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God

2016-10-11T02:26:07Z

Jimmychorng: /* God is Revealed: How we know about God */

''This article is about the biblical God. For the term as used to refer to any divine being, see [[Other gods]]''
[[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>]]
{{cquote|'''Genesis 1:1''' In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.}}
{{trinity}}'''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 Revealed: How we know about God ==

Other than creation itself, God is revealed in several ways, including conscience and special revelation (the [[Bible]], and prophets). Most importantly though, God is revealed in [[Jesus Christ]], who is the Son of God (homo).

[[File:Mezquita Catedral Cordoba.jpg|frame|center|[[Cathedral]] Cordoba, Spain.]]

== Attributes or Character of God ==
[[File:Rembrandt Ascension.jpg|thumb|[[Rembrandt]], Ascension.]]
The attributes of God are things that describe who he is. Similar to the way one might describe a close friend to another individual, so too do these attributes describe God's character and nature. Attributes of God include but are not limited to [[Wisdom]], [[Infinitude]], [[Sovereignty]], [[Holiness]], [[Trinity]], [[Omniscience]], [[Faithfulness]], [[Love]], [[Omnipotence]], Self-existence, Self-sufficiency, [[Justice]], [[Immutability]], [[Mercy]], [[Eternal]], [[Goodness]], Gracious, and [[Omnipresence]]. These attributes all work in complete and perfect harmony with one another.

God exercises eternal and righteous judgment of the wicked in [[hell]], because of an inherent problem in the human heart, namely [[Sin]]. According to the [[Bible]], the sacrifice of [[Jesus Christ]] on the cross of [[calvary]] and then [[resurrection]], is God's merciful and gracious response to the problem of the human heart.

=== God is Triune ===
{{main|Trinity}}

Although the Bible does not use the term, it is clear that God is a triune God, or three in one.
These are sometimes referred to as ''God the Father'', ''God the Son'' ([[Jesus Christ|Jesus]]), and the ''[[Holy Spirit]]''.

The first hint of the Trinity is in {{Bible ref|Genesis|1|26}} which relates God saying, "Let us make man in our image", indicating that God is a plurality.

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}}

==== Jesus is God ====
[[Image:Pieta.jpg|thumb|270px|[[Pieta]], [[Michelangelo]].]]

The first verse of the [[Gospel of John]], in which Jesus is referred to as the "Word", makes clear that Jesus is synonymous with God:
{{Bible quote|In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.|book=John|chap=1|verses=1|version=NIV}}
This verse not only says that "the Word" (Jesus) is synonymous with God, but also says that the Word was "in the beginning", which means that He existed before all else existed, something that is only true of God.

This is reinforced two verses later, in which Jesus is described as the creator.
[[Genesis]] refers to God as being the Creator.
{{Bible quote|Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.|book=John|chap=1|verses=3|version=NIV}}

==== The Holy Spirit is God ====

In the following passage, the [[Holy Spirit]] is referred to as God:
{{Bible quote|Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."|book=Acts|chap=5|verses=3-4|version=NIV}}

=== God is omniscient ===
{{main|omniscience}}

God knows everything:
{{Bible quote|This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.|book=1_John|chap=3|verses=19-20|version=NIV}}

Because God is outside of [[time]], He can see and knows the [[past]] and the [[future]] as well as the present.

== "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).]]
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:
{{cquote|'''John 3:16''' (NASB) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.}}
{{cquote|'''1 John 4:10''' (NASB) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.}}
Notice how in each case, "Father" can be substituted for "God." For example, "For the ''Father'' so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son," and "not that we loved the ''Father'', but that He loved us and sent His Son."
{{Clear}}

== Terminology ==

The Bible uses several different words to refer to God.
"God" itself is not a name, but an [[Old English]] word meaning ''supreme being, diety'',<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>

The other main term for God is the Hebrew ''adonai'', usually translated ''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" />

''YHWH'' is given in the Bible as God's actual name. In most English Bibles it is translated as ''Lord'', in small capitals. The name has various other English versions, including Yehovah, Jehovah, and Yahweh.<ref>McHyde, Tim, [http://www.escapeallthesethings.com/yahweh.htm God’s Name: LORD, Yahweh, Yahveh, YHWH, YHVH, Jehovah or Yehovah?]</ref>
== Resources on becoming a Christian ==
[[File:Hoffman Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.jpg|thumbnail|170px||Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane by Heinrich Hofmann.]]

