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Holiness and the Human Form in Christian Theology

Holiness, in its highest sense, belongs to God alone [1]. The prophet Isaiah records seraphim proclaiming God's holiness, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 6:3), and the book of Revelation echoes this declaration (Revelation 15:4) [1]. For humanity, holiness is understood as a state of being consecrated to God's service and conforming to God's will [1]. This conformity is not an instantaneous event but a "work of gradual development," requiring watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance [1].

The Bible frequently commands believers to be holy, as seen in passages like Leviticus 11:45 and 1 Peter 1:15-16, which state, "You shall be holy, for I am holy" [2]. This divine command establishes God's character as the ultimate standard for human holiness [2]. Christ himself desires holiness for his followers, praying for their sanctification (John 17:17) [2]. The apostle Paul further emphasizes this, stating that God chose believers "before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love" (Ephesians 1:4) [1].

The human form plays a significant role in understanding holiness, particularly through the incarnation of Christ. Jesus Christ, being both fully God and fully human, provides the perfect example of holiness [2, 3]. His human nature was essential for his mediatorial office, as he partook of "flesh and blood" (Hebrews 2:14) [6]. Christ's life demonstrated perfect humility, obedience, love, and self-denial, serving as the standard for believers [3, 4]. Philippians 2:5-8 describes Christ's humility in taking "the form of a servant," emptying himself, and becoming obedient to death [4, 5]. John Chrysostom, an Eastern Orthodox theologian, emphasizes that the "form of a servant" was a true form, implying that Christ's "form of God" was also perfect and complete [11]. Calvin, one theologian, interprets "form of God" as signifying the essence of God, arguing that true equality with God can only exist where the divine essence is present [13]. He further explains that Christ's humility involved abasing himself from the highest glory, while human humility involves not exalting oneself with false estimations [14].

Christian theology also connects holiness with the concept of a "new man" or "new creation." Ephesians 4:24 instructs believers to "put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth" [7]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, interprets this as receiving a new nature, a "new creation" in Christ, where individuals are "renewed in the spirit of your mind" [12]. This new creation is "after God," meaning God is the model for this spiritual transformation [12]. The goal is for believers to come "to a perfect man, to a measure of stature of the fulness of the Christ" (Ephesians 4:13) [8]. This transformation is not merely an outward appearance but an inward reality.

However, there can be a distinction between an outward "form of godliness" and true inner holiness. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, notes that having a "form of godliness" can refer to an external show of religion or a mere intellectual understanding of doctrine without the "grace of God" [9]. John Chrysostom also discusses this, contrasting a commendable "form of knowledge" with a "form of godliness" that denies its power, which he considers a significant evil [15]. True holiness embraces all aspects of a person's life, including abstaining from sexual sin, as highlighted in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 [10].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
  2. 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. ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Example of Christ, The — Is perfect -- Heb 7:26. Conformity to, required in Holiness. -- 1Pe 1:15,16; Ro 1:6. Righteousness. -- 1Jo 2:6. Purity. -- 1Jo 3:3. Love. -- Joh 13:34; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 3:16. Humility. -- Lu 22:27; Php 2:5,7. Meekness. -- Mt 11:29. Obedience. -- Joh 15:10. Self-denial. -- Mt 16:24; Ro 15:3. Ministering to others. -- Mt 20:28; Joh 13:14,15. Benevolence. -- Ac 20:35; 2Co 8:7,9. Forgiving injuries. -- Col 3:13. Overcoming the world. -- Joh 16:33; 1Jo 5:4. Being not of the world. -- Joh 17:16. Being guileless. -- 1Pe 2:21-22. Suffering wrongfully. --”
  4. 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, ”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
  7. Ephesians “and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. -- Ephesians 4:24”
  8. Ephesians “Ephesians 4:13 (YLT) — till we may all come to the unity of the faith and of the recognition of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to a measure of stature of the fulness of the Christ,”
  9. 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3:5: Having a form of godliness,.... Either a mere external show of religion, pretending great piety and holiness, being outwardly righteous before men, having the mask and visor of godliness; or else a plan of doctrine, a form of sound words, a scheme of truths, which men may have without partaking of the grace of God; and which, with respect to the doctrine of the Trinity, the church of Rome has; or else the Scriptures of truth, which the members of that church have, and profess to hold to, maintain and preserve; and which contains doctrines according to godliness, and”
  10. 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 4:3: 4:3 God’s will is for you to be holy: The foundation of Christian ethics is not philosophical speculation about virtue but doing God’s will (Rom 12:1-2; Eph 6:6; Heb 10:36; 13:20-21). Holiness (1 Thes 4:4, 7) embraces all of a person’s life (5:23); here it involves staying away from sexual sin (Greek porneia, any sexual union outside marriage).”
  11. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: desires to praise a man for continence would say, he has not committed adultery, but, he has abstained from his own wife; for we do not consider abstinence from evil as a matter of praise at all, it would be ridiculous. I said that the “form of a servant” was a true form, and nothing less. Therefore “the form of God” also is perfect, and no less. Why says he not, “being made in the form of God,” but “being in the form of God”? This is the same as the saying, “I am that I am.” ( Ex. iii. 14 .) “Form” implies unchangeableness, so f”
  12. Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 4:24: Put on the new man - Get a new nature; for in Christ Jesus - under the Christian dispensation, neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, hut a new creation. Therefore ye must be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Which after God is created in righteousness - Here is certainly an allusion to the creation of man. Moses tells us, Gen 1:27, that God created man in his own image; that is, God was the model according to which he was formed in the spirit of his mind. St. Paul says here that they should put on the new man, which after God is created in ”
  13. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 11.4: For where can there be equality with God without robbery , excepting only where there is the essence of God; for God always remains the same, who cries by Isaiah, I live; I will not give my glory to another. ( Isaiah 48:11 .) Form means figure or appearance, as they commonly speak. This, too, I readily grant; but will there be found, apart from God, such a form , so as to be neither false nor forged? As, then, God is known by means of his excellences, and his works are evidences of his eternal Godhead, ( Romans 1:2”
  14. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 11.2: wished that the reader should be in possession of the very form of expression which Paul has employed. 6 Inasmuch as he was in the form of God. This is not a comparison between things similar, but in the way of greater and less. Christ’s humility consisted in his abasing himself from the highest pinnacle of glory to the lowest ignominy: our humility consists in refraining from exalting ourselves by a false estimation. He gave up his right: all that is required of us is, that we do not assume to ourselves more than ”
  15. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: “high-minded,” filled with arrogance. “Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” Ver. 5 . “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” In the Epistle to the Romans, he says somewhat on this wise, “Having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law” ( Rom. ii. 20 .), where he speaks in commendation of it: but here he speaks of this sin as an evil beyond all other defects. And why is this? Because he does not use the words in the same signification. For an image is often taken to signify a likeness; but so”
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