Biblical Theology – G00 God: Introduction

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Biblical Theology
G00 God: Introduction

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All the Bible verses quoted in this article are from the King James Version.

Dear readers,

It can be said that deep within every person is a belief in a Supreme Absolute Being, who created and governs all creatures and all things, determines the fate of all creatures and all things, and is the only one who has the authority to bestow blessings or bring calamity. This belief is not something humanity possesses by chance. This belief is the faith that the Supreme Absolute Being gave to humanity when He created humankind.

Due to humanity’s disobedience to the Supreme Absolute Being, the relationship between humanity and Him was severed; since then, humanity’s awareness of Him has faded. Until a time came when humanity, powerless and fearful before nature and disturbed by evil spirits, developed a reverence for these evil spirits and other created beings. From then on, human society began to worship evil spirits, the images of evil spirits, philosophical ideas, the desires of the flesh, various insects, birds, beasts, and even each other; and from there, all kinds of religions emerged!

In the everlasting love of the Supreme Absolute Being for humanity, He has revealed Himself to humanity through the languages He has given them and by directly speaking to them. As a result, humanity has the opportunity to clearly understand the Supreme Absolute Being, recognize their rebellion against Him, and comprehend the forgiveness and redemption He offers to humanity.

Through this understanding, humanity is given the freedom to choose. They can choose to live according to their own will, continuing to rebel against the Supreme Absolute Being, or they can choose to repent of their rebellion and accept His forgiveness. The fate of those who choose to live according to their own will, continuing to rebel against the Supreme Absolute Being, is to be eternally separated from Him and imprisoned in hell. The fate of those who choose to repent of their rebellion, believe in His redemption, and rely on His power to live according to His holy will is to be eternally happy in His kingdom.

All of these revelations have been recorded in a book called the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible calls the Supreme Absolute Being “God.”

This book was written to present the truths about God, as He Himself has revealed in the Holy Bible. Before discussing God, we need to go through some terms that will be used in this book.

Language is a means to express thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. Language has its own rules, and it continuously evolves. A word that was used yesterday may no longer be used today. A new word may be created to more accurately express an old word or to describe a new concept or a new entity. A word may carry a completely different meaning than its usual meaning when used in a specialized field. Two words, even if they are pronounced and written the same way, can have entirely different meanings. Furthermore, each nation has its own language, and most words cannot be fully and accurately translated into the language of another nation.

The series of treatises in this book is written in Vietnamese. Some of the words used in these articles are terms from the fields of the Holy Bible and Theology. These terms are directly translated from the original languages of the Holy Bible, which are Hebrew and Greek. There are also some words from the field of philosophy used in this book. However, when used in the context of the Holy Bible and Theology, these words no longer carry their usual meanings. Therefore, it is necessary to compile a glossary of the main terms used in this series of treatises.

Glossary

Deity (noun): refers to God Himself or attributes that belong exclusively to God.

Divinity (noun): refers to qualities or attributes associated with God.

Entity (noun): refers to something that exists in its own right, whether it’s a physical object, a person, a concept, or an abstract idea. It’s a distinct and independent being or thing. In various contexts, “entity” can refer to different things:

  • Physical Entity: This could be a tangible object, such as a rock, a tree, a car, or any other material thing.

  • Living Entity: refers to living organisms, such as animals, plants, or humans.

  • Abstract Entity: This includes concepts, ideas, or principles, such as justice, freedom, democracy, or love.

  • Legal Entity: In the context of law, this typically refers to an organization, institution, or company that is recognized as having legal rights and responsibilities, separate from its owners or members.

  • Digital Entity: In the digital world, an entity could be a digital file, document, or piece of data.

Overall, an entity is something that has its own existence or being, whether it’s physical, conceptual, legal, or digital.

There is only one entity that is self-existent and an eternal entity, which is God. All other entities were created by God and will remain forever, although they may undergo different states and forms. Therefore, God is called the Creator, meaning the one who creates all things and transforms them according to His will, at the time determined by Him.

Essence (noun): the substance that forms an entity. For example, the essence of God is spirit. The essence of humanity is spirit and dust. The spiritual essence of humanity comes from the breath of God.

Existence (noun): refers to the state or fact of existing.