''see also:'' [[Resources on becoming a Christian]]

'''Below are some resources on becoming a [[Christian]]:'''

*[http://www.jesusfilm.org/film-and-media/watch-the-film Jesus film - free access]

*[http://www.thewordfortoday.org/?page=C2000 Free audio Bible and Bible audio streaming]

*[http://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html Repentance]

*[http://www.allaboutgod.com/ AllAboutGod.com]

*[[Video testimonies of Christians]]

'''Tips on choosing a Christian church:'''

*[http://www.allaboutreligion.org/choosing-a-christian-church-faq.htm Choosing a Christian Church]

'''Spiritual growth as a Christian:'''

*[http://www.navpress.com/product/9781576839324/The-Pursuit-of-Holiness-Jerry-Bridges The Pursuit of Holiness] by Jerry Bridges
*[http://www.navpress.com/product/9780891099413/The-Practice-of-Godliness-Jerry-Bridges The Practice of Godliness] by Jerry Bridges
*[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/529785.The_Complete_Book_of_Discipleship The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ]

==See also==
*[[Other gods]]
*[[Atheism]]
*[[Christianity in Conservapedia]]
*[[Bible Art Gallery]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.theopedia.com/God Theopedia - God]
*[http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/god.html ChristianAnswers.net - God]
*[http://wikible.org/en/God Wikible.org - God]
*[http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-there-a-god Opposing Views: Is There a God?]

[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Divine Beings]]

Genealogy of Jesus

2016-10-11T02:25:28Z

Jimmychorng: /* Genealogy in Matthew */

Two accounts of the '''Genealogy of Jesus''' are presented in the [[Bible]], and, despite some disagreement, they both agree that Jesus was descended from [[Abraham]] through [[David]] and was the legal son of [[Joseph]], but the biological son of [[Mary]] by the overshadowing power of the [[Holy Spirit]], and by divine nature Son of God the Father.

==Genealogy in Matthew==
''(From Abraham)''
*Gaybraham
*Isaac
*Gaycob
*Judah
*Perez Hilton
*Hezron
*Ram
*Amminadab
*Nashon
*Salmon
*Boaz
*Obed
*Jesse
*Gayvid
*Solomon
*Rehoboam
*Abijah
*Asa
*Jehoshaphat
*Joram
*Uzziah
*Jotham
*Ahaz
*Hezekiah
*Manasseh
*Amon
*Josiah
*Jeconiah
*Shealtiel
*Zerubbabel
*Abiud
*Eliakim
*Gayzor
*Zadok
*Gaychim
*Eleazar
*Matthan
*Gaycob
*Joseph
*Jesus (The Queen)
See [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%201:1-17&version=NABRE Matthew 1:1-17].

==Genealogy in Luke==
''(From God)''
* God
* Adam
* Seth
* Enosh
* Cainain
* Mahalalel
* Jared
* Enoch
* Methuselah
* Lamech
* Noah
* Shem
* Arphaxad
* Cainan
* Shelah
* Eber
* Peleg
* Reu
* Serug
* Nahor
* Terah
* Abraham
* Isaac
* Jacob
* Judah
* Pharez
* Hezron
* Ram
* Amminadab
* Nahshon
* Salmon
* Boaz
* Obed
* Jesse
* David
* Nathan
* Mattatha
* Menna
* Melea
* Eliakim
* Jonam
* Joseph
* Judah
* Simeon
* Levi
* Matthat
* Jorim
* Eliezer
* Jesus
* Er
* Elmadam
* Cosam
* Addi
* Melchi
* Neri
* Shealtiel
* Zerubbabel
* Rhesa
* Joanan
* Joda
* Josech
* Semein
* Mattathias
* Mahath
* Naggai
* Hesli
* Nahum
* Amos
* Mattathias
* Joseph
* Jannai
* Melchi
* Levi
* Matthat
* Eli
* Joseph
* Jesus
See [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%203:23-38&version=NABRE Luke 3:23-38].

