Christian Theology Exam 2

Substantiality of God definition

That essential nature, a fundamental part, quality or aspect synonymous with essence. The essential nature of God. The substance to which all qualities adhere.

What makes God, God

Ontology of God: the nature of God as a being

Essence does not equal attributes

Essence - Nature: what is God as a being?

Attributes - Character: what is God like as a person?

Worship - Anthropomorphism

A figure of speech used to ascribe physical qualities for conceptual understanding

• E.g. The eyes of the Lord

Worship - Anthrozomorphism

A figure of speech using animal qualities for conceptual understanding

• E.g. Under His wings

Worship - Anthropopathism

A figure of speech used to ascribe emotional elements for conceptual understanding

• E.g. The Lord changed His mind

God’s essence: non-visible

inaccessible to the naked eye and physical senses

God’s essence: incorruptible

Without decay, depletion, or destruction

Theophanies

Where God temporarily manifests or appears in physical form for the benefit of the viewer

• E.g. Burning bush, gentle breeze, dove, a glory cloud, person of Jesus Christ

Internal Dimensions

God as a sentient being

Self-consciousness (intellect)

I am who I am

Self-determination (volition)

And what His soul desires, that He does

Sensibility (emotion)

Jacob I loved, Esau I hated

External Dimensions

Relationships with the Godhead and with humanity

Hebrew OT - “El

God

Hebrew OT - Eloheim

Plural for the purpose of amplification or emphasis

Possibly suggesting plurality within the Divine Unity

Greek NT - Theos

God

LORD in the English Bible - I AM

Ego eimi

YHWH - The Name

Kethiy - What is written in the text

Qere - What is read from the text

Tetragrammaton

The four Hebrew Consonants - YHWH

HaShem

The Name

Hebrew OT - Lord

Adonai - Lord of lords

Greek NT - Lord

Lurios

YHWH Sabaoth

LORD of Hosts

• Highest name of the Lord that a writer can use

• Used once in the NT - James

• Used in Almighty Fortress

• Frequently used in OT

• NOT sabbath

YHWH Elohim

LORD God

• El - mighty/power

• Gen 2:4

YHWH Adonai

Lord GOD

• Lord Lord

YHWH Jireh

The LORD provides

• God is a God who meets needs and provides for us

• Gen 22:14

YHWH Ropheka

The LORD Heals

• The great physician

YHWH Shalom

The LORD is Peace

• Contentment, satisfaction

YHWH Zidkenu

The LORD is our Righteousness

YHWH Shammah

The LORD is There

YHWH Raah

The LORD is my Shepherd

• Nurture and cave

YHWH Nissi

The LORD is my Banner

El Elyon

God Most High

• There is none higher

• God of gods

El Roi

God who sees

• Omniscience

El Olam

God Everlasting

• Eternal God

El Shaddai

God Almighty

• One who can make war

Epithets definition

A descriptive term or phrase expressing a quality or characteristic

Biblical Epithets for God

• Rock

• Husband

• Fortress

• Judge

• King

• Tower

• HaShem - The Name

  • Used frequently in Psalms

Glory of God

State: The radiance and reflection of His being - visible manifestation of His majesty and greatness

• Awe

Action: Exaltation and elevation of His being

To glorify God

Enhance God’s reputation and standing in the minds of rational creatures

Our words about God and our walk with God

Theocentric definition

God

Anthrocentric definition

Human

Attributes of God definition

What we know to be true of God from His revelation about Himself. What God has revealed to be true about Himself

• Characteristics

• Attributes are not individual parts of God

Incommunicable Attributes

Attributes that find no equal or analogy in creation. There is an absolute distinction between Creator and creation

Communicable Attributes

Attributes that find some limited parallel or analogy in creation

Incommunicable Attributes: Self-existence (Aseity)

The grounds of His existence is in Himself

• God: Non-contingent, uncaused, self-existent, independent

• Us: Contingent, caused, provisionally existent, dependent

Aseity definiiton

Recognizes the absolute self-sufficiency, independence, and autonomy of God

• God does not need anything

Simplicity/Unit of God

Describes a state or quality of being simple, the condition of being free from division into parts, and therefore from compositeness

Infinity of God

The Divine essence viewed as having no bounds, or limits

• If you can create an image of God, you have limited Him

Externality of God

That perfection of God whereby He is elevated above all temporal limits and all succession of moments, and possesses the whole of His existence in one indivisible present

• Not bound by time

Omnipresence of God - All Present

That perfection of Divine being by which He transcends all spatial limitations, and yeti s present in every point of space with His whole being

Omniscience of God - All Knowing

The perfection of God whereby He, in all entirely unique manner, knows Himself and all things possible and actual in one eternal and most simple act

• Knows every actual and potential realities

• Contrast: Open Theism

Open Theism - Openness of God

God comes to know

Omnipotence of God - All Power

The power of God is the Divine essence energizing, and producing outward effects

• God is able to do all that is consistent with His nature, will and character

• He cannot:

