Human-Centered Interpretations of God's Character to Avoid in Teaching
Human-Centered Interpretations of God's Character to Avoid
When teaching about God's character, it's essential to avoid interpretations that prioritize human perspectives over biblical revelation. One common pitfall is to attribute human motivations or flaws to God, such as selfishness or capriciousness. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, selfishness is contrary to the law of God and is exhibited in behaviors like pleasing oneself and seeking one's own gain [5]. In contrast, God's character is marked by selflessness and a desire to glorify Himself through the salvation of humanity.
The Bible warns against teachers who have "a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:5) [1]. Such individuals may prioritize human approval over divine authority, as Jesus noted in John 5:41, "I do not accept glory from human sources" [3]. Similarly, the book of Job cautions against "accepting the person of man" and leveling God with man (Job 32:21) [4]. This warning is echoed in the commentary on 2 Timothy 3:5, which notes that people who have rejected sound teaching have cut themselves off from the power that could make them godly [11].
In teaching about God's character, it's crucial to avoid false doctrines that are "destructive to faith" and "hateful to God" (Torrey's Topical Textbook) [6]. The apostle Paul exhorts believers to "press on to maturity" and avoid "elementary teaching" (Hebrews 6:1) [2]. This involves shunning "idle and foolish enquiries" that tend neither to God's glory nor the edification of believers (Matthew Henry on Titus 3:9) [7].
Some human-centered interpretations of God's character arise from a flawed understanding of His discipline. For instance, earthly fathers often chastise their children "after their own pleasure," whereas God's discipline is designed for our well-being (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 12:10) [8]. Similarly, some teachers may "glory in appearance" rather than in the sincerity of their hearts (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 5:12) [10].
To avoid these pitfalls, teachers must be mindful of their own motivations and ensure that their interpretations are grounded in Scripture. As Calvin notes, some individuals are "stupid and senseless" and prone to ridiculing sound doctrine (Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 16.13) [9]. By being aware of these potential pitfalls, teachers can provide a more accurate and biblical representation of God's character.
Sources
- II Timothy “II Timothy 3:5 (BSB) — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 6:1 (NASB) — Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,”
- John “Claritatem ab hominibus non accipio. -- John 5:41”
- Job “Job 32:21 (DRC) — I will not accept the person of man, and I will not level God with man.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Doctrines, False — Destructive to faith -- 2Ti 2:18. Hateful to God -- Re 2:14,15. Unprofitable and vain -- Tit 3:9; Heb 13:9. Should be avoided by Ministers. -- 1Ti 1:4; 6:20. Saints. -- Eph 4:14; Col 2:8. All men. -- Jer 23:16; 29:8. The wicked love -- 2Ti 4:3,4. The wicked given up to believe -- 2Th 2:11. Teachers of Not to be countenanced. -- 2Jo 1:10. Should be avoided. -- Ro 16:17,18. Bring reproach on religion. -- 2Pe 2:2. Speak perverse things. -- Ac 20:30. Attract many. -- 2Pe 2:2. Deceive many. -- Mt 24:5. Shall abound in the latter days. -- 1Ti 4:1. Perver”
- Titus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Titus 3:9: Here is the fifth and last thing in the matter of the epistle: what Titus should avoid in teaching; how he should deal with a heretic; with some other directions. Observe, I. That the apostle's meaning might be more clear and full, and especially fitted to the time and state of things in Crete, and the many judaizers among them, he tells Titus what, in teaching, he should shun, Tit 3:9. There are needful questions to be discussed and cleared, such as make for improvement in useful knowledge; but idle and foolish enquiries, tending neither to God's glory nor the edif”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 12:10: Showing wherein the chastisement of our heavenly Father is preferable to that of earthly fathers. for a few days--that is, with a view to our well-being in the few days of our earthly life: so the Greek. after their own pleasure--Greek, "according to what seemed fit to themselves." Their rule of chastening is what may seem fit to their own often erring judgment, temper, or caprice. The two defects of human education are: (1) the prevalence in it of a view to the interests of our short earthly term of days; (2) the absence in parents of the unerri”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 16.13: mistake to connect this statement of the Prophet with that passage in the Apostle Peter, as if Isaiah represented God as desirous to obtain disciples who had divested themselves of all pride, and were like infants lately weaned; for the Prophet, on the contrary, loudly complains, that to “teach doctrine” is useless, and merely provokes ridicule among stupid and senseless persons, who are “children, not in malice, but in understanding,” as Paul speaks. ( 1 Corinthians 14:20 .) From what follows it will more clearly appear that, since they wer”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 5:12: For--the reason why he leaves the manifestation of his sincerity in preaching to their consciences (Co2 3:1), namely, his not wishing to "commend" himself again. occasion to glory-- (Co2 1:14), namely, as to our sincerity. in appearance--Greek, "face" (compare Sa1 16:7). The false teachers gloried in their outward appearance, and in external recommendations (Co2 11:18) their learning, eloquence, wisdom, riches, not in vital religion in their heart. Their conscience does not attest their inward sincerity, as mine does (Co2 1:12).”
- 2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:5: 3:5 People like that (3:2-4) had rejected sound teaching and cut themselves off from the power that could make them godly (see 1 Tim 1:5-11; Col 2:16-23).”