more on inspiration and revelation

Thesis: Not every revelation is accompanied by inspiration.

Definition of Terms: Inspiration: the special positive Divine influence and assistance by which a human agent is not merely preserved from liability to error but is guided and controlled in such a way that what he says or writes is truly the word of God; that God Himself is the principal author of the inspired utterance.

Revelation: the supernatural making known by God of some truth previously unknown (or at least not vouched for by Divine authority).

Argument: In every inspired utterance God is the chief author; therefore, every inspired utterance also falls under the province of revelation. When God inspires, He is making known some truth in a supernatural way. Inspiration then is a mode of revelation, a way in which God reveals Himself or some other truth. But there is nothing in the definitions above that calls for inspiration being the only mode of revelation. God can give a revelation without inspiring the person to whom it is given. For example, as Moses stood before the burning bush he received a revelation, though Moses was not at that moment inspired. Furthermore, Jesus taught the crowds; that is, they heard Christ reveal God, but the crowds were not inspired as they received that revelation. Finally, when we read Scripture we are reading a revelation given to mankind by God, although we are not inspired when we read it or talk about it. Therefore, not every revelation is accompanied by inspiration.