Biblical Narratives and Examples of God's Character
The Bible consistently portrays God as possessing a multifaceted character, revealed through both direct statements and narrative examples. The very name "God" in Hebrew, El or Elohim, implies strength [1]. The existence of God is assumed throughout scripture, rather than argued for [1].
One prominent aspect of God's character is His goodness. The goodness of God is described as great, rich, abundant, satisfying, and enduring [3]. It is also universal, extending to all creation [3, 13]. This goodness is manifested in various ways, such as doing good, supplying temporal needs, providing for the poor, and forgiving sins [3]. The goodness of God is intended to lead people to repentance (Romans 2:4) [3].
God's holiness is another foundational attribute. Believers are commanded to be holy, reflecting God's own character (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16) [2]. Christ himself serves as an example of holiness (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:21-22) and desires holiness for His people (John 17:17) [2]. Holiness is presented as necessary for worshiping God and for seeing Him (Psalm 24:3-4; Hebrews 12:14) [2].
The Lord's rule is characterized by strength, justice, love, fairness, and righteousness (Psalm 99:4) [10]. These qualities of God's care—love, truth, righteousness, and peace—are depicted as coming together to transform creation (Psalm 85:10-13) [11]. God's word itself displays His character and power (Psalm 33:4-7) [6].
Biblical narratives also illustrate God's character through His interactions with humanity. For instance, God's providential care, providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, is famously described in Psalm 23, where God is likened to a shepherd [8]. This imagery is also applied to Christ's relationship with His people (John 10:14) [8]. God's character serves as the motivation for righteous behavior among His people (Exodus 23:7) [9]. A godly life, marked by obedience, provides evidence of truly knowing God (Isaiah 33:15) [12].
God also expresses joy over His people, particularly on account of their repentance, faith, fear of Him, and uprightness (Zephaniah 3:17; Luke 15:7, 10) [4]. This joy leads Him to prosper, do good for, deliver, and comfort them [4]. The creation of humanity in God's image (Genesis 1:27) suggests that certain human qualities, such as wisdom and justice, can reflect divine attributes [5, 7].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Goodness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 25:8; Na 1:7; Mt 19:17. Declared to be Great. -- Ne 9:35; Zec 9:17. Rich. -- Ps 104:24; Ro 2:4. Abundant. -- Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5. Satisfying. -- Ps 65:4; Jer 31:12,14. Enduring. -- Ps 23:6; 52:1. Universal. -- Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45. Manifested To his Church. -- Ps 31:19; La 3:25. In doing good. -- Ps 119:68; 145:9. In supplying temporal wants. -- Ac 14:17. In providing for the poor. -- Ps 68:10. In forgiving sins. -- 2Ch 30:18; Ps 86:5. Leads to repentance. -- Ro 2:4. Recognise, in his dealings. -- Ezr 8:18; Ne 2:18. Pra”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Joy of God Over His People, The — Greatness of, described -- Zep 3:17. On account of their Repentance. -- Lu 15:7,10. Faith. -- Heb 11:5,6. Fear of him. -- Ps 147:11. Praying to him. -- Pr 15:8. Hope in his mercy. -- Ps 147:11. Meekness. -- Ps 149:4. Uprightness. -- 1Ch 29:17; Pr 11:20. Leads to him Prosper them. -- De 30:9. Do them good. -- De 28:63; Jer 32:41. Deliver them. -- 2Sa 22:20. Comfort them. -- Isa 65:19. Give them the inheritance. -- Nu 14:8. Illustrated -- Isa 62:5; Lu 15:23,24. Exemplified Solomon. -- 1Ki 10:9.”
- Genesis “God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. -- Genesis 1:27”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 33:4: 33:4-7 God’s word displays his character and his power.”
- 2 Samuel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Samuel 14:17: 14:17 you are like an angel of God: This flattering expression is not used for anyone else in the Bible but appears four times to describe David (see also 14:20; 19:27; 1 Sam 29:9). The woman was expressing confidence that David would act with God-given wisdom and justice.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 23 (introduction): Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor. (Psa 23:1-6) Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd (Joh 10:14; Heb 13:20; Pe1 2:25; Pe1 5:4), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Gen 48:15; Psa 80:1; Isa 40:11, is not without some good reason.”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 23:7: 23:7 God’s character is the motive for righteous behavior (see 22:22-24, 27).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 99:4: 99:4 The qualities of the Lord’s rule include strength, justice, love, fairness, and righteousness (see 93:4; 97:2, 6-7, 12; 98:2-3, 9; 138:6).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 85:10: 85:10-13 In the glorious world of renewal and salvation, all the qualities of God’s care—love, truth, righteousness, and peace—come together and transform the created order into something new (see Isa 32:15-20).”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 33:15: 33:15 A godly life provides evidence that an individual truly knows God (see Col 3:5-17; Jas 2:14-18; 1 Pet 1:14-16; 1 Jn 1:5-6).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 145:8: 145:8-9 God consistently demonstrates his character toward all his creation (see 136:25).”