George H. Warnock — Prolegomena
b6 — Who Are You?
Epistemological Method: The Word of God Above Knowledge and Understanding
In the Introduction, Warnock formulates a radical epistemological starting point: mere knowledge or understanding — even of the Bible — is insufficient. Only the living, creative Word from the mouth of God suffices:
“it is not mere knowledge or understanding that we really need—not even of the Bible. But we need that creative Word out from the mouth of God, if indeed we are going to be able to embrace it as a living seed that will become PREGNANT within us, and bring forth after its kind.” (who-intro.html)
Interpretation: Warnock sets the living, pneumatic Word over against intellectual Bible knowledge as the primary epistemological source. Knowledge of Scripture without the creative Word is epistemologically insufficient.
Special Revelation: The Gospel as a Revealed Secret
In chapter 6, Warnock formulates an explicit doctrine of revelation based on his exegesis of Eph. 3:8-10. The gospel is not a transmittable message but a “mystery” — a secret that can only be unveiled by the Spirit:
“The gospel is not just a message declared… IT IS A SECRET REVEALED. For the word ‘mystery’ means ‘secret’ …a secret that is made known to those who are initiated into it.” (who6.html)
“Scales have to be removed from blinded eyes before men are able to ‘SEE what is the fellowship of the mystery’.” (who6.html)
Warnock cites 2 Cor. 4:4 as a structural explanation for the epistemological blindness of humanity:
“‘The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.’ (2 Cor. 4:4)” (who6.html)
And cites 1 Cor. 2:7-10 as the positive doctrine of revelation:
“‘But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory… But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit.’ (1 Cor. 2:7-10)” (who6.html)
Warnock’s conclusion:
“No one can come to know God, except blinded eyes are opened, and deaf ears unstopped. The gospel is a ‘mystery’, a ‘secret’ that men can only know as the Spirit of God reveals Christ to their hearts.” (who6.html)
Interpretation: Warnock articulates an exclusive revelatory epistemology: knowledge of God is by definition special revelation through the Spirit. There is no alternative access via reason or intellect.
The Holy Spirit as the True Source of Knowledge
Warnock grounds his epistemology in 1 Cor. 2:10 and 12:
“‘For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.’ (1 Cor. 2:10)” (who6.html)
Warnock draws from this a methodological objection to simplification of the gospel:
“And now we are told to forget all those deep things, and get on with preaching the simple gospel. The gospel is that ministration by the Spirit which searches out the depths of God. For what purpose? ‘That we might know the things that are freely given to us of God’ (vs. 12).” (who6.html)
Interpretation: For Warnock, the Holy Spirit is not an aid to proclamation but the actual source of theological content. The Spirit’s ministry consists precisely in searching “the deep things of God”; superficial gospel proclamation bypasses this knowledge function.
Faith and Reason: The World Knew Not God by Wisdom
In chapter 7, Warnock sharply contrasts worldly logic with the wisdom of the cross, based on 1 Cor. 1:21-24:
“‘For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.’ (1 Cor. 1:21-24)” (who7.html)
Warnock draws from this a methodological conclusion for theology and ministry:
“There are many schools and colleges of religion that will teach you how to become successful in ministry. But only the School of Obedience will teach you how to become weak, that you might become strong; how to become fools, that you might become wise.” (who7.html)
Interpretation: Warnock rejects the academic method as an epistemological path to knowledge of God. The “School of Obedience” — identification with the cross — is the only legitimate theological method. This directly links his epistemology to the methodological positions of b4 (The Hyssop).
Authority: The Wisdom of the Cross as Methodological Principle
Warnock connects his theory of authority to the pattern of Paul who preached precisely in weakness:
“Paul said our Lord was ‘crucified through weakness’ (2 Cor. 13:4)… and the apostle tells us that this kind of ‘weakness’ is ‘stronger than men’ (1 Cor. 1:25).” (who7.html)
On Christ’s identification with a suffering Lamb-people:
“HE REIGNS AS THE LAMB, BECAUSE IT IS HIS INTENTION TO BRING FORTH THE CHARACTER OF THE LAMB IN US, THAT WE TOO MIGHT REIGN WITH HIM, IN HIS THRONE (Rev. 3:21).” (who7.html)
Interpretation: [TENSION with academic theology] Warnock constructs a counter-academic theory of authority: the power of the cross-principle (weakness/obedience) replaces intellectual or institutional authority as the source of theological standing. Authority is not a matter of knowledge but of identification.