In order to deeply understand who God is, it is always important to understand His attributes, which tell about something that is true of Him. It is important to note, however, that man can hardly understand who God is due to being a limited being. However, God reveals Himself in various ways, such as His Word and His creation, so we can wrap our minds around our awesome Creator and God. Although describing Him may fall short of capturing who He is, God possesses some attributes He has revealed to us so we can know Him. In this piece of writing, one will try describing God with mere words delivered from the scriptures. It will cover a few attributes that inform us about who God is, what kind of God He is and what He is like.
Table of Contents
1. God’s Attributes
1.1. God’s Positive Attributes
1.1.1. God is Immutable
1.1.2. God is Infinite
1.1.3. God is Omnipotent
1.1.4. God Is Omniscient
1.1.5. God Is Omnipresent
1.1.6. God Is Merciful
1.1.7. God is Righteous, Good and Holy
1.2. God’s negative attributes
1.2.1. God’s wrath
1.2.2. God’s Jealousy
2. Relationships between good and Negative Attributes
2.1. What does God’s Love have to do with His wrath?
2.2. Can God’s jealousy be explained as a positive thing?
3. Concluding Statement
4. Appendices
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the nature of God by exploring both His commonly recognized "positive" attributes and those that appear "negative" in human terms, such as wrath and jealousy. The research aims to clarify whether these attributes are contradictory or if they can be understood as expressions of God’s love and righteous judgment through a biblical lens.
- Analysis of God's positive attributes including immutability, infinity, and omniscience.
- Investigation into the biblical interpretation of divine wrath and anger.
- The theological reconciliation of divine jealousy with God’s goodness.
- The relationship between divine love, judgment, and the protection of the covenant.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2. Can God’s jealousy be explained as a positive thing?
Although jealous is a bad attribute to have, this study has confirmed that God is a jealous God. This attribute gives negative theologians to question the goodness of God because human jealousy gives an idea of selfishness, mistrust or suspicion that involves hideous resentment or hostility towards others because they enjoy of an advantage. The question is whether God’s jealous should be understood in man terms or whether it signifies something else. Whatever that means, it cannot refer to or imply anything sinful in God because God is never jealous because He is greedy, covetous, lazy or unwilling to make the effort to accomplish his purposes. It would be an absurd suggestion that God resents the fulfillment of man; He is in fact not frustrated by his position in the universe.
According to Chilton (2018), God’s jealousy refers to His continual seeking to protection His honor. Strauss (2004) traced the root word "Jealous" in the Old Testament and found that it referred to the change in color of the face or the increasing heat of emotions associated with intense zeal or fervor for something that is dear to us. The word Jealous is often translated as “Zeal” in the Old Testament, hence being jealous and being zealous are the same thing in the Bible. This idea fits Chilton's outlook that jealous God refers to his zeal to protect what is precious to him, a man and the Israel nation in the Old Testament.
Summary of Chapters
1. God’s Attributes: This chapter provides an overview of God's nature, detailing His positive attributes such as immutability, omniscience, and mercy, while introducing the problematic nature of perceived negative attributes.
1.1. God’s Positive Attributes: An in-depth analysis of specific positive characteristics of God, including His infinite, omnipotent, and omnipresent nature as revealed in scripture.
1.1.1. God is Immutable: Discusses God's unchanging nature and reliability as a foundational aspect of faith.
1.1.2. God is Infinite: Examines the concept of God as a self-existent, eternal being who stands outside the limitations of human existence.
1.1.3. God is Omnipotent: Explores God's supreme power and authority as the sovereign creator.
1.1.4. God Is Omniscient: Analyzes the concept of an all-knowing God who sees and understands all things.
1.1.5. God Is Omnipresent: Defines God's presence as ubiquity, existing in all places simultaneously without spatial limitations.
1.1.6. God Is Merciful: Describes God’s compassionate nature and His choice to offer grace despite human fallibility.
1.1.7. God is Righteous, Good and Holy: Discusses the holiness of God as the unique attribute that summarizes His divine perfection and moral purity.
1.2. God’s negative attributes: Introduces the theological challenge of interpreting attributes like wrath and jealousy in a way consistent with a good God.
1.2.1. God’s wrath: Investigates the biblical context of divine wrath as a response to human disobedience and sin.
1.2.2. God’s Jealousy: Explores the biblical concept of divine jealousy as a form of divine zeal rather than human selfishness.
2. Relationships between good and Negative Attributes: Analyzes the synthesis between God’s perceived negative and positive attributes.
2.1. What does God’s Love have to do with His wrath?: Argues that God’s wrath is an expression of His righteous judgment, not a contradiction of His love.
2.2. Can God’s jealousy be explained as a positive thing?: Concludes that divine jealousy is a positive protective instinct rooted in love for His covenant people.
3. Concluding Statement: Summarizes the study, emphasizing that while God’s full nature is beyond human comprehension, His revealed attributes provide a necessary framework for understanding Him.
4. Appendices: Provides a comprehensive collection of biblical references organized by specific divine attributes.
Keywords
God’s Attributes, Theology, Immutability, Omniscience, Omnipotence, Divine Wrath, Jealousy, Divine Love, Righteousness, Holiness, Biblical Revelation, Covenant, Salvation, Christian Theology, Divine Zeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this theological work?
The work focuses on understanding the attributes of God by examining both His positive characteristics and those traditionally viewed as negative, such as wrath and jealousy, within a biblical context.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
The central themes include the sovereignty of God, the nature of divine judgment, the necessity of understanding God's character for spiritual relationships, and the reconciliation of seemingly conflicting attributes.
What is the primary objective of the author?
The primary objective is to demonstrate that attributes often perceived as "negative" are, when properly interpreted through scripture, consistent with God's goodness and love.
Which scientific or theological method is employed?
The author employs a systematic theological approach, analyzing scriptural passages, cross-referencing biblical data, and engaging with scholarly interpretations to define God's nature.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The body covers God's positive attributes like immutability and omnipresence, investigates the biblical basis for divine wrath and jealousy, and discusses the relationship between love and judgment.
How would one describe the essential keywords of this paper?
The essential keywords revolve around the theological definitions of God's nature, specifically focusing on the intersection of divine love, holiness, justice, and the biblical interpretation of divine responses to human action.
How does the author define the relationship between God’s love and His wrath?
The author argues that God’s wrath is not in conflict with His love; rather, it is a form of righteous judgment against sin, intended to uphold His holy standards and protect His relationship with humanity.
In what sense is God’s jealousy considered a positive attribute?
God's jealousy is interpreted as a divine "zeal" or protective instinct, similar to a husband’s desire to keep his marriage bond intact, emphasizing God's commitment to His covenant with His people.
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- Dr. Sixbert Sangwa (Autor:in), 2020, God’s Attributes. Defining relationship between good and negative attributes of God, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1027524
