God's Character in Scripture Across Cultural and Historical Contexts
The character of God in Scripture is consistently portrayed across various cultural and historical contexts, emphasizing attributes such as holiness, righteousness, faithfulness, and love. The Bible takes the existence of God for granted, focusing instead on His nature and actions [1].
In the Old Testament, God is frequently described through terms like El, signifying strength, and Elohim, a plural form often used to denote the Divine Being [1]. Another significant name, Jehovah, is consistently rendered as "LORD" in English translations [1]. The prophet Micah, for instance, highlights God's uniqueness, posing the rhetorical question, "Where is another God like you?" [6]. This uniqueness is tied to His "unfailing love" (Hebrew khesed), which leads Him to restore His people despite their judgment, and His faithfulness, which ensures He can be trusted [6]. This khesed is further described as the "undeserved kindness and loyalty of a superior to an inferior" [9].
God's character serves as the standard for holiness, as seen in commands like "Be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16) [3]. This holiness is a motive for godly fear, alongside His greatness and goodness [4]. The concept of "fearing God" is not merely dread but includes a hatred of evil and is described as wisdom [4].
The New Testament continues to affirm these characteristics, often applying them to Jesus Christ. Christ is described as "altogether lovely," holy, righteous, good, faithful, true, and just [2]. He is also portrayed as sinless, spotless, and guileless, serving as an example of holiness for believers [2, 3]. The apostle Paul emphasizes that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," meaning both Old and New Testaments are divinely breathed and reveal God's character [7]. The divine title "Lord," representing the Old Testament name Yahweh, is frequently applied to Jesus in the New Testament, indicating His divine authority [8].
The revelation of God's character has been made "at sundry times and in divers manners" throughout history, demonstrating a consistent divine authorship behind both Old and New Testament accounts [5]. This consistent portrayal of God's character, marked by attributes such as unfailing love, faithfulness, and holiness, provides a unified theological understanding across the biblical narrative [6, 9].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, Character Of — Altogether lovely -- Song 5:16. Holy -- Lu 1:35; Ac 4:27; Re 3:7. Righteous -- Isa 53:11; Heb 1:9. Good -- Mt 19:16. Faithful -- Isa 11:5; 1Th 5:24. True -- Joh 1:14; 7:18; 1Jo 5:20. Just -- Zec 9:9; Joh 5:30; Ac 22:14. Guileless -- Isa 53:9; 1Pe 2:22. Sinless -- Joh 8:46; 2Co 5:21. Spotless -- 1Pe 1:19. Innocent -- Mt 27:4. Harmless -- Heb 7:26. Resisting temptation -- Mt 4:1-10. Obedient to God the Father -- Ps 40:8; Joh 4:34; 15:10. Zealous -- Lu 2:49; Joh 2:17; 8:29. Meek -- Isa 53:7; Zec 9:9; Mt 11:29. Lowly in heart -- Mt 11:29. Merciful ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Godly — God is the object of -- Isa 8:13. God is the author of -- Jer 32:39,40. Searching the Scriptures gives the understanding of -- Pr 2:3-5. Described as Hatred of evil. -- Pr 8:13. Wisdom. -- Job 28:28; Ps 111:10. A treasure to saints. -- Pr 15:16; Isa 33:6. A fountain of life. -- Pr 14:27. Sanctifying. -- Ps 19:9. Filial and reverential. -- Heb 12:9,28. Commanded -- De 13:4; Ps 22:23; Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Motives to The holiness of God. -- Re 15:4. The greatness of God. -- De 10:12,17. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The forgiveness of God. -- Ps 130:4.”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 1:1: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners,.... The apostle begins the epistle with an account of the revelation God has made of his mind and will in former times: the author of this revelation is God, not essentially, but personally considered, even God the Father, as distinguished from his Son in the next verse; for the revelation under the Old Testament is divine, as well as that under the New; in this they both agree, in whatsoever else they differ: and this revelation was made at several times, at different seasons, and to different persons; and consisted of ”
- Micah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Micah 7:18: 7:18-20 These verses provide a fine brief summary of Old Testament theology. God is unique; there is no one and nothing else like him. Because of his unfailing love (Hebrew khesed), he does not destroy his people whom he judges but instead restores them (see Exod 36:6-7). His faithfulness means that he can be trusted to do good regardless of the cost to himself (see Ps 89:1-2). • Where is another God like you: This question probably plays off of Micah’s name (“Who is like the Lord?”). God’s character is unequaled among the gods of the nations. His actions and words”
- 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3:15: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,.... That is, all holy Scripture; for of that only the apostle is speaking; and he means the whole of it; not only the books of the Old Testament, but of the New, the greatest part of which was now written; for this second epistle to Timothy is by some thought to be the last of Paul's epistles; and this also will hold good of what was to be written; for all is inspired by God, or breathed by him: the Scriptures are the breath of God, the word of God and not men; they are "written by the Spirit", as the Syriac version ren”
- Phil (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Phil 2:10: 2:10-11 The entire creation, including spiritual powers and angels, humans on earth, and those who have died, will one day acknowledge the authority of Jesus Christ as Lord (see Eph 1:9-10, 21; Col 1:20-25; 1 Pet 3:22). • every tongue declare (cp. Isa 45:23; Rom 14:11): This does not imply universal salvation, because not all will confess him as Lord freely out of love and devotion. • Lord, a divine title representing the Old Testament name Yahweh, is frequently applied to Jesus in the New Testament.”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 15:13: 15:13-18 The people God has redeemed have confidence for the future. In light of what the Lord had done in rescuing Israel from his enemies, there was no question that he would be able to carry through on his promise to take them safely into the Promised Land. 15:13 In light of God’s unfailing love and his might, there is no reason to doubt that he will be able to keep his promises. “Unfailing love” is a translation of the Hebrew word khesed, which speaks of the undeserved kindness and loyalty of a superior to an inferior. It is the most frequent descriptor of Go”