In their arguments for the existence of a being that transcends the universe, Christian theists often identify this being with the name of God. What we are going to do is to provide a clear and simple meaning of this concept.
How do we define God?
This word can be used as a common noun or a proper noun. In my case, and in the case of many, I use it as a proper noun. It contains the concept of a being that possesses characteristic properties. There are two ways to know what properties this concept possesses: one comes through the theology revealed in the Bible, and another comes through Anselm’s theology of the perfect being . These two are not mutually exclusive, but rather use different paths to reach the same point.
We say that God is a proper name that is attributed to a being that possesses properties. From the theology of perfect being, we say that these properties are maximally great. In this way, when we speak of God, in Anselm’s terms, we speak of the maximally great being that can be conceived. If you can conceive of a being greater than him, you are conceiving of God. From this point of view, a maximally great being possesses maximal properties, such as Omnipotence, Omniscience, etc.
With all this in mind, we say that God is a personal being, worthy of worship, immaterial, timeless without the universe, a-spatial, perfectly free, eternal, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, the locus of goodness, creator of all things, etc. Instead of mentioning each property that the being that receives this name possesses, we summarize it (preferably) with the Anselmian statement: “the greatest being that exists.” Such a being possesses all the maximum properties and qualities that can be conceived.
In this way, we have a concept of what is meant by God.
Jehovah, the God mentioned in the Bible, is God
Why is Jehovah treated as God? Because the attributes or properties that he possesses are the same as those of a supremely great being. If we go to the Bible, and use a method that uses revealed theology as a source, we find that Jehovah is:
- Immaterial, for He is spirit. John 4:24, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” is also implied in several references to His invisibility (John 1:18; 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:15-16).
- Omniscient, for “he knows all things” (1 John 3:20).
- Necessary and self-existent (Isaiah 40:17-23; Revelation 4:11).
- Eternal (Psalms 90:1-4; 102:11-12, 25-27).
- Omnipresent (Psalms 139:7-12).
- Omnipotent (Genesis 17:1; Revelation 19:6).
- Holy (Leviticus 19:2).
- Love (1 John 4:7-21).
If Jehovah possesses the properties of a supremely great being, and this being is called God, then Jehovah is God. It is the attributes and properties, referred to in the Bible but also deducible through natural theology, that give Jehovah the right to be called God.
Carlos Enrique Rodríguez Alcántara is from the Dominican Republic, a blogger, preacher, teacher, speaker, and apologist. Husband of Carolina. Member of the Central Rock of Salvation Church, where he has been director of education and deputy director of education for the council. He has an associate degree in theology from ESFOTEBIC. He holds a certificate in philosophy, philosophy and science (with honors) and critical thinking from the University of Edinburgh, as well as philosophy, science, and religion from the same university.
Original Blog: http://bit.ly/2R8qdfS