What Does Divine Mean in the Bible?
There are many ways to define God. Some of them relate to his immanence, providence, self-unveiling, and active power. In the Bible, God often acts through ordinary people to accomplish his purposes. We are not obligated to follow the laws of nature or become like Moses in order to be like God.
God’s immanence
In order to understand God properly, we must first understand that God is transcendent, but also intimately involved in creation. It is through these two concepts that the men of the Bible encounter God. This dual perspective is crucial to our understanding of God and to a healthy worship planning paradigm. Without this balancing act, we may overlook the importance of the immanence of God.
The terms transcendent and immanent are often used together in theological language. While the transcendence of God is beyond our ability to experience fully, the immanence of God is something that we can know and experience. In the first century, Jesus Christ was both God and the world. Both concepts are important to understanding the relationship between God and humanity.
In the Bible, God’s immanence is made manifest in the holiness of his character. The Bible defines God as “holy,” but also calls him “Holy One of Israel” and “Holy One of you.” This means that God chose to dwell among his people. As a result, Christ was a living example of the transcendent God drawing close to his creation.
God’s providence
The concept of God’s providence is a central theme in Scripture. It encompasses every aspect of the created order, from individuals to nations, weeds to wheat, and birth to death. It also includes the eternal purposes of God and His heavenly father. This idea is so pervasive in Scripture that it can hardly be described by any single word.
God’s providence is a means by which he preserves his creation. Nothing in the world is self-sufficient, but rather depends on God’s will. As a result, God is the only one who can keep things in order. He does this by upholding the laws of nature. While people tend to think of these laws as being independent of God, they are actually created by God and established as the rules for all life in the universe.
For example, in the Book of Esther, God’s providence is a major theme. Although God is never explicitly mentioned in this story, God’s providential hand is behind the twists and turns of the story, preserving the chosen people from destruction.
God’s self-unveiling
According to the Barth model of theology, divine revelation is a process by which God manifests himself to us. But the Barth model is not clear on what constitutes a coherent account of divine revelation. It attempts to reconcile the claims of real, objective knowledge of God with the fact that God transcends all created categories and media of revelation.
It is possible to think of God as acting in history, causing dreams and visions, and even speaking to us. All of these are acts of God’s self-unveiling. God’s self-unveiling is, therefore, a manifestation of His divine freedom.
Brunner argues that theological understanding cannot be confined to intellectual reflection. It requires a transformation in the individual and communal life. It is also necessary to experience the divine-human encounter personally. This personal encounter is essential to theological existence. Therefore, Brunner emphasizes that God’s self-unveiling requires a transformation in all aspects of human existence.
God’s active power
We might first ask: What is the scope of God’s active power? The answer depends on what we mean by “power.” Does God’s omnipotence include the ability to create both immediately and mediately? In short, the answer to this question depends on whether we think of God as being pure actuality or pure potentiality.
Aristotle’s definition of power is “the capacity to act upon something.” God, like us, retains the notion of power. Active power is a positive quality, while passive power is a deficiency. Both power types are present in God, but active power is the higher.
God’s active power is demonstrated through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Believer also has access to this power, which works according to the strength of His might. The Bible describes God’s power using three words: energeia, “act,” and “work.” These three words describe God’s power.
Dynamically inclined philosophers believe that active power determines the nature and function of reality. Because of this power, humans have an “rational essence.” This rational essence appears as the capacity for rational thought and the desire for freedom and happiness.
God’s presence
In the Bible, the Divine presence is manifested in different ways. It is often expressed in corporeal forms, such as the ark and pillar of cloud. When God manifests Himself in this way, it is most frequently associated with calling His name and revealing His presence to people or to places.
The Biblical people were subjected to numerous trials and tribulations. They lived in semi-arid lands, endured famine, and faced enemies and deportation. Yet, they praised God for providing for their basic needs. As a result, they paint a heavenly worldview in Genesis 1, which is front loaded with gratitude and revelation. Though this view is often dismissed by atheists, it is a valuable tool for a person seeking to understand and appreciate the Divine.
A number of theologians have examined the Bible from a theological perspective. Karl Barth, for instance, found that the Bible was the Word of God. He argues that the Bible is a powerful vehicle for witnessing to God’s saving act in history and the future.
God’s influence on biblical writers
Biblical authors recognized that they wrote words that conveyed God’s message and were therefore under God’s influence. In this way, they did not view their human involvement in writing as diminishing the divine nature of the text. And this view squares well with the way God communicates to humans.
Despite this belief, Bible writers never explicitly refer to God as the inspiration behind their writing. Paul calls his letters “God-breathed,” but that does not mean that all of them were inspired. Rather, the texts themselves are written by people who had a high degree of religious insight. Ultimately, these writers were inspired in the same way that great artists, musicians, and writers are inspired.
The Bible is written by ordinary people who believed in God. The Old Testament is the record of God’s dealings with the Hebrews, while the New Testament tells the story of Jesus’ ministry and the struggles of new Christians in an hostile culture. The Bible does not record the existence of God directly, but rather reveals his influence over everyday life.
The Bible is full of examples of God’s influence on its writers. For example, many of the prophecies in the Bible are preternaturally accurate. This fact makes the Bible a remarkable book of literature.
Paul’s views on God’s existence
In the first section of the book of Ephesians, Paul discusses God’s existence. In contrast to the Epicureans, who viewed God as separate and not involved in the affairs of humans, Paul asserts that God is a very close companion to humans. God created us in his image, he argues, and we should worship him.
Paul’s audience saw several of his ideas as outrageous. For example, he argued that salvation is available only through Jesus, suggested that Jesus rose bodily, and suggested that history is headed somewhere. These ideas offend people even today, and so his speech was halted.
Moreover, Paul’s views on the existence of God are not limited to the Bible. He also asserts that God is very involved in human affairs. In his own preaching in Lystra and Athens, he assumes that Gentiles have knowledge of God, because they have fallen prey to sin and distorted the truths that God has revealed. However, these appeals to general revelation are never made in isolation from special revelation, which includes the Old Testament Scriptures, the person of Jesus Christ, and the apostles of Christ.
While many Christians accept the idea that God exists, Paul is monotheistic. He believed that the God of Israel was the only true God, but also believed that the universe had several levels, including “the third heaven” and “Paradise.” He also referred to spiritual beings as angels, princes, and rulers, and he called Satan the leader of evil forces and god of this world.
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