Theology AS: concepts/interpretations of God Flashcards
Transcendent
Beyond or above the range of normal, or physical human experience
Infallible
Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong
INEFFABLE
Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
God as personal:
What is a personal God?
1) A deity (God) who can be related as a person rather than an impersonal force, such as the Absolute, “the all” or “Ground of being”
2) In scriptures of Abrahamic religion, God is described as being a personal creator, (speaking in 1st person) + showing emotion (e.g. emotion + pride)
God as personal:
Christian Theologian= ALICE MC GRATH
1) She writes that there is good reasons to suggest that “personal God” is integral to Christian outlook, but that NO ONE HAS TO UNDERSTAND THAT ITS AN ANALOGY.
2) “To say God is like a person is to affirm divine ability + willingness to relate to others. This does not imply that God is human, or located at a specific point in the universe”
God as personal:
For Christians
1) Important to Christians- As Christians feel they can communicate with God whenever they need to + He will ALWAYS listen.
JOSHUA 1:9 “Be strong + of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you whoever you go”
2) Suggests God has some specific qualities to do this. E.G some Christians believe God is = Patient- humans are prone to mistakes, but we are able to receive forgiveness from God through His omnibenevolence.
2 PETER The lord- “ is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but wanting everyone to come to repentance.”
God as LOVE:
What is it?
1) Gods plan + purpose for human salvation is to offer all humanity the opportunity to become His own sons + daughters of His own family (on his level of life)
2)God is love: love = fundamental essence of His nature + character (His very being) God is perfect in love.
GODS LOVE IS MANIFESTED BY HIS ABSOLUTELY PURE DESIRE TO CARE FOR, SHARE + GIVE.
God as love:
in relation to the Bible
1) “WHOEVER DOES NOT LOVE, DOES NOT KNOW GOD, BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE” 1 John 4:8
2)Matthew Henry commentry; Spirit of God is spirit of love.
He does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. FOR IT IS GOD’S NATURE TO BE KIND + TO GIVE HAPPINESS.
3)The law of God is love; + all would have been happy if all obeyed it. The provision of the Gospel, FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN + THE SALVATION OF SINNERS.
consistently with gods glory + justice, shows that God is love.
God as Father:
Mainstream trinitarian Christianity; God as the father is 1st person in the trinity
To christians
1). Deep belief; where Christians believe they are made participants of eternal relationship of Father + Son, through Jesus Christ.
Christians Call themselves: ADOPTED CHILDREN OF GOD.
2) GALANTIANS: 4:4-7
“God sent forth his son.. born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption of sons”
“God has sent the Holy Spirit of sons into our hearts , crying “ABBA! Father!” so you are no longer a slave, but son, an heir through God”
God as father:
Genesis
God as father:
Reinforces Genesis 1; where Moses records Gods desires “make man in His image + likeness”
- God reveals through the New Testament that we can have : a warm, affectionate personal relationship with Him, that goes beyond that goes beyond acknowledging him as the 1 who created us beneficial rules to make our lives happy + complete.
