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Nature of God's Holiness in Scripture and Theology

The holiness of God is a foundational attribute in Scripture, encompassing the entirety of His being, nature, and character [10]. It signifies His absolute distinctness from the created order and His perfect purity [13]. This divine holiness serves as the ultimate standard for human conduct and is a central theme throughout the Bible [2, 8].

In the Old Testament, God's holiness is frequently emphasized. Isaiah 6:3 describes seraphim proclaiming, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." Revelation 15:4 similarly declares, "For you alone are holy" [1]. The concept of holiness is not merely one attribute among many, but rather the sum of all God's perfections [10]. His "glory" is understood as the manifestation of this perfect person, nature, and character [10]. The covenant God made with Israel meant that the people were to participate in His holiness, which brought with it specific ethical and ritual expectations [10]. For instance, Leviticus commands, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2) [2].

The New Testament continues to emphasize God's holiness and its implications for believers. Christians are called to be holy, reflecting God's character (1 Peter 1:15-16) [2]. This call to holiness is not merely an external command but is rooted in God's will for His people [9]. It is a work of gradual development, carried out despite hindrances, and requires watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:23-24) [1]. The apostle Paul states that God's will is for believers to be holy, particularly in avoiding sexual sin (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4) [9]. This holiness embraces all aspects of a person's life (1 Thessalonians 5:23) [9].

The holiness of God is also a motive for godly fear and reverence [3]. Revelation 15:4 links God's holiness to the reason why all nations will worship Him. This fear is not a cowering dread but a filial and reverential awe (Hebrews 12:9, 28) [3]. It is described as a hatred of evil (Proverbs 8:13) and is considered wisdom (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10) [3].

Believers are called to "sanctify Christ as Lord" in their hearts (1 Peter 3:15) [12]. This means honoring Him as holy and enshrining Him in their hearts, allowing God's holiness to be glorified within them as the dwelling place of His Spirit [12]. Through faith, believers are said to become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4), which has a sanctifying effect, assimilating them to God [11]. John Gill, in his commentary on Psalms 45:11, describes the beauty of the church as lying in the "comeliness or righteousness of Christ put upon her," and in the "holiness of Christ reckoned to her," as well as in the "graces of the Spirit being implanted in her, in which the beauty of holiness lies" [7]. He also notes that believers give thanks at the remembrance of Christ's essential holiness as a divine Person and the holiness of His nature and life as man and Mediator, which is imputed to His people for their justification [14].

The concept of "godliness" is closely related to holiness. It encompasses the whole of practical piety, including knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience [5]. In 1 Timothy 3:16, "godliness" refers to the substance of revealed religion, stating, "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" [6, 4]. This mystery of godliness highlights the divine manifestation in Christ as the ultimate expression of God's holy character.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
  2. 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. ”
  3. 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.”
  4. I Timothy “I Timothy 3:16 (Geneva1599) — And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp in glorie.”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Godliness — The whole of practical piety (1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:6). "It supposes knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience." In 1 Tim. 3:16 it denotes the substance of revealed religion.”
  6. King James Version “[KJV] 1 Timothy 3:16 — And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
  7. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 45:11: So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty,.... Which lies in the comeliness or righteousness of Christ put upon her; in the holiness of Christ reckoned to her; in being washed from all sin in the blood of Christ; in the graces of the Spirit being implanted in her, in which the beauty of holiness lies; in the salvation she is interested in, and beautified with; in enjoying the order and ordinance of Christ's house, and in having the presence of God and Christ with her: and this beauty is not natural, nor acquired by her, but what is given her; it is not an outward, ”
  8. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:16: Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice. Be ye . . . for I am--It is I with whom ye have to do. Ye are mine. Therefore abstain from Gentile pollutions. We are too prone to have respect unto men [CALVIN]. As I am the fountain of holiness, being holy in My essence, be ye therefore zealous to be partakers of holiness, that ye may be as I also am [DIDYMUS]. God is essentially holy: the creature is holy in so far as it is sanctified by God. God, in giving the command, is willing to give also the power to obey i”
  9. 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 4:3: 4:3 God’s will is for you to be holy: The foundation of Christian ethics is not philosophical speculation about virtue but doing God’s will (Rom 12:1-2; Eph 6:6; Heb 10:36; 13:20-21). Holiness (1 Thes 4:4, 7) embraces all of a person’s life (5:23); here it involves staying away from sexual sin (Greek porneia, any sexual union outside marriage).”
  10. Leviticus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Leviticus 17:1: 17:1–26:46 This section deals with how the community of Israel was to observe holiness. Holiness does not describe one attribute of God among many. Rather, it is the sum of all attributes of his person, nature, and character (see study note on Exod 3:5). His “glory” is the manifestation of his perfect person, nature, and character (see Lev 9:6). God’s covenant with Israel meant that the people and the nation participated in God’s holiness. This holiness depended on Israel’s relationship with God. This relationship brought certain ethical and ritual expectations”
  11. 2 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Peter 1:4: Whereby, &c.--By His glory and virtue: His glory making the "promises" to be exceeding great; His virtue making them "precious" [BENGEL]. Precious promises are the object of precious faith. given--The promises themselves are a gift: for God's promises are as sure as if they were fulfilled. by these--promises. They are the object of faith, and even now have a sanctifying effect on the believer, assimilating him to God. Still more so, when they shall be fulfilled. might, &c.--Greek, "that ye MAY become partakers of the divine nature," even now in p”
  12. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 3:15: sanctify--hallow; honor as holy, enshrining Him in your hearts. So in the Lord's Prayer, Mat 6:9. God's holiness is thus glorified in our hearts as the dwelling-place of His Spirit. the Lord God--The oldest manuscripts read "Christ." Translate, "Sanctify Christ as Lord." and--Greek, "but," or "moreover." Besides this inward sanctification of God in the heart, be also ready always to give, &c. answer--an apologetic answer defending your faith. to every man that asketh you--The last words limit the universality of the "always"; not to a roller, ”
  13. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 89:35: 89:35 holiness: The Lord is wholly distinct from the created order (22:3); his character is totally pure. He does as he pleases (115:3), and he chooses to be faithful (89:1; 115:1); therefore, he cannot lie.”
  14. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 97:12: Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous,.... In the word of the Lord, as the Targum; in Christ, the essential Word, in his person, the greatness, glory, and fulness of it; in his righteousness, and in salvation by him, and that always; see Phi 4:4, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness; of his essential holiness, as a divine Person, in which he is glorious, and which appears in all that he has done; and of the holiness of his nature and life, as man and Mediator, which are imputed to his people for their justification; and at the remembrance of that holiness”
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