  • Lie

  • Seduced to evil

  • Sin

Omnisapience of God - All Wise

God is all-wise, and thus He applies His knowledge in such a way that the best means are employed to achieve the highest ends, and thus bring Him the greatest glory

• Distinct from omniscience

• Emphasized scripturally through creation, providence, redemption, the Church

Immutability - The Changelessness of God

God does NOT change in essence, attributes, consciousness, or will

• His attitude and His actions with reference to specific men in particular situations will change

• God has the ability to change in response to a changing creation

• Does not mean immobility

Perfection of God

God is absolutely complete. He does not fall short nor does He lack anything. He is absolutely complete in Himself; He is all that God ought to be

• Qualitative excellence

Sovereignty of God

He rules as King in the most absolute sense of the word

• God is in control

Communicable: Holiness of God

Sanctus: To set apart

Ethical: to set apart from sin

• Perfection of God by which He eternally wills and maintains His own moral excellence, abhors sin, and demands purity in His moral creatures

Transcendent or Majestic Holiness: to set apart from creation

• God is absolutely and totally distinct from all His creation, and is exalted above them in infinite majesty

• Awe

Communicable: Justice/Righteousness of God

The perfection of God by which He maintains Himself over against every violation of His holiness, and shows in every respect that He is the Holy One

• AKA applicational or practical dimensions of His holiness

Rectoral Justice

God manifests as the Ruler of both the good and evil

Distributive Justice

God’s rectitude in the execution of law, both in reference to the good and the evil. It relates to the distinction of rewards and punishment

Communicable: Love of God

That perfection of God by which He is eternally moved to self-communication

• Not sentimental, nostalgic, or emotive as in human love. It is an everlasting, changeless giving of Himself that should not be understood as human feelings, sentiment, or emotions

  • Giving of Himself - there’s no merit from us

• God’s love in spontaneous, voluntary, righteous, eternal

Communicable: Goodness/Kindness of God

That perfection of God which prompts Him to deal bountifully and kindly with all His creatures

• All that we have in this life is a privilege 

Communicable: Mercy of God - Pity, compassion, loving-kindness

Mercy is that eternal principle of God’s nature which leads Him to seek the temporal good and eternal salvation of those who have opposed themselves to His will, even at the cost of infinite self-service

Communicable: Truth of God - Veracity

That perfection of His being by virtue of which He fully answers to the idea of the Godhead, is perfectly reliable in His revelation, and sees things as they really are

• God is absolutely reliable

• Veracity emphasizes God’s habitual truthfulness and faithfulness

Modern Science 

Predicated on the belief in falsification - if something is not true, it is to be rejected

Communicable: Longsuffering of God

That aspect of the goodness of God in virtue of which He bears with the forward and evil in spite of their continued disobedience

• Synonymous with patience

Communicable: Grace of God

The unmerited favor of God to those who have forfeited it and are by nature under a sentence of condemnation

Communicable: Jealousy of God

The idea of God being deeply committed to seeking the honor or welfare of someone, whether self or someone else

True Worship should exalt God’s Person & Character

• Reverence

• Humility

• Exaltation

• Enjoyment

Doctrine of the Trinity

The Godhead exists as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who are in essence and nature, yet there is distinct person and work

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are coequal, coexistent, coeternal

Tri-Theism

There are three gods (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) who are united around a loose association called “Godhood”

• Modified or stipulated form of polytheism

• Three diving essences unique to each member of the Trinity

Modalism - Monarchianism - Sabellianism

Trinity is one of revelation or manifestation. Father-Son-Holy Spirit are manifestations, or modes, of various forms or roles of God

• Affirms singularity of the Divine nature, but denies uniqueness of individual personhood

Hebrew: Yahid

Singularity

• Only, only one, solitary

Hebrew: Ahad

One

Hebrew: Eloheim

Plural meaning

Trinity: Numeric

An affirmation of monotheism

Trinity: Generic

It is common to all three members

Ontological Trinity

Internal relationship of the Trinity (Inter-Trinitarian Relationship). This is the creedal Trinity as understood above, focusing on Divine being or nature

• Who God is

• Nature of being

Economic Trinity

External relationship of the Trinity to that which is outside the Trinity

• What God does

• Working order of the Trinity

• Each member has different roles within the Godhead and each has different roles in relation to the world

Decree of God

His eternal purpose according to the counsel of His will, whereby for His own glory, He hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass

Providence of God

God’s government of the entire moral universe through secondary causation, which government includes all that happens in human history, and by which He causes all things ultimately to fulfill His perfect purposes

• How God chooses to work

• Nothing is random

Pateriology

From the Greek pater meaning father. Study of the Father

Eternal Sonship

Jesus was always the Son

Incarnational Sonship

Jesus became the Son at birth

Monogenes (Only Begotten)

One of a king, one of a class - emphasis on uniqueness

Prototokos (First Born)

Emphasis on primacy and priority; the highest; most important