Cultivating Deeper Understanding of God's Character Through Biblical Storytelling
A deeper understanding of God's character is cultivated through various means, including biblical storytelling, the experience of God's dealings, and the study of His word. The Bible itself is presented as the "gospel of Jesus Christ," a story encompassing His life, ministry, death, resurrection, and glorification [10]. This narrative reveals God's character through His actions and interactions with humanity.
One aspect of God's character frequently highlighted is His loving-kindness, described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, everlasting, and merciful [1]. This loving-kindness is experienced through Christ and is considered "better than life" [1]. The consideration of God's dealings throughout history provides knowledge of this attribute [1]. For instance, afflictions can be beneficial in revealing God's power and faithfulness, teaching His will, and turning individuals back to Him [5].
The concept of "knowing God" in Scripture often signifies an intimate, saving relationship rather than mere intellectual assent [11]. This intimate knowledge is linked to being "knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding" in Christ [3]. While all people may have some understanding of God through creation, this knowledge does not always lead to righteous living; instead, some worship gods of their own making [11]. A godly life, however, provides evidence of truly knowing God [9].
The names of individuals in the Bible sometimes reflect this pursuit of understanding God, such as Jediel ("the knowledge, or renewing, of God"), Deuel ("the knowledge of God"), and Eldaah ("knowledge of God") [2, 6, 7]. The Scriptures are also described as "wonderful" because they testify of God, His mind, and His will, providing accounts of creation, providence, and miracles [12]. Searching the Scriptures is presented as a way to gain understanding of godly fear, which is characterized as a hatred of evil, wisdom, and a treasure to saints [4]. This fear is motivated by God's holiness, greatness, goodness, and forgiveness [4].
God's character is also revealed through His willingness to "prove" or "know what is in your heart," as seen in Deuteronomy 8:2 [8]. This is an example of anthropomorphism, where God is described in human terms to help human minds grasp His ways, though God Himself is not limited [8]. The Christian life is fundamentally based on the personal experience and knowledge of God's grace and love in Jesus Christ, a love so great it cannot be fully understood [13].
Sources
- 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 ”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jediel — the knowledge, or renewing, of God”
- Colossians “Colossians 2:2 (BSB) — that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Godly — God is the object of -- Isa 8:13. God is the author of -- Jer 32:39,40. Searching the Scriptures gives the understanding of -- Pr 2:3-5. Described as Hatred of evil. -- Pr 8:13. Wisdom. -- Job 28:28; Ps 111:10. A treasure to saints. -- Pr 15:16; Isa 33:6. A fountain of life. -- Pr 14:27. Sanctifying. -- Ps 19:9. Filial and reverential. -- Heb 12:9,28. Commanded -- De 13:4; Ps 22:23; Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Motives to The holiness of God. -- Re 15:4. The greatness of God. -- De 10:12,17. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The forgiveness of God. -- Ps 130:4.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Deuel — the knowledge of God”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Eldaah — knowledge of God”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 8:2: 8:2 to prove your character (literally to know what is in your heart): God already knew the Israelites’ innermost thoughts (Pss 51:6; 139:1, 4, 23); he wanted their character to come out in their actions. • to find out whether: The Old Testament often describes God in human terms, even in ways that appear to limit God. Anthropomorphism (assigning human characteristics to God) and anthropopathism (assigning human feelings or emotions to God) are ways of representing God on a human level so the human mind can better grasp his ways, but God is not limited in his ”
- 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).”
- Mark (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Mark 1 (introduction): PREACHING AND BAPTISM OF JOHN. ( = Mat 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-18). (Mar 1:1-8) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God--By the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ here is evidently meant the blessed Story which our Evangelist is about to tell of His Life, Ministry, Death, Resurrection, and Glorification, and of the begun Gathering of Believers in His Name. The abruptness with which he announces his subject, and the energetic brevity with which, passing by all preceding events, he hastens over the ministry of John and records the Baptism a”
- 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.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:125: PE.--The Seventeenth Part. PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them. They give an account of the wonderful works of creation; of their author and matter; of the manner, order, and time of their being wrought: they relate many wonderful events of Providence, both in a way of mercy and judgment; they declare several surprising miracles, wrought by Moses and others, and exhibit many marvellous t”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 3:19: 3:19 May you experience (literally know) the love of Christ: The whole Christian life is based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ (see Rom 12:1). • it is too great to understand fully: Christ’s love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Rom 5:6-8). • The believer’s life is made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within (see Eph 1:23; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27). The believer then is conformed to his image and reflects God (see Eph 4:14, 24; 5:1-2; Rom 8:29; 2”