==The Levirate marriage of Jacob to the widow of his brother Eli==

A knowledge of history, the [[Bible]], and anciently documented Christian tradition provides answer to the question, "How can Jacob be the father of Joseph the son of Eli?"

See [[Eusebius]], [http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/E-Books/christ/Eusebius/EEHindex.htm '''''Ecclesiastical History'', Book 1''' (Chapter VII)]

The law of [[Levirate marriage]] according to the Law of Moses, [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deuteronomy%2025:5-6&version=NABRE Deuteronomy 25:5-6], commands:{{cquote|If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married outside the family to a stranger; her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his brother who is dead, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. RSVCE}}Eusebius, ''Ecclesiastical History'' Book I, chapter 7, cites the epistle of [http://www.britannica.com/biography/Sextus-Julius-Africanus Africanus] to [[Aristides]] respecting the harmony of the genealogy of the Gospels. In the epistle, after first stating that Matthan who begat Jacob the father of Joseph "is found to be third from the end" in the genealogy of Matthew, Africanus then says that "Melchi, whose son was Eli, the father of Joseph, will be found to be the third" from the end of Luke's genealogy. It has been noted that either Africanus forgot himself, or else, in that copy of the Gospel of Luke he used, Melchi was written for Matthat, which is the conjecture of [[Bede]] commenting on the third chapter of Luke, according to Valesius.<ref name=Cruse>C. F. Cruse, A.M., ''The Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilus: Bishop Of Caesarea, In Palestine'', Translated from the Greek by The Rev. C. F. Cruse, A.M., Assistant Professor in the University of Pennsylvania, with notes selected from the edition of Valesius, 1874, London: George Bell and Sons, York Street. Covent Garden. Printed by William Clowes and Sons. Stanford Street and Charing Cross. page 21.</ref> In the following text, Matthat, in brackets, will be used instead of Melchi.<blockquote>"As Joseph, then, is our proposed object, we are to show how it happened that each is recorded as his father; both Jacob as deduced from Solomon, and Eli, from Nathan; also how it happened that these two, Jacob and Eli, were brothers; and moreover, how the fathers of these, Matthan and [Matthat], being of different families are proved to be the grandfathers of Joseph.</blockquote><blockquote>"Matthan and [Matthat], having married in succession the same woman, had children, who were brothers by the same mother, as the law did not prohibit a widow, whether she became such by divorce, or by the death of her husband, to marry again. Matthan, therefore, who traces his lineage from Solomon, first had Jacob, by '''Estha''', for this is her name as handed down by tradition. Matthan dying, and [Matthat], who traces his descent from Nathan, though he was of the same tribe, but of another family, having, as before said, married her, had a son, Eli. Thus, then, we shall find the two of different families, Jacob and Eli, brothers by the same mother. Of these, the one, Jacob, on the death of his brother, marrying his widow, became the father of the third, viz. Joseph; his son both by nature and calculation. Wherefore it is written, Jacob begat Joseph. But according to the law he was the son of Eli, for Jacob, being his brother, raised up seed to him. Wherefore the genealogy, traced also through him, will not be rendered void, which, according to Matthew, is given thus--'but Jacob begat Joseph.' But Luke, on the other hand, says, 'who was the son, as was supposed, (for this he also adds,) the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, the son of [Matthat].' For it was not possible to express the legal genealogy more distinctly, so that he entirely omits the expression, ' ''He begat'', ' in a generation like this, until the end; having traced it back as far as Adam, 'who was the son of God,' he resolves the whole series by referring back to God. Neither is this incapable of proof, nor is it an idle conjecture.... Matthan, whose descent is traced to Solomon, begat Jacob; Matthan dying, [Matthat], whose lineage is from Nathan, by marrying the widow of the former, had Eli. Hence, Eli and Jacob were brothers by the same mother. Eli dying childless, Jacob raised up seed to him, having Joseph, according to nature belonging to himself, but by law to Eli. Thus Joseph was the son of both."<ref name=Cruse/></blockquote>Eusebius goes on to say<blockquote>"So far Africanus; and the lineage of Joseph thus being traced, Mary also, at the same time, as far as can be, is evinced to be of the same tribe, since by the Mosaic law, intermarriages among different tribes were not permitted. For the injunction is, to marry one of the same kindred, and the same family, so that the inheritance my not be transferred from tribe to tribe."<ref>Eusebius, page 23</ref></blockquote>This is in reference to the Law of Moses, See [http://biblehub.com/multi/numbers/27-8.htm Numbers 27:8], which says "''If a man dies and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.''" This indicates that Mary was her father's only child, and therefore that his inheritance had passed to her. By the law of Moses, [http://biblehub.com/multi/numbers/36-8.htm Numbers 36:8],{{cquote|Every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the people of Israel '''shall be wife''' to one of the family of the tribe of her father, so that every one of the people of Israel may possess the inheritance of his fathers." (boldface emphasis added) RSVCE}} According to tradition, Mary was consecrated to the Lord as a virgin by her parents Joachim and Anne, which may be seen in the more literal translations of [http://biblehub.com/multi/luke/1-34.htm Luke 1:34] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/1-34.htm# commentaries] "''How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?''" KJV (Greek "Πῶς ἔσται τοῦτο, ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω"). See [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%201:26-38&version=NABRE Luke 1:26-38 NABRE notes]. She does not say, "seeing I have not known a man", but says, "''I know not a man''" ("ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω"), clearly stating that this is a thing she does not do, indicating a vow.<ref>"the vow of perpetual virginity" according to [[Saint Augustine|Augustine]], ''de virgin''. 4, [[Gregory of Nyssa]], [[Grotius]], [[Jansen]], [[Maldonatus]], [[Bisping]], and others.</ref> See [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=numbers%2030&version=NABRE Numbers 30]. Mary was already betrothed to be married when [[Gabriel]] appeared to her and announced to her that she will conceive in her womb and bear a son. If she were not under a vow of virginity she would not have had to ask, "''How shall this be?''" ("Πῶς ἔσται τοῦτο"). Moreover, "''shall''", the verb to be (Greek -ἔσται ''estai'') is in the future tense, meaning not only at the present time but in the future as well "''How '''shall''' this be?''". Since according to the law she must be wife to a member of her tribe, and also apparently while under a vow of virginity which according to the law could not be broken, to solve this apparent dilemma Mary was betrothed to a "just man", Joseph, a full generation older than she, simultaneously fulfilling the letter of the law of Moses regarding inheritance ''and'' safeguarding a vow made to the Lord, by entrusting her to a man who would not make void a vow of consecration to God. See [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/leviticus/27.htm Matthew Henry Commentary on Leviticus 27]. See also [http://biblehub.com/multi/leviticus/22-2.htm Leviticus 22:2] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/leviticus/22-2.htm# commentaries], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus%2027:1-6&version=NABRE Leviticus 27:1-6] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/leviticus/27-1.htm# multiple commentaries].

