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Men and Women Reacting to God's Holiness in Scripture

Reactions to God's Holiness in Scripture

In Scripture, the concept of God's holiness elicits various reactions from men and women. The biblical account portrays individuals responding to God's holiness with reverence, awe, and worship. For instance, when the apostle Paul and his companions preached the gospel, a slave girl followed them, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!" [1]. This reaction demonstrates an acknowledgment of the divine authority and holiness associated with the messengers of God.

The biblical emphasis on holiness is not limited to divine attributes but also extends to the lives of believers. The call to holiness is a recurring theme, with scriptures such as Leviticus 11:45 and 1 Peter 1:15-16 emphasizing the necessity of personal holiness as a reflection of God's character [3]. In this context, men and women are exhorted to adorn themselves with humility and modesty, submitting to one another in reverence for Christ [2].

The reaction to God's holiness is often characterized by a sense of reverence and fear. In Isaiah 6:3, the seraphim cry out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts," illustrating the heavenly host's acknowledgment of God's holiness. This reverence is not limited to the divine realm; human responses to God's holiness often involve a deep sense of awe and humility. For example, when Moses and the elders of Israel ascended the mountain, they saw the God of Israel and "did eat and drink" in his presence, symbolizing their reverence and communion with the holy God [9].

The New Testament continues this theme, emphasizing the importance of holiness in the lives of believers. The apostle Paul's writings, particularly in 1 Corinthians, highlight the need for believers to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of their calling, with men and women alike being exhorted to maintain decorum and modesty in their worship and daily lives [6, 7]. The commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:3 notes that while the gospel elevates women, it also maintains the order and modesty expected of them.

The reaction to God's holiness is also reflected in the praise and worship offered by believers. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights various scriptures that emphasize the worthiness of God to be praised for his holiness, among other attributes [4]. The Psalmist's declaration, "Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill" (Psalm 99:9), exemplifies the reverence and adoration that characterize the response to God's holiness.

Different Christian traditions interpret the implications of God's holiness for human behavior and worship. For instance, the Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes the importance of obedience and submission to God's word in response to his holiness [10]. In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox tradition, as seen in the writings of John Chrysostom, underscores the significance of the husband-wife relationship as a reflection of Christ's relationship with the church, with wives being called to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord [8].

The biblical account presents a nuanced view of how men and women react to God's holiness, emphasizing the need for reverence, humility, and obedience. While different Christian traditions may interpret the implications of God's holiness in varying ways, the core emphasis on reverence and worship remains a common thread throughout.

The call to holiness and the reaction to God's holiness are intertwined with the concept of the believer's identity in Christ. As noted in Torrey's Topical Textbook, believers are described as "saints," "children of God," and "beloved of God," highlighting their consecrated status and relationship with the holy God [5]. This identity is rooted in the believer's union with Christ and is characterized by a pursuit of holiness and a deepening reverence for God.

Sources

  1. Acts “Acts 16:17 (BSB) — This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!””
  2. I Peter “I Peter 3:5 (LITV) — For so once indeed the holy women who were hoping on God adorned themselves, submitting themselves to their own husbands,”
  3. 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. ”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Titles and Names of Saints — Believers -- Ac 5:14; 1Ti 4:12. Beloved of God -- Ro 1:7. Beloved brethren -- 1Co 15:58; Jas 2:5. Blessed of the Lord -- Ge 24:31; 26:29. Blessed of the Father -- Mt 25:34. Brethren -- Mt 23:8; Ac 12:17. Brethren of Christ -- Lu 8:21; Joh 20:17. Called of Jesus Christ -- Ro 1:6. Children of the Lord -- De 14:1. Children of God -- Joh 11:52; 1Jo 3:10. Children of the Living God -- Ro 9:26. Children of the Father -- Mt 5:45. Children of the Highest -- Lu 6:35. Children of Abraham -- Ga 3:7. Children of Jacob -- Ps 105:6. Children of promise”
  6. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 11:3: The Corinthian women, on the ground of the abolition of distinction of sexes in Christ, claimed equality with the male sex, and, overstepping the bounds of propriety, came forward to pray and prophesy without the customary head-covering of females. The Gospel, doubtless, did raise women from the degradation in which they had been sunk, especially in the East. Yet, while on a level with males as to the offer of, and standing in grace (Gal 3:28), their subjection in point of order, modesty, and seemliness, is to be maintained. Paul reproves here t”
  7. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 11:13: Appeal to their own sense of decorum. a woman . . . unto God--By rejecting the emblem of subjection (the head-covering), she passes at one leap in praying publicly beyond both the man and angels [BENGEL].”
  8. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: 143 Homily XX. Ephesians v. 22–24 “Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the Church: being Himself the Saviour of the body. But as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. A certain wise man, setting down a number of things in the rank of blessings, set down this also in the rank of a blessing, “A wife agreeing with her husband.” ( Ecclus. xxv. 1 .) And elsewhere again he sets it dow”
  9. Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 24:9: The people having, besides their submission to the ceremony of the sprinkling of blood, declared their well-pleasedness in their God and his law, again and again, God here gives to their representatives some special tokens of his favour to them (for God meets him that rejoices and works righteousness), and admits them nearer to him than they could have expected. Thus, in the New Testament church, we find the four living creatures, and the four and twenty elders, honoured with places round the throne, being redeemed unto God by the blood of the Lamb which is in the”
  10. Jeremiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 44:15: We have here the people's obstinate refusal to submit to the power of the word of God in the mouth of Jeremiah. We have scarcely such an instance of downright daring contradiction to God himself as this, or such an avowed rebellion of the carnal mind. Observe, I. The persons who thus set God and his judgments at defiance; it was not some one that was thus obstinate, but the generality of the Jews; and they were such as knew either themselves or their wives to be guilty of the idolatry Jeremiah had reproved, Jer 44:15. We find, 1. That the women had been more gu”
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