God in Biblical History

Bible History

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

What is God?
        GOD
        (good). The name of the Creator of all things and the supreme Governor of the universe and the Giver of all good gifts. He is "a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth." He is revealed to us in an endless variety of ways in his works and providential government, Rom 1:20, but more fully in the Holy Scriptures and in the person and work of his only begotten Son, our Lord.


        1. Names. -- There are three principal designations of God in the O.T. -- Elohim, Jehovah, and Adonai. The first is used exclusively in the first chapter of Genesis; it predominates in the second book of Psalms (Ps 42-72, called the Elohim Psalms), and occurs alternately with the other names in the other parts of the O.T. It expresses his character as the almighty Maker and his relation to the whole world, the Gentiles as well as the Jews. The second is especially used of him in his relation to Israel as the (God of the covenant, the God of revelation and redemption. "Adonai" (i.e. say Lord) is used where God is reverently addressed, and is always substituted by the Jews for "Jehovah," which they never pronounce. These three words are indiscriminately translated, in the English Version, God, Lord, and Jehovah.


        1. The Nature of God. -- God is revealed to us as a trinity consisting of three Persons who are of one essence, Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14;John 1:1-3-- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. To the Father is ascribed the work of creation, to the Son the redemption, to the Holy Spirit the sanctification; but all three Persons take part in all the divine works. Although this idea of God is not brought out as prominently in the O.T. as in the New, it is nevertheless there. It is intimated in Gen 1, where God, the Word ("God spake," etc., compare Ps 33:6; John 1:1, John 1:3), and the Spirit of God are mentioned in the work of creation. The "divine Wisdom" of Prov 8 is personified, and corresponds to the "Word" in John 1, and refers to the second Person of the Trinity. To each of these Persons of the Trinity are ascribed the essential attributes of the supreme God. Thus, the Son is represented as the Mediator of the creation. John 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:4.


        2. The unity of the Godhead is emphasized in the O.T., while the trinity is only shadowed forth, or at best faintly brought out. The grand reason for the emphasis of the unity of the Godhead was to show the fallacy of polytheism and to discourage idolatry, which the heathen practised. God is denominated "one Lord," Deut 6:4. Over against the false deities of the heathen, he is designated the "living" God. This belief in God as one was a chief mark of the Jewish religion.

3. The attributes of God are those of the most perfect being. He is holy, Josh 24:19; eternal, 1 Tim 1:17; everywhere present, Ps 139:7; Acts 17:24; almighty, Gen 17:1; immutable, Ps 102:20. God is, moreover, just, Jer 9:24, wise, Job 12:13, and above all he is Love, 1 John 4:16.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'god' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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