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| − | <small>''This article is about the biblical God. For the term as used to refer to any divine being, see [[Other gods]]''</small> | + | <small>''This article is about the [[Bible|biblical]] God. For the term as used to refer to any divine being, see [[Other gods]]''</small> |
| | [[Image:Alphaomega.jpg|thumb|200px|God is the Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the ending <ref>Revelation 22:13</ref>]] | | [[Image:Alphaomega.jpg|thumb|200px|God is the Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the ending <ref>Revelation 22:13</ref>]] |
| | {{Christianity}} | | {{Christianity}} |
| − | | + | {{cquote|'''John 1:1'''<br />In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.}} |
| − | {{cquote|'''Genesis 1:1'''<br />In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.}} | + | {{cquote|'''Genesis 1:1'''<br />In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.<ref>Both of these quotes are from the [[ESV]].</ref>}} |
| − | '''God''' is the sovereign creator and eternal ruler of all things and beings that exist, whether in the physical [[universe]] or in the spiritual realm ([[Heaven]]). Not only is God the creator and ruler of the things and beings within those two realms, but He is also the creator of the realms themselves. God created the physical universe, and before He acted in this creation, the universe did not exist. Likewise God did with the spiritual realm. | + | '''God''' is the sovereign creator and eternal ruler of all things and beings that exist, whether in the physical [[universe]] or in the spiritual realm ([[Heaven]]). Not only is God the creator and ruler of the things and beings within those two realms, but He is also the creator of the realms themselves. God created the physical universe, and before He acted in this creation, the universe did not exist. Likewise, God did with the spiritual realm. |
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| | == God is Revealed: How we know about God == | | == God is Revealed: How we know about God == |
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| − | Other than creation itself, God is revealed in several ways, including theological correlates, conscience, and special revelation (the [[Bible]], and prophets). Most importantly though, God is revealed in [[Jesus Christ]], who is the Son of God. | + | Other than creation itself, God is revealed in several ways, including theological reasoning, conscience, and special revelation (the [[Bible]], prophets, and even individual epiphanies). Most importantly though, God is revealed in [[Jesus Christ]], who is the Son of God. |
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| | [[File:Mezquita Catedral Cordoba.jpg|frame|center|[[Cathedral]] Cordoba, Spain.]] | | [[File:Mezquita Catedral Cordoba.jpg|frame|center|[[Cathedral]] Cordoba, Spain.]] |
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| | The three persons of God are treated as equivalents in these words of Jesus shortly after His resurrection: | | The three persons of God are treated as equivalents in these words of Jesus shortly after His resurrection: |
| − | {{Bible quote|Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.|book=Matthew|chap=28|verses=19|version=NIV}} | + | {{Bible quote|Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.|book=Matthew|chap=28|verses=19|version=NIV}} |
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| | ==== Jesus is God ==== | | ==== Jesus is God ==== |
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| | == "God" sometimes used to refer to God the Father == | | == "God" sometimes used to refer to God the Father == |
| | [[Image:Velasco Padre Eterno.jpg|thumb|left|180px|God the Father by [[Jose Maria Velasco]] (1840-1912).]] | | [[Image:Velasco Padre Eterno.jpg|thumb|left|180px|God the Father by [[Jose Maria Velasco]] (1840-1912).]] |
| − | In the Bible, the word "God" (θεός) does not always refer to God's being as a whole, but more specifically refers to the Person of the Father (God the Father). Here are some verses which demonstrate this: | + | In the Bible, the word "God" (θεός) does not always refer to God's being as a whole, but more specifically refers to the Person of the Father (God the Father). Here are some verses that demonstrate this: |
| | {{cquote|'''John 3:16''' (NASB)<br />For <u>God</u> so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten <u>Son</u>, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.}} | | {{cquote|'''John 3:16''' (NASB)<br />For <u>God</u> so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten <u>Son</u>, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.}} |
| | {{cquote|'''1 John 4:10''' (NASB)<br />In this is love, not that we loved <u>God</u>, but that He loved us and sent <u>His Son</u> to be the propitiation for our sins.}} | | {{cquote|'''1 John 4:10''' (NASB)<br />In this is love, not that we loved <u>God</u>, but that He loved us and sent <u>His Son</u> to be the propitiation for our sins.}} |
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| | The Bible uses several different words to refer to God. | | The Bible uses several different words to refer to God. |
| − | "God" itself is not a name, but an [[Old English]] word meaning ''supreme being, deity'',<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=god God] Online Etymology Dictionary.</ref> which the translators who translated the Bible in to English chose as the appropriate English word for the [[Hebrew]] ''elohim'' and the [[Greek]] ''theos'' used in the [[Old Testament]] and [[New Testament]] respectively.<ref name="DPK">Kruse, Dale P.,[http://www.layevangelism.com/advtxbk/sections/sect-10/sec10-9.htm More on the ''Names'' of God In the Bible], Advanced Training Program of Evangelism.</ref> | + | "God" itself is not a name, but an [[Old English]] word meaning ''supreme being, deity'',<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=god God] Online Etymology Dictionary.</ref> which the translators who translated the Bible into English chose as the appropriate English word for the [[Hebrew]] ''elohim'' and the [[Greek]] ''theos'' used in the [[Old Testament]] and [[New Testament]] respectively.<ref name="DPK">Kruse, Dale P.,[http://www.layevangelism.com/advtxbk/sections/sect-10/sec10-9.htm More on the ''Names'' of God In the Bible], Advanced Training Program of Evangelism.</ref> |
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| − | The other main term for God is the Hebrew ''adonai'', usually translated ''Lord''. | + | The other main term for God is the Hebrew ''adonai'', usually translated as ''[[Lord]]''. |
| | There are various compound words also used in the Bible, such as ''el shaddai'', which means ''God Almighty'' ("''el''" is a short version of ''elohim'').<ref name="DPK" /> | | There are various compound words also used in the Bible, such as ''el shaddai'', which means ''God Almighty'' ("''el''" is a short version of ''elohim'').<ref name="DPK" /> |
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