Illumination

What is illumination?

Jesus teaches his disciples in John 14:26, “[the Holy Spirit] will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”. He later added, “He will guide you into all truth. Illumination is the work of the Holy Spirit, in teaching, brining back to memory, and imparting the truth of God’s Word (the very Word he inspired) to God’s people. Illumination is the work of the Holy Spirit in helping God’s people understand the very Word He wrote. Illumination is the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit where He opens the eyes, ears, and hearts of God’s people to be empowered, transformed, and sanctified through the word of God (Psalm 119:18). Illumination is one of the greatest works the Holy Spirit does while He indwells a believer after they are regenerated and come to Christ.

On a side note, as the Holy Spirit illuminates His Word for His people, they must also do the hard work of correct interpretation and hermeneutics. I believe scripture should be interpreted grammatically, historically, rhetorically, theologically. (2 Timothy 2:15) When a Christian interprets the Bible he should be careful to seek the illumination of the Holy Spirit to accurately interpret the Scripture. (John 16:13-14, John 14:26). Yet as the Christ does the hard work of correctly interpreting the Word of God, the Spirit illuminates and blesses the work by transferring and blessing the child of God.