Character of God Revealed in Scripture Stories

The character of God is revealed throughout Scripture, not only through direct statements but also through narratives that illustrate divine attributes and actions ^{[11, 12]}. These stories provide insight into God's nature, demonstrating qualities such as holiness, goodness, and wisdom, and establishing standards for human conduct ^{[1, 2, 5]}.

One prominent aspect of God's character is His holiness. Scripture commands believers to "be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16) ^[2]. This divine attribute serves as the ultimate standard for human holiness, which Christ desires for His people and exemplifies in His own life ^[2]. The gospel itself is presented as the way of holiness, necessary for worship and for seeing God ^[2].

God's goodness is another frequently emphasized characteristic. It is described as great, rich, abundant, satisfying, enduring, and universal ^[5]. This goodness is manifested in various ways: in doing good, supplying temporal needs, providing for the poor, and forgiving sins ^[5]. The goodness of God is also a motive for devotedness to Him and leads to repentance ^{[3, 5]}. For instance, Psalm 145:8-9 notes that God consistently demonstrates His character toward all creation ^[13].

The wisdom of God is also evident in His works and words. The Scriptures, which testify of God's mind and will, are described as "wonderful" due to their author, content, and benefits ^[8]. They reveal the "deep things of God," which only His Spirit can fully search and make known ^[14]. The word of God displays His character and power ^[11].

Humility is a characteristic that God regards highly in His people, and it is also exemplified by Christ ^[4]. Those who are humble are regarded, heard, and delivered by God, and they enjoy His presence ^[4]. This attribute is necessary for serving God and leads to grace, honor, and exaltation ^[4].

The concept of "fear of God" in Scripture is not merely terror but a reverential awe and respect for His holiness and greatness ^[1]. It is described as a hatred of evil, wisdom, and a treasure to saints ^[1]. This godly fear is motivated by God's holiness, greatness, goodness, and forgiveness ^[1].

God's character is also revealed through His interactions with humanity, often described in anthropomorphic or anthropopathic terms to help human understanding ^[10]. For example, when God tested the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:2, it was "to prove your character (literally to know what is in your heart)" ^[10]. While God already knows innermost thoughts, the testing allowed their character to be revealed through their actions ^[10]. Similarly, God revealed His name, or character, to Moses in Exodus 34:5-9, emphasizing His personal name, Yahweh, and showing the glory of His goodness ^[12].

The New Testament further reveals God's character through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "secret of piety" is that "God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory" (1 Timothy 3:16, YLT) ^[7]. The Gospels, which are historical accounts of Christ's person and work, present Him as the promised King, a prophet mighty in deed and word, and the Savior ^[6]. The manifestation of Christ's character serves as a standard for believers ^[2].

The revelation of God's character in Scripture is not merely for intellectual assent but for transformation. The word of God, acting as a "sword of the Spirit," can manifest the "secrets of his heart" to an individual, revealing their true character ^[9]. This self-manifestation is a powerful argument for the truth of religion ^[9]. The psalmist notes that God's glory, particularly His goodness to humanity, is revealed more profoundly through divine revelation than through creation alone, especially in recovering humanity from its fallen state ^[15].

Sources

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.”
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: Devotedness to God — A characteristic of saints -- Job 23:12. Christ, an example of -- Joh 4:34; 17:4. Grounded upon The mercies of God. -- Ro 12:1. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The call of God. -- 1Th 2:12. The death of Christ. -- 2Co 5:15. Our creation. -- Ps 86:9. Our preservation. -- Isa 46:4. Our redemption. -- 1Co 6:19,20. Should be With our spirit. -- 1Co 6:20; 1Pe 4:6. With our bodies. -- Ro 12:1; 1Co 6:20. With our members. -- Ro 6:12,13; 1Pe 4:2. With our substance. -- Ex 22:29; Pr 3:9. Unreserved. -- Mt 6:24; Lu 14:33. Abounding. -- 1Th 4:1. Persever”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Goodness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 25:8; Na 1:7; Mt 19:17. Declared to be Great. -- Ne 9:35; Zec 9:17. Rich. -- Ps 104:24; Ro 2:4. Abundant. -- Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5. Satisfying. -- Ps 65:4; Jer 31:12,14. Enduring. -- Ps 23:6; 52:1. Universal. -- Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45. Manifested To his Church. -- Ps 31:19; La 3:25. In doing good. -- Ps 119:68; 145:9. In supplying temporal wants. -- Ac 14:17. In providing for the poor. -- Ps 68:10. In forgiving sins. -- 2Ch 30:18; Ps 86:5. Leads to repentance. -- Ro 2:4. Recognise, in his dealings. -- Ezr 8:18; Ne 2:18. Pra”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
I Timothy “I Timothy 3:16 (YLT) — and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety--God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:125: PE.--The Seventeenth Part. PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them. They give an account of the wonderful works of creation; of their author and matter; of the manner, order, and time of their being wrought: they relate many wonderful events of Providence, both in a way of mercy and judgment; they declare several surprising miracles, wrought by Moses and others, and exhibit many marvellous t”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 14:25: And thus--omitted in the oldest manuscripts and versions. secrets of his heart made manifest--He sees his own inner character opened out by the sword of the Spirit (Heb 4:12; Jam 1:23), the word of God, in the hand of him who prophesieth. Compare the same effect produced on Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:30 and end of Dan 2:47). No argument is stronger for the truth of religion than its manifestation of men to themselves in their true character. Hence hearers even now often think the preacher must have aimed his sermon particularly at them. and so--”
Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 8:2: 8:2 to prove your character (literally to know what is in your heart): God already knew the Israelites’ innermost thoughts (Pss 51:6; 139:1, 4, 23); he wanted their character to come out in their actions. • to find out whether: The Old Testament often describes God in human terms, even in ways that appear to limit God. Anthropomorphism (assigning human characteristics to God) and anthropopathism (assigning human feelings or emotions to God) are ways of representing God on a human level so the human mind can better grasp his ways, but God is not limited in his ”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 33:4: 33:4-7 God’s word displays his character and his power.”
Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 34:5: 34:5-9 Moses experienced God’s presence in a revelation of the name, or character, of God. As God had promised (33:19), he showed Moses the glory of his goodness. 34:5-6 Yahweh: Here God is emphasizing his personal name.”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 145:8: 145:8-9 God consistently demonstrates his character toward all his creation (see 136:25).”
1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 2:10: But God hath revealed them unto us - A manifest proof that the apostle speaks here of the glories of the Gospel, and not of the glories of the future world. For the Spirit searcheth all things - This is the Spirit of God, which spoke by the prophets, and has now given to the apostles the fullness of that heavenly truth, of which He gave to the former only the outlines. Yea, the deep things of God - It is only the Spirit of God which can reveal the counsels of God: these are the purposes which have existed in His infinite wisdom and goodness from eternity; and”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 19:7: God's glory, (that is, his goodness to man) appears much in the works of creation, but much more in and by divine revelation. The holy scripture, as it is a rule both of our duty to God and of our expectation from him, is of much greater use and benefit to us than day or night, than the air we breathe in, or the light of the sun. The discoveries made of God by his works might have served if man had retained his integrity; but, to recover him out of his fallen state, another course must be taken; that must be done by the word of God. And here, 1. The psalmist gives”

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