Creator's Right to Give and Take Life in Theology

The theological concept of God's right to give and take life stems from the understanding that God is the ultimate Creator of all things ^{[1, 5]}. This creative act is attributed to the Godhead, including the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ^[1]. God called all things into being "out of nothing" through an act of free will and for wise reasons ^[1].

Life itself is considered a gift from God ^{[3, 9]}. The Bible states that God is the author of life, as seen in Genesis 2:7 and Acts 17:28 ^[2]. The Holy Spirit is specifically noted for creating and giving life ^[7]. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on Acts 17:25, emphasizes that God gives life and breath to all creatures, highlighting that He does not need anything from humanity, having provided all things Himself ^[12]. John Gill, commenting on Job 10:11, describes natural life, including the quickening in the womb and birth, as a "grant" or gift from God, who gives life and breath to all creatures ^[9].

Because God is the source of life, He also holds the power over its duration. Ecclesiastes 3:2 states there is "a time to be born, and a time to die" ^[6]. This divine prerogative extends to both natural life and eternal life. John 5:21 indicates that "as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires" ^[4]. Eternal life is revealed by Christ and is given by God through Christ to those who believe ^{[8, 13]}. John Gill notes that the Father has "life in himself" and has given the Son to have life in himself, securing eternal life for His chosen ones ^[11].

The concept of God's sovereignty over life implies that human life is not to be taken away by others, as stated in Exodus 20:13 ^[2]. While human life is described as vain, limited, short, and uncertain, God's loving-kindness is considered better than life itself ^[2]. The purpose of creation, according to Revelation 4:11, is for God's pleasure, and Adam Clarke interprets this to mean that God hates nothing He has made and would not create intelligent beings with the design to make them eternally miserable ^[10].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Creation — "In the beginning" God created, i.e., called into being, all things out of nothing. This creative act on the part of God was absolutely free, and for infinitely wise reasons. The cause of all things exists only in the will of God. The work of creation is attributed (1) to the Godhead (Gen. 1:1, 26); (2) to the Father (1 Cor. 8:6); (3) to the Son (John 1:3; Col. 1:16, 17); (4) to the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Ps. 104:30). The fact that he is the Creator distinguishes Jehovah as the true God (Isa. 37:16; 40:12, 13; 54:5; Ps. 96:5; Jer. 10:11, 12). Th”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Natural — God is the author of -- Ge 2:7; Ac 17:28. God preserves -- Ps 36:6; 66:9. Is in the hand of God -- Job 12:10; Da 5:23. Forfeited by sin -- Ge 2:17; 3:17-19. Of others, not to be taken away -- Ex 20:13. Described as Vain. -- Ec 6:12. Limited. -- Job 7:1; 14:5. Short. -- Job 14:1; Ps 89:47. Uncertain. -- Jas 4:13-15. Full of trouble. -- Job 14:1. God's loving-kindness better than -- Ps 63:3. The value of -- Job 2:4; Mt 6:25. Preserved by discretion -- Pr 13:3. Sometimes prolonged, in answer to prayer -- Isa 38:2-5; Jas 5:15. Obedience to God, tends to p”
Ecclesiastes “Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. -- Ecclesiastes 5:19”
John “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. -- John 5:21”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Creation — The formation of things which had no previous existence -- Ro 4:17; Heb 11:3. Effected By God. -- Ge 1:1; 2:4,5; Pr 26:10. By Christ. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. By the Holy Spirit. -- Job 26:13; Ps 104:30. By the command of God. -- Ps 33:9; Heb 11:3. In the beginning. -- Ge 1:1; Mt 24:21. In six normal days. -- Ex 20:11; 31:17. According to God's purpose. -- Ps 135:6. For God's pleasure. -- Pr 16:4; Re 4:11. For Christ. -- Col 1:16. By faith we believe, to be God's work -- Heb 11:3. Order of First day, making light and dividing it from darkness. -- Ge 1:3-5;”
Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 3:2 (LITV) — a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pull up what is planted;”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holy Spirit, the Personality Of — He creates and gives life -- Job 33:4. He appoints and commissions ministers -- Isa 48:16; Ac 13:2; 20:28. He directs ministers where to preach -- Ac 8:29; 10:19,20. He directs ministers where not to preach -- Ac 16:6,7. He instructs ministers what to preach -- 1Co 2:13. He spoke in, and by, the prophets -- Ac 1:16; 1Pe 1:11,12; 2Pe 1:21. He strives with sinners -- Ge 6:3. He reproves -- Joh 16:8. He comforts -- Ac 9:31. He helps our infirmities -- Ro 8:26. He teaches -- Joh 14:26; 1Co 12:3. He guides -- Joh 16:13. He sanctifies -- R”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Eternal — Christ is -- 1Jo 1:2; 5:20. Revealed by Christ -- Joh 6:68; 2Ti 1:10. To know God and Christ is -- Joh 17:3. Given By God. -- Ps 133:3; Ro 6:23. By Christ. -- Joh 6:27; 10:28. In Christ. -- 1Jo 5:11. Through Christ. -- Ro 5:21; 6:23. To all given to Christ. -- Joh 17:2. To those who believe in God. -- Joh 5:24. To those who believe in Christ. -- Joh 3:15,16; 6:40,47. To those who hate life for Christ. -- Joh 12:25. In answer to prayer. -- Ps 21:4. Revealed in the Scriptures -- Joh 5:39. Results from Drinking the water of life. -- Joh 4:14. Eating the ”
Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 10:11: Thou hast granted me life and favour,.... Or "lives" (q); natural life; both in the womb, where and when he was quickened, and at his birth, when he was brought into the world, and began to live in it; the rational soul may be intended, by which he lived; which, when created and infused into man, and united to his body, he becomes a living man; it is the presence of that which causes life, and the absence or removal of that which causes death; and this is a "grant" or gift from God, who gives to all his creatures life and breath, and all things; see Job 33:4; and is a "”
Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 4:11: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive - Thus all creation acknowledges the supremacy of God; and we learn from this song that he made all things for his pleasure; and through the same motive he preserves. Hence it is most evident, that he hateth nothing that he has made, and could have made no intelligent creature with the design to make it eternally miserable. It is strange that a contrary supposition has ever entered into the heart of man; and it is high time that the benevolent nature of the Supreme God should be fully vindicated from aspersions of this kind.”
John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 5:26: For as the Father hath life in himself,.... Is the living God, the fountain of life, and is the author of life to all living creatures; or rather has eternal life in his mind, his heart, his counsel, and his covenant, and in his hands, for all his chosen ones, which seems to he the peculiar sense here: so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; he hath not only made the purpose of it in him, and given the promise of it to him; but even eternal life itself, he has put into his hands, and secured it in him for them, Jo1 5:11, to give it to as many as he has gi”
Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 17:25: Neither is worshiped with men's hands - This is an indirect stroke against making of images, and offering of sacrifices: he is not worshipped with human hands, as if he needed any thing, or required to be represented under a particular form or attitude; nor has he required victims for his support; for it is impossible that he should need any thing who himself gives being, form, and life, to all creatures. Giveth - life, and breath, and all things - These words are elegantly introduced by St. Paul: God gives life, because he is the fountain of it: he gives breath, the”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 5:11: hath given--Greek, aorist: "gave" once for all. Not only "promised" it. life is in his Son--essentially (Joh 1:4; Joh 11:25; Joh 14:6); bodily (Col 2:9); operatively (Ti2 1:10) [LANGE in ALFORD]. It is in the second Adam, the Son of God, that this life is secured to us, which, if left to depend on us, we should lose, like the first Adam.”

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