares Kuyper with two representative Reformed theologians, John Calvin(1509-1564) and Herman Bavinck(1854-1921). The comparative study of doctrine of general revelation between Kuyper, Calvin, and Bavinck shows two things in detail. First all three theologians agree that even after the fall, God continues to reveal Himself through general revelation and human beings see and comprehend it both inside and outside one’s own being. Despite the objective sufficiency of general revelation, however, the effects of sin are so devastating that general revelation never produces any saving knowledge of God apart from regeneration through special revelation. All three theologians also affirm the ongoing utility of general revelation after the fall. Thus, contrary to previous scholarship on Kuyper’s general revelation, Kuyper is essentially in agreement with Calvin and Bavinck on the subject of general revelation. Namely, Kuyper’s view of general revelation is more in continuity with the classic Reformed tradition than with Karl Barth’s(1886-1968). Second, even though all three theologians essentially agree on the subject of general revelation, there is a more positive attitude of general revelation in Calvin and Bavinck than in Kuyper. This is particularly clear in their discussions of the ongoing significance of general revelation after the fall. Despite some differences, however, the similarities far outweigh the differences. Kuyper is different from Calvin and Bavinck in some minor points, but he still works as a Reformed theologian.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Ⅰ. Introduction Ⅱ. The Objective Character of General Revelation Ⅲ. The Subjective Character of General Revelation Ⅳ. The Problem of the Previous Scholarship on the Theology of General Revelation in Calvin and Kuyper. V. Conclusion

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