The work of the Holy Spirit in communicating God’s truth to man is now seen to have two stages. The first and objective stage is “revelation,” the disclosure of the truth in Scripture. The second and subjective stage may be called “illumination,” the enlightenment of our minds to comprehend the truth disclosed in Scripture. Each process is indispensable. Without revelation we have no truth to perceive; without illumination no faculty with which to perceive it.
Understanding the Bible Expanded Edition Copyright © 1972, 1976, 1984, 1999 by John Stott