Must divine revelation produce understanding? : Philosophical reflections on revelation and its realization

Abstract: This study addresses the problem of whether or not a concept of revelationin which revelation does not include the production of understanding insome recipient can be a suitable way of conceiving of divine revelation.The thesis is that it can be. Revelation, on such a construal, is the sort of act that has the capacity to produce understanding in someone, yet otherfactors play an important role for the actual outcome.In defending the thesis four main claims are argued for using speech acttheory in the process. First, it is argued that revelation is the sort of act that necessarily relates to persons that are capable of understanding therevelation. Second, it is argued that illocutionary acts have a communicative role to play, yet that one cannot conclude from this fact alone that they will be understood by their recipients. It is argued, thirdly, that it is possible to perform an illocutionary act (e.g., the making of an assertion) intending not to produce understanding in one's addressee in order to achieve a greater good. And, fourth, it is argued that in certain circumstances the media of a revelation may itself be the message.