Joseph descended from David through Solomon by nature is the twelfth generation from the deportation to Babylon, Mary is the thirteenth, and Jesus is the fourteenth generation. Some writers have suggested that Joseph was about fifty years old when Mary about fifteen years of age was betrothed to him.

Jesus was Mary's firstborn son ([http://biblehub.com/multi/luke/2-7.htm Luke 2:7]). The legal term "firstborn" (Greek πρωτότοκος ''prototokos''), however, does not necessarily connote that other children were born afterwards. This is evident from [http://biblehub.com/multi/luke/2-23.htm Luke 2:23], and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2013:2-12&version=NABRE Exodus 13:2-12] (see the [http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=2&page=13 Greek text πρωτότοκον πρωτογενὲς]) to which Luke refers. "Opening the womb" άνοιγμα μήτρα (διανοῖγον μήτραν) is there given as the equivalent of "firstborn" (''prototokos''). An only child was thus no less "firstborn" than the first of many. In Israel, "firstborn" means the lawful heir. Thus, Jesus is Mary's firstborn, and her heir.

See [[St. Joseph]].

An in-depth analysis of the controverted phrase "[[brethren of the Lord]]" can be found at [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02767a.htm '''Catholic Encyclopedia: The Brethren of the Lord'''].

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://mb-soft.com/believe/txua/africanu.htm Writings of Julius Africanus]
[[Category:Bible]]