\n \n <\/p>\n Crawford Gribben<\/a><\/p>\n <\/em>\n <\/p>\n Now more than ever, it\u2019s time to pick up Owen and find his encouragement for the Christian life.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n \n \n <\/p>\n John Owen<\/a><\/p>\n <\/em>\n <\/p>\n There are some generally allowed principles, which, though not always duly considered, yet cannot at any time be modestly denied, that give direction toward the right performance of our duty [of prayer] herein.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n \n
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\n 10 Things You Should Know about John Owen
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\n 8 Principles of Prayer from John Owen
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\n 6 Questions about John Owen
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The Divine Origin of the Scriptures<\/h2>\n
1. That the whole authority of the Scripture in itself, depends solely on its divine original, is confessed by all who acknowledge its authority. The evincing and declaration of that authority, being the thing at present aimed at; the discovery of its divine spring and rise, is in the first place, necessarily to be premised thereunto. That foundation being once laid, we shall be able to educe our following reasonings and arguments, wherein we aim more at weight than number, from their own proper principles.<\/p>\n
The Original of the Old Testament<\/h2>\n
2. As to the original of the Scripture of the Old Testament, it is said, God spoke \u03c0\u03ac\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03ae\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2 (Heb. 1:1); \u201cof old,\u201d or \u201cformerly in the prophets.\u201d From the days of Moses the lawgiver, and downward, unto the consignation and bounding of the canon delivered to the Judaical Church, in the days of Ezra and his companions, \u05d4\u05d2\u05d3\u05d5\u05dc\u05d4 \u05db\u05e0\u05e1\u05ea \u05d0\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9 the \u201cmen of the great congregation,\u201d so God spoke. This being done only among the Jews, they as his church, \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03b8\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u1f70 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6 (Rom. 3:2; 9:4), were \u201centrusted with the oracles of God.\u201d God spoke, \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03ae\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2; 1<\/sup> \u1f10\u03bd for \u03b4\u03b9\u03ac2<\/sup> \u201cin\u201d for \u201cby\u201d: \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03b7\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd, \u201cby the prophets,\u201d as Luke 1:70, \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f01\u03b3\u03af\u03c9\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03b7\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd, \u201cby the mouth of the holy prophets\u201d; but there seems to be somewhat further intended in this expression.<\/p>\n 3. In the exposition, or giving out the eternal counsel of the mind and will of God unto men, there is considerable3<\/sup> his speaking unto the prophets, and his speaking by them unto us. In this expression, it seems to be, that \u05db\u05d9\u05dc 4<\/sup> or filia vocis, 5<\/sup> that voice from heaven that came to the prophets which is understood. So God spoke in the prophets, and in reference thereunto there is propriety in that expression, \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03ae\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2, \u201cin the prophets.\u201d Thus the Psalms are many of them said to be, to this, or that man: \u05dc\u05d3\u05d5\u05d3 \u05de\u05db\u05ea\u05dd\u201d A golden psalm to David\u201d; that is, from the Lord; and from thence their tongue was as the pen of a writer (Ps. 45:1). So God spoke in them, before he spoke by them.<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n John Owen<\/a>, <\/p>\n Andrew M. Leslie<\/a><\/p>\n <\/em> Volume 28 of The Complete Works of John Owen explores Owen\u2019s work on topics including\u00a0the integrity of Scripture, the nature and celebration of the sacraments, and practical church matters.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n 4. The various ways of special revelation, by dreams, visions, audible voices, inspirations, with that peculiar one of the lawgiver under the Old Testament, called \u05d0\u05dc\u05be\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd\u201d face to face\u201d (Ex. 33:11; Deut. 34:10): and \u05d0\u05dc\u05be\u05e4\u05d4 \u05e4\u05d46<\/sup> (Num. 12:8); with that which is compared with it, and exalted above it (Heb. 1:1\u20133) in the New, by the Son, \u1f10\u03ba \u03ba\u03cc\u03bb\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2, \u201cfrom the bosom of the Father\u201d (John 1:17, 18),7<\/sup> are not of my present consideration, all of them belonging to the manner of the thing inquired after, not the thing itself. <\/p>\n 5. By the assertion then laid