God and *God (noun): used to translate the noun “אֱלֹהִים” (‘ĕlōhîm) /el-o-heem’/ (H430) in Hebrew, with the definite article accompanying, in the Old Testament, or the noun “θεός” (theos) /theh’-os/ (G2316) in Greek, with the definite article accompanying, in the New Testament, and to refer to the person of God the Father within the three persons of God. Because in English, the definite article is not used before the noun “God,” when in Hebrew or Greek the definite article is used before the noun “God,” we mark * before the word “God” to indicate that this term refers to God the Father.

Holy spirit (noun): the power of God comes from God the Holy Spirit and acts within or through the body of God’s people. No definite article precedes.

Lord (noun): used to translate the nouns:

  • “אָדוֹן” (‘āḏôn) /aw-done’/ (H113) in Hebrew in the Old Testament;

  • “אֲדֹנָי” (‘ăḏōnāy) /ad-o-noy’/ (H136) in Hebrew in the Old Testament;

  • “אֱלוֹהַּ” (‘ĕlôha) /el-o’-ah/ (H433) in Hebrew in the Old Testament;

  • “κύριος” (kyrios) /koo’-ree-os/ (G2962) in Greek in the New Testament.

This term is used to refer collectively to the three persons of the Godhead or individually to each person; it is often used to refer to the Son. This term is also used for a wife to call her husband, a servant to call his master, and the people to call a king.

Nature (noun): refers to the inherent or essential qualities or attributes of a person or thing.

Person (noun): a being with cognition, analysis, reasoning, sensation, and will. The term “person” is used for God, humans, and spirits.

Self (noun): synonymous with “soul.” The identity, consciousness, or ego of an individual person. For example, the soul, also called the self, of a person who belongs to the Lord controls their *spirit and flesh and worships God according to the truth of the Holy Bible.

Spirit (noun): used to translate the noun “רוּחַ” (rûaḥ) /roo’-akh/ (H7307) in Hebrew in the Old Testament and the noun “πνεῦμα” (pneuma) /pnyoo’-mah/ (G4151) in Greek in the New Testament. This term has various meanings:

1. The spiritual substance of God (John 4:24).

2. The Spirit/the Holy Spirit, one of the three persons of God, always has the definite article accompanying both the Old Testament and the New Testament (1 Corinthians 2:11).

3. The breath of God, giving life or animation (Genesis 2:7).

4. The power of God (Matthew 12:28).

5. The spirits created by God, including angels who have not sinned and angels who have sinned. Always has the definite article accompanying both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Bible calls sinful angels demons or evil spirits.

6. The spiritual substance of humanity comes from the breath of God, which, when He breathes into the physical body of humanity on the day humanity was created, is often referred to as “the spirit.” Always has the definite article accompanying both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

7. Knowledge from God, also called the spirit of understanding (Isaiah 11:2; Romans 8:9, 14).

8. The inclination of the human spirit, also called spirit (2 Timothy 1:7). No definite article precedes.

Substance (noun): refers to the physical or tangible aspect of an entity. An entity can:

  • have a material body and shape, or

  • have a spiritual body and shape, or

  • have both a material body and shape and a spiritual body and shape:

“All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:39-44).

Man is an entity that has both a spiritual body (the spirit) and a material body (dust); the material body is also called the fleshly body.

The Spirit (noun): (1) used to translate the noun “רוּחַ” (rûaḥ) /roo’-akh/ (H7307) in Hebrew in the Old Testament and the noun “πνεῦμα” (pneuma) /pnyoo’-mah/ (G4151) in Greek in the New Testament when accompanied by the definite article, denoting the person of God the Spirit within the three persons of God, particularly when this person acts outside the bodies of God’s people. When the Spirit acts inside the bodies of God’s people, He is referred to as the Holy Spirit. (2) also refers to the spiritual essence or body of God, angels, and humans.

We respectfully offer this small book to God, praying that He will use it to bring spiritual benefit to those who earnestly desire to know more about Him. The Word of God says:

“God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God” (Psalm 53:2).

“I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me” (Proverbs 8:17).

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

We sincerely wish that every reader of this book will encounter God, believe in Him, and abide forever in His kingdom.

Timothy Christian Huynh
Priscilla Christian Huynh
07/17/2013