Scripture Self-Revealing View
May 22 2025
The defining characteristic of this view is seeing Scripture as the primary means of making individual career decisions. This is different than the view that Scripture is important for career decisions. On the Scripture Self-Revealing View, the Bible not only provides general guidelines and principles; is the primary means for direct individual guidance to each believer for career decisions.
Means of discernment
While prayer is considered important, it is secondary to Scripture.
Direct supernatural revelation is acknowledged but less emphasized than Scripture and subject to Scripture. However, adherents of this view may seek personal supernatural guidance from the Bible, for example Bible verses that they feel speak to them particularly in their situation.
Reason is de-emphasized compared to direct guidance from Scripture.
Community is also less emphasized than Scripture.
Example
Facing a career decision, people holding the Scripture Self-Revealing View might do a Bible study and look for passages and verses that provide decisive actionable guidance for their specific situation.
Comparison with the CFI View
In the CFI view, the Bible provides guidelines and general principles, as well as spiritual direction and encouragement, but doesn’t usually provide direct guidance for all different circumstances and career situations. Rather, Christians need to apply its teachings to various situations.
While the Scripture Self-Revealing View doesn’t place special emphasis on impact, impact considerations can be included and expressed in Biblical framings. These could include the Parable of the Talents or focusing on advancing things God cares about based on Scripture.
CFI also finds the Parable of Talents and other passages that build biblical principles round impact and effectively helping others.
We believe our top focus areas align with Scripture—see our problem profiles for more.
Example thinker
John Piper