down of God \u201cspeaking in the prophets of old,\u201d from the beginning to the end of that long tract of time, consisting of one thousand years, wherein he gave out the writings of the Old Testament; two things are ascertained unto us, which are the foundation of our present discourse. <\/p>\n 6. First,8<\/sup> that the laws they made known, the doctrines they delivered, the instructions they gave, the stories they recorded, the promises of Christ, the prophecies of gospel times they gave out, and revealed, were not their own, not conceived in their minds, not formed by their reasonings, not retained in their memories from what they heard not by any means beforehand comprehended by them (1 Pet. 1:10, 11), but were all of them immediately from God; there being only a passive concurrence of their rational faculties in their reception, without any such active obedience, as by any law they might be obliged unto. Hence, <\/p>\n 7. Secondly, God was so with them, and by the Holy Ghost so spoke in them, as to their receiving of the word from him, and their delivering of it unto others by speaking or writing, as that they were not themselves enabled by any habitual light, knowledge or conviction of truth, to declare his mind and will, but only acted, as they were immediately moved by him. Their tongue in what they said, or their hand in what they wrote, was \u05e1\u05d5\u05e4\u05e8 \u05e2\u05d89<\/sup> no more at their own disposal, than the pen is, in the hand of an expert writer. <\/p>\n 8. Hence, as far as their own personal concernments, as saints, and believers did lie in them, they are said \u1f10\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03bd\u1fb6\u03bd, to make a \u201cdiligent inquiry\u201d into, and investigation of the things, which \u1f10\u03b4\u03ae\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f10\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6, \u201cthe Spirit of Christ,\u201d that spoke \u201cin themselves did signify\u201d (1 Pet. 1:10, 11). Without this, though their visions were express, so that in them their eyes were said to be open (Num. 24:3, 4); yet they understood them not. Therefore also, they studied the writings and prophecies of one another (Dan. 9:2). Thus they attained a saving useful habitual knowledge of the truths delivered by themselves and others, by the illumination of the Holy Ghost, through the study of the word, even as we (Ps. 119:104). But as to the receiving of the word from God, as God spoke in them, they obtained nothing by study or meditation by inquiry or reading (Amos 7:15). Whether we consider the matter, or manner of what they received, and delivered, or their receiving and delivering of it, they were but as an instrument of music, giving a sound according to the hand, intention, and skill of him that strikes it. <\/p>\n 9. This is variously expressed. Generally, it is said \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u201d the word was\u201d to this, or that prophet, which we have rendered, \u201cthe word came\u201d unto them (Ezek. 1:3) \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 it \u201ccame expressly;\u201d essendo fuit; 10<\/sup> it had a subsistence given unto it, or an effectual in-being, by the Spirit\u2019s entering into him (Ezek. 1:14).11<\/sup> Now this coming of the word unto them, had oftentimes such a greatness, and expression of the majesty of God upon it, as filled them with dread and reverence of him (Hab. 3:16), and also greatly affected even their outward man (Dan. 8:27). But this dread and terror (which Satan strove to imitate in his filthy tripods, and \u1f10\u03b3\u03b3\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03af\u03bc\u03c5\u03b8\u03bf\u03b912<\/sup>) was peculiar to the Old Testament, and belonged to the pedagogy thereof (Heb. 12:18\u201321). The Spirit in the declaration of the New Testament, gave out his mind and will in a way of more liberty and glory (2 Cor. 3). The expressness and immediacy of revelation was the same; but the manner of it related more to that glorious liberty in fellowship and communion with the Father, whereunto believers had then an access provided them by Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:8; Heb. 10:19, 20; Heb. 12:23\u201324). So our Savior tells his apostles (Matt. 10:20) \u03bf\u1f51\u03c7 \u1f51\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5 \u03bf\u1f31 \u03bb\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2; 13<\/sup> \u201cyou are not the speakers\u201d of what you deliver, as other men are, the figment and imagination of whose hearts are the fountain of all that they speak; and he adds this reason \u03c4\u1f78 \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1fe6\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03bb\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd \u1f51\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd; 14 \u201cthe Spirit of the Father (is) he that speaketh in you.