Chapters 42 and 43Chapters 42 and 43

Systematic TheologySystematic TheologyChapter 42Chapter 42

““God’s Jealousy and God’s Jealousy and Perfection”Perfection”

God’s JealousyGod’s JealousyDefinition of “God’s Jealousy”The root meaning of the Old Testament word of

“jealous” means “to be desirous of,” “to be zealous about,” “to be excited to anger over,” and “to execute judgment because of.”

Jealousy is used of God in terms of His holy zeal and His angry wrath. God has holy zeal to protect His supremacy, and God has angry wrath on idolatry and other sins. ~Geisler

The Biblical Basis for God’s JealousyThe “nature” of God’s jealousy :

God’s jealousy carries the connotation of anger, fury, and wrath.

Anger—Deut. 29:20 Fury—Zech. 8:2 Wrath—Isa. 42:13

The Biblical Basis for God’s JealousyThe “subject” of God’s Jealousy:

God’s jealousy is vented on images, idols, other gods, and other sins.

Images—Ps. 78:58 Idols—1 Cor. 10:19-22 Other Gods—Deut. 32:16 Other sins—1 Kings 14:22

The Biblical Basis for God’s JealousyThe “object” of God’s jealousy:

The object of God jealousy is first and foremost His own nature, then His name, His people, His land, and His city.

His Own Nature—Ex. 34:14His Name—Ezek. 39:25His People—Zech. 8:2His Land—Joel 2:18 His City—Zech. 1:14

God’s Moral PerfectionDefinition of God’s Moral Perfection:

God is morally impeccable: He is not simply an infinite Being; He is an infinitely perfect Being.

(Geisler)

Biblical Basis for God’s Moral Perfection Deut. 32: 4 2 Sam. 22:31, 33 Job 37:16 Ps. 18:30; 19:7; 138:8 Isa. 25:1 Matt. 5:48 Rom. 12:2 1 Cor. 13:10 Col. 1:28 James 1:17, 25 1 John 4:18

ConclusionGod possesses a holy jealousy and a

morally perfect character. The former is what gives God zeal to protect and preserve His own holiness; the latter is the absolute moral perfection that pervades the character of God. These attributes are firmly grounded in Scripture, sound theological reasoning, and the history of the Christian church. All objections stated against these attributes fail; the attributes are internally consistent.

(Geisler)

Systematic TheologySystematic TheologyChapter 43Chapter 43

““God’s Truthfulness and Goodness God’s Truthfulness and Goodness (Love)”(Love)”

God’s Truthfulness and Goodness (Love)

God is not only absolutely truthful, but He is also all-good (omnibenevolent). It is impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:18), and He is love by His very nature.

~Geisler

God’s TruthfulnessTruthfulness Defined (Geisler):

Hebrew word for “truth” (emeth) means “firm,” “stable,” “faithful,” “reliable,” “correct.”

The Greek word (aletheia) means “truthful,” “dependable,” “upright,” “real.”

Truth corresponds to reality, is reliable, faithful, and stable.

Biblical Basis for God’s Truthfulness Deut. 32:4 Num. 23:19 1 Sam. 12:24; 15:29 Ps. 25:4-5; 31:5; 33:4; 89:35; 91:4; 117:2 John 4:24; 14:6; 15:26; 17:17 Eph. 1:13; 4:25 1 Thess. 1:9 2 Thess. 2:13 2 Tim. 2:13, 15 Heb. 6:18 1 John 4:6

God’s OmnibenevolenceGod’s Omnivenevolence Defined:

Theologically, God’s omnibenevolence refers to His infinite or unlimited goodness.

~Geisler

Biblical Basis for God’s Omnibenevolence

Be familiar with the biblical bases for God’s

omnibenevolence as listed by Geisler on pages 585-586.