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Using Analogies and Examples to Describe God's Character

The Bible frequently employs analogies and examples to describe God's character, often using human experiences and relationships to convey divine attributes. This approach acknowledges the limitations of human language in fully grasping the infinite nature of God, while still providing meaningful insights into his being and actions.

One prominent analogy is that of God as a father. The Lord is depicted as being like a father to his children, an analogy that forms the basis for Jesus' teaching on God's fatherhood [13]. This comparison highlights God's compassion, care, and provision for his people, much like a human father provides for his offspring [13]. Similarly, God's liberality is likened to that of a generous giver, pleasing to God and never forgotten by him [6]. Christ himself is presented as an example of liberality, as are the saints [6].

The concept of God's image is another crucial way the Bible describes his character. Humanity is created "in the image of God," meaning that humans bear God's image and are endowed with dignity, charged with ruling over creation [8, 10]. While there are theological discussions about the precise nature of this image, John Calvin, in his commentary on Genesis, acknowledges that there is something in humanity that refers to the Father, Son, and Spirit, though he emphasizes that a definition of God's image should rest on a firmer basis than mere subtleties of the soul's faculties [11].

The Bible also uses parables, which are comparisons or similitudes, to illustrate spiritual truths about God and his kingdom [2]. The Greek word parabole signifies "placing beside or together," indicating a comparison or illustration of one subject by another [2]. Jesus frequently used parables, asking, "How will we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?" [5]. These narratives, though earthly in their setting, convey heavenly realities about God's character and his reign.

However, the Bible also cautions against limiting God to human comparisons. Isaiah asks, "To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to him?" [7]. This rhetorical question underscores God's incomparable nature. While analogies help us understand, they do not fully encapsulate the divine. God's excellency and glory are described in terms of his being God, the Son of God, one with the Father, the First-born, the First-begotten, Lord of lords, the image of God, Creator, Mediator, Prophet, Priest, King, Judge, and Shepherd [3]. These titles and roles further elaborate on his character, often using terms that resonate with human understanding of authority, care, and justice.

The Bible also describes God's character through his actions and expectations for humanity. For instance, God's anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst but a necessary response to sin [9]. The godly are called to imitate God by being generous, compassionate, and righteous [12]. Humility, exemplified by Christ, is necessary for serving God and is a characteristic of saints who are regarded, heard, and delivered by God [1]. Devotedness to God, also exemplified by Christ, is grounded in God's mercies, goodness, call, and the redemption offered through Christ [4].

The use of analogies and examples in describing God's character serves to make the divine accessible to human comprehension, while simultaneously maintaining a sense of his transcendence and unique nature.

Sources

  1. 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, ”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
  4. 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”
  5. Mark “He said, “How will we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable will we illustrate it? -- Mark 4:30”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberality — Pleasing to God -- 2Co 9:7; Heb 13:16. God never forgets -- Heb 6:10. Christ set an example of -- 2Co 8:9. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 112:9; Isa 32:8. Unprofitable, without love -- 1Co 13:3. Should be exercised In the service of God. -- Ex 35:21-29. Toward saints. -- Ro 12:13; Ga 6:10. Toward servants. -- De 15:12-14. Toward the poor. -- De 15:11; Isa 58:7. Toward strangers. -- Le 25:35. Toward enemies. -- Pr 25:21. Toward all men. -- Ga 6:10. In leading to those in want. -- Mt 5:42. In giving alms. -- Lu 12:33. In relieving the destitute. -- Isa 58:”
  7. Isaiah “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to him? -- Isaiah 40:18”
  8. Genesis “Genesis 1:27 (YLT) — And God prepareth the man in His image; in the image of God He prepared him, a male and a female He prepared them.”
  9. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
  10. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 8:5: 8:5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God: Humans bear God’s image; the Lord has endowed humans with dignity and charged them to rule (Gen 1:26-27). Hebrews 2:6-8 applies these words to Jesus Christ, the ideal human who fully realized God’s purposes.”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 5.31: and fourteenth books on the Trinity, also the eleventh book of the “City of God.” I acknowledge, indeed, that there is something in man which refers to the Father and the Son, and the Spirit: and I have no difficulty in admitting the above distinction of the faculties of the soul: although the simpler division into two parts, which is more used in Scripture, is better adapted to the sound doctrine of piety; but a definition of the image of God ought to rest on a firmer basis than such subtleties. As for myself, before I define the”
  12. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 112:4: 112:4-5 The godly imitate God by being generous, compassionate, and righteous (51:1; 111:1-10; 2 Cor 9:9). They lend money to the poor without charging interest (Pss 15:5; 112:9; Exod 22:25).”
  13. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 103:13: 103:13 The Lord is like a father to his children: This analogy forms the basis for Jesus’ teaching about God’s fatherhood (see Matt 5:43-48; 6:1; 10:19-20; 12:50; Luke 6:36; 12:29-32; John 8:31-59; 15:1-8; see also 2 Sam 7:14; Jer 3:19; 31:9; Mal 1:6; 2 Cor 6:16-18).”
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