Common Grace -- By: Cornelius Van Til

Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 09:1 (Nov 1946)
Article: Common Grace
Author: Cornelius Van Til


Common Grace

Third Article

Cornelius Van Til

3. Hepp

Hepp has offered us a well-worked out discussion of Reformed epistemology. His book in which he does so is called Het Testimonium Spiritus Sancti. In the first volume he deals with what he calls the general testimony of the Spirit. It is to be followed by another, in which he is to deal with the special testimony of the Spirit.

Hepp wants to build on what Bavinck and other Reformed theologians have done. In modern times Bavinck has come nearer than any one else to teaching a general testimony of the Spirit. But even he did not mention it by name. He only prepared the way for the idea (op. cit., I, p. 98). When we come to the definitely constructive portion of Hepp’s work, the argument he presents runs somewhat as follows. As the special testimony of the Spirit testifies within us to the truth of Scripture, so the general testimony of the Spirit testifies within us to truth in general (ibid., p. 140). The whole of the world about us is a manifestation of the truths of God. It is the Spirit’s task to set forth the fulness of this revelation before the eyes of men. This may be called the testimonium Spiritus Sancti externum. This external testimony reveals to man; but to this must be added the internal testimony to assure men of the truth of this revelation. “Why? All revelation takes place by way of means. This is always true whether or not the revelation pertain to God or to created things. God never reveals Himself directly to us, but always through something that stands between Him and our ego. If not we should need to be able to look into the very essence of God,

we should need to be fitted for a visio Dei per essentiam” (ibid., p. 147). Revelation as such cannot give us certainty. If we had nothing but revelation, says Hepp, we should be compelled to believe in the objects on their own account. We should therefore rather say that the objects are but messengers of the Holy Spirit. Absolute certainty I, as a creature, can obtain only when the Holy Spirit, quite independently of the objects themselves, makes me believe that their revelation brings the truth to me. And that takes place when I receive the testimonium generate internum (ibid., p. 148). This, says Hepp, is the essence of the testimony of the Spirit. It assures but does not reveal. It assures me of the truth of the revelation about me.

This general testimony, however, does not assure me of all truth. It assures me of central truths only (ibid., p. 149). These several truths do not relate to one another as members of a hierarchy. They are relatively independent of one an...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()