\u201d Thus the word that came unto them, was a book which they took in, and gave out without any alteration of one tittle or syllable (Ezek. 2:8\u201310; Ezek. 3:3; Rev. 10:9\u201311). <\/p>\n 10. Moreover, when the word was thus come to the prophets, and God had spoken in them, it was not in their power to conceal it, the hand of the Lord being strong upon them. They were not now only on a general account to utter the truth they were made acquainted withal, and to speak the things they had heard and seen, which was their common preaching work according to the analogy of what they had received (Acts 4:20); but also the very individual words that they had received were to be declared. When the word was come to them, it was as a fire within them, that must be delivered, or it would consume them (Ps. 39:3; Jer. 20:9; Amos 3:8, Amos 7:15\u201316). So Jonah found his attempt to hide the word that he had received, to be altogether vain.<\/p>\n 11. Now because these things are of great importance and the foundation of all that does ensue; namely, the discovery that the word is come forth unto us from God, without the least mixture or intervenience15<\/sup> of any medium obnoxious to fallibility (as is the wisdom, truth, integrity, knowledge, and memory, of the best, of all men), I shall further consider it from one full and eminent declaration thereof, given unto us (2 Pet. 1:20\u201321). The words of the Holy Ghost are; \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03bf \u03c0\u03c1\u1ff6\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03b3\u03b9\u03bd\u03ce\u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2, \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c0\u1fb6\u03c3\u03b1 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1 \u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u1fc6\u03c2, \u1f30\u03b4\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03bb\u03cd\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f50 \u03b3\u03af\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, \u03bf\u1f50 \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bb\u03ae\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9 \u1f00\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03ce\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f20\u03bd\u03ad\u03c7\u03b8\u03b7 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u1f72 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1, \u1f00\u03bb\u03bb\u02bc \u1f51\u03c0\u1f78 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f01\u03b3\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c6\u03b5\u03c1\u03cc\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9 \u1f10\u03bb\u03ac\u03bb\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03bf\u1f31 \u1f05\u03b3\u03b9\u03bf\u03b9 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f04\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9, \u201cKnowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation; for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.\u201d <\/p>\n 12. That which he speaks of is, \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5\u03af\u03b1 \u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u1fc6\u03c2; the prophecy of Scripture, or \u201cwritten prophecy.\u201d There were then traditions among the Jews, to whom Peter wrote, exalting themselves into competition with the written word, which not long after got the title of an oral law, pretending to have its original from God. These the apostle tacitly condemns; and also shows under what formality he considered that, which (2 Pet. 1:19) he termed \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03b7\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc\u03c2, the \u201cword of prophecy\u201d; namely as written. The written word, as such, is that whereof he speaks. Above fifty times is \u1f21 \u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03ae, or \u03b1\u1f31 \u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03b1\u03af, 16<\/sup> in the New Testament put absolutely for the word of God. And \u05db\u05ea\u05d117<\/sup> is so used in the Old for the word of prophecy (2 Chron. 21:12). It is the \u1f21 \u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03ae, that is \u03b8\u03b5\u03cc\u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 (2 Tim. 3:16); \u201cthe writing,\u201d or \u201cword written,\u201d is \u201cby inspiration from God.\u201d Not only the doctrine in it, but the \u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03ae itself, or the doctrine as written, is so from him.<\/p>\n \n Notes:<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n This article is adapted from<\/em> The Church, the Scriptures, and the Sacraments (Volume 28)<\/a> by John Owen and edited by Andrew M. Leslie.<\/em><\/p>\n ![\"The](\"https:\/\/static.crossway.org\/studio-files\/media\/eba211cc84d191fbb437d009390e2ba161041d79.jpg\")
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\n <\/h3>\nSeveral Ways of Immediate Revelation<\/h2>\n
The Peculiar Manner of the Revelation of the Word and Considerations Thereon<\/h2>\n
Various Expressions of That Way (2 Pet. 1:20\u201321)<\/h2>\n
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