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Cultivating a Deeper Understanding of God's Nature Through Scripture

A deeper understanding of God's nature is cultivated through various means, primarily through the study of Scripture, which is considered God's inspired revelation [3, 7]. This understanding involves not merely intellectual assent but an intimate, saving relationship with God [10].

The Bible itself asserts its divine origin and purpose in revealing God. Second Timothy 3:16 states that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" [3]. Similarly, 2 Peter 1:21 notes that "prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" [3]. This divine inspiration means that the Scriptures are not merely a record of revelation but are the revelation itself in written form, intended for the accurate preservation and propagation of truth [7]. The New Testament consistently refers to the Old Testament as "Scripture," a definite collection of sacred books regarded as divinely inspired [8].

One of the primary ways Scripture facilitates a deeper understanding of God is by revealing His attributes. For instance, the "loving-kindness of God" is described in various passages as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, everlasting, and merciful [5]. This loving-kindness is manifested through Christ and is better than life itself [5]. The consideration of God's dealings, as recorded in Scripture, provides knowledge of His loving-kindness [5].

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in enabling believers to comprehend the "deep things of God" [1]. As 1 Corinthians 2:10 states, "But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" [1]. This suggests that a spiritual understanding, guided by the Holy Spirit, is necessary to grasp the profound truths about God's nature that are contained in Scripture. This spiritual growth leads to a clearer and deeper comprehension of Christian truth [14].

The concept of "knowing God" in Scripture often signifies an intimate, saving relationship [10]. While all people may have some understanding of God through creation, this general knowledge does not automatically lead to a right relationship with Him [10]. Instead, a deeper, saving knowledge is fostered through the study of His revealed Word. Colossians 2:2 speaks of "gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ" [2]. This knowledge is not just intellectual but involves a profound assurance and understanding of God's nature as revealed in Christ. Similarly, Ephesians 3:19 speaks of knowing "Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" [4].

The process of understanding God's nature is also linked to the "new birth" [6]. The corruption of human nature necessitates this spiritual transformation, which is effected by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, often through the instrumentality of the Word of God [6]. This new birth is described as a "new creation" and "newness of life," enabling individuals to better apprehend spiritual truths [6].

The pursuit of understanding God is a continuous process. John Gill, commenting on Psalms 71:17, notes that David was "taught from his youth" about the corruption of human nature, the need for grace from Christ, and the doctrines of justification and worship [11]. This highlights a lifelong journey of learning and spiritual growth. Gill also observes on Proverbs 2:5 that understanding the "fear of the Lord" is a result of the Gospel working in the hearts of people through the Spirit, leading them to appreciate God's grace and mercy [13].

However, human search alone cannot fully comprehend God's nature [12]. As John Gill notes on Job 11:7, while the existence of God can be inferred from creation, His nature, being, and perfections cannot be fully discovered by human inquiry [12]. This underscores the necessity of divine revelation through Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for a true and deep understanding.

The ancient Jewish historian Flavius Josephus also emphasized the importance of contemplating the Divine nature. He suggested that those who wish to live well and give laws should first consider God's nature and imitate the best pattern possible for human nature [9]. This contemplation, he argued, is essential for a right mind and for promoting virtue [9].

Sources

  1. 1 Corinthians “But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. -- 1 Corinthians 2:10”
  2. Colossians “that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, -- Colossians 2:2”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
  4. Ephesians “and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. -- Ephesians 3:19”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: New Birth, The — The corruption of human nature requires -- Joh 3:6; Ro 8:7,8. None can enter heaven without -- Joh 3:3. Effected by God. -- Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:3. Christ. -- 1Jo 2:29. The Holy Spirit. -- Joh 3:6; Tit 3:5. Through the instrumentality of The word of God. -- Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23. The resurrection of Christ. -- 1Pe 1:3. The ministry of the gospel. -- 1Co 4:15. Is of the will of God -- Jas 1:18. Is of the mercy of God -- Tit 3:5. Is for the glory of God -- Isa 43:7. Described as A new creation. -- 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10. Newness of life. -- Ro 6:4. A spir”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
  8. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
  9. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 4: life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, a”
  10. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:21: 1:21 To know God in Scripture usually means to have an intimate, saving relationship with him (see 2 Cor 5:16; Gal 4:9; Phil 3:8, 10). Here, however, they knew God means that people knew about God. All people have some understanding of God through creation, yet they do not do what is right based on that knowledge. Rather than learn more about God, they worship gods of their own making.”
  11. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 71:17: O God, thou hast taught me from my youth,.... The corruption of human nature; the weakness and impotence of it, to everything that is spiritually good; and the need of continual strength and grace from Christ, to go to him for righteousness and strength, life and salvation, and to walk by faith on him; the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, and the insufficiency of his own; the will, ways, and worship of God; and all the duties of religion, prayer, praise, &c. and whoever were the instruments, or whatever were the means, of teaching David these”
  12. Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 11:7: Canst thou by searching find out God?.... God is not to be found out by human search; that there is a God may be found out by inquiring into the book of nature, by considering the creatures that are made, who all proclaim some first cause or maker of them, who is God; but then it cannot be found out what God is, his nature, being, and perfections: an Heathen philosopher (i), being asked by a certain king what God was, required a day to give in his answer; when that was up he desired a second, and still went on asking more; and being demanded the reason of his dilatorines”
  13. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 2:5: Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord,.... The grace of fear, and the exercise of it: which is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge, and is a treasure itself, Pro 1:7. By means of the Gospel the Lord works it in the hearts of his people by his Spirit; and by the same leads them into the riches of his special grace and "goodness", which they are influenced by to "fear", and the Lord for the sake of it: and particularly they are led hereby to the pardoning grace and mercy of God, which is with him, that he may "be feared"; and it is the Gospel which induces ”
  14. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 1:9: 1:9-10 Paul prays that God would grant his readers deeper understanding of the Good News and its full expression in their lives. Spiritual growth yields a clearer and deeper comprehension of Christian truth and conduct that pleases the Lord, through which a believer will have the endurance and patience to stand firm against evil (1:11).”
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