Correcting Misconceptions About God's Nature in Theology
Understanding God's Nature in Theology
The concept of God's nature is central to Christian theology, and various traditions have grappled with understanding and articulating it. A key aspect of God's nature is His unity and uniqueness, as emphasized in the Bible. The scripture affirms that "God is one" [4], highlighting the monotheistic foundation of Christianity.
The biblical basis for understanding God's nature is rooted in various passages. For instance, the book of Job explores the theme of God's incomprehensibility, with Zophar noting that God's nature and perfections are beyond human understanding [6]. Similarly, the apostle Paul writes that there are certain aspects of God's nature that can be known through creation, but others remain beyond human comprehension [5].
One of the primary misconceptions about God's nature is the idea that humans can fully comprehend or search out God's being. According to John Gill, "God is not to be found out by human search; that there is a God may be found out by inquiring into the book of nature, but... what God is, his nature, being, and perfections" are beyond human understanding [3]. This sentiment is echoed in the writings of Matthew Henry, who notes that God's "nature and perfections our finite understandings cannot possibly form any adequate conceptions of" [6].
The Bible describes God's nature using various attributes, including justice, righteousness, and mercy. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines God's justice as "that perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does" [2]. This understanding is rooted in biblical passages that portray God as a just and righteous God.
Different Christian traditions have articulated God's nature in various ways. The Baptist/Reformed tradition, represented by John Gill, emphasizes the unity and simplicity of God's nature, arguing that God is one in nature and essence [4]. In contrast, the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, represented by Adam Clarke, highlights the importance of knowledge and understanding in grasping God's nature, noting that Christianity reveals God as the author of nature [7].
The biblical concept of the new birth also sheds light on God's nature, emphasizing God's role in regeneration and the transformation of human nature. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that the new birth is "effected by God" and is a work of the Holy Spirit [1].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: New Birth, The — The corruption of human nature requires -- Joh 3:6; Ro 8:7,8. None can enter heaven without -- Joh 3:3. Effected by God. -- Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:3. Christ. -- 1Jo 2:29. The Holy Spirit. -- Joh 3:6; Tit 3:5. Through the instrumentality of The word of God. -- Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23. The resurrection of Christ. -- 1Pe 1:3. The ministry of the gospel. -- 1Co 4:15. Is of the will of God -- Jas 1:18. Is of the mercy of God -- Tit 3:5. Is for the glory of God -- Isa 43:7. Described as A new creation. -- 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10. Newness of life. -- Ro 6:4. A spir”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justice of God — That perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does, the righteousness of the divine nature exercised in his moral government. At first God imposes righteous laws on his creatures and executes them righteously. Justice is not an optional product of his will, but an unchangeable principle of his very nature. His legislative justice is his requiring of his rational creatures conformity in all respects to the moral law. His rectoral or distributive justice is his dealing with his accountable creatures according”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 11:7: Canst thou by searching find out God?.... God is not to be found out by human search; that there is a God may be found out by inquiring into the book of nature, by considering the creatures that are made, who all proclaim some first cause or maker of them, who is God; but then it cannot be found out what God is, his nature, being, and perfections: an Heathen philosopher (i), being asked by a certain king what God was, required a day to give in his answer; when that was up he desired a second, and still went on asking more; and being demanded the reason of his dilatorines”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 3:26: Seeing it is one God,.... God is one in nature and essence, though there are three persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; whence it appears, that he that is the God of the Jews, is also the God of the Gentiles, or there would be more gods than one; and that these are justified in one and the same manner, or God must be divided; for God, as he is one in nature, so he is one in will, in his promises, and in the methods of his grace: which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. The objects of justification are "the circ”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 1:19: Because that which may be known of God,.... There are some things which could not be known of God by the light of nature; as a trinity of persons in the Godhead; the knowledge of God in Christ as Mediator; the God-man and Mediator Jesus Christ; his incarnation, sufferings, death, and resurrection; the will of God to save sinners by a crucified Jesus; the several peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, particularly the resurrection of the dead, and the manner of worshipping of God with acceptance: but then there are some things which may be known of God, without a revelation”
- Job (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Job 11:7: Zophar here speaks very good things concerning God and his greatness and glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly: these two compared together, and duly considered, will have a powerful influence upon our submission to all the dispensations of the divine Providence. I. See here what God is, and let him be adored. 1. He is an incomprehensible Being, infinite and immense, whose nature and perfections our finite understandings cannot possibly form any adequate conceptions of, and whose counsels and actings we cannot therefore, without the greatest presumption, pas”
- Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 3:10: And have put on the new man - See on Rom 12:1-2 (note). Is renewed in knowledge - Ignorance was the grand characteristic of the heathen state; Knowledge, of the Christian. The utmost to which heathenism could pretend was a certain knowledge of nature. How far this went, and how much it fell short of the truth, may be seen in the writings of Aristotle and Pliny. Christianity reveals God himself, the author of nature; or, rather, God has revealed himself, in the Christian system with which he has blessed mankind. Christianity teaches a man the true knowledge both ”