SCOPE OF ATTRIBUTES - 3

GOD IS GREATNESS

 

 

Greatness in relation to God is twofold: meta­physical and moral. For this study, a line of demarcation is being drawn between the metaphysical attributes and the moral attributes, not because it is possible in the ultimate sense to keep them separate, but because in classification there seems to be a closer relationship within the two groups. The metaphysical attributes will be treated under the title of greatness, while the moral attributes will be treated under the title of goodness.

Certain attributes of God draw a picture of greatness. They are meta­physical in the sense that they are above and beyond and behind the physical manifestations of God. They depict the greatness of God in Him and in re­lation to the universe, to intelligent creatures, and to men. To name those attributes, they are as follows: self-existent, eternal, unchangeable, omni­present, omniscient, omnipotent, perfect, infinite, and incomprehensible. Each one of these will be treated in a later article.

The names of God contribute to the description of the greatness of God.

In the Old Testament there is one name that is especially prominent, the name "Almighty," the God of all attributes, all sufficiency. It appears for the first time in Gen. 17:1, and then repeatedly for a total of 48 times. Thirty-one appearances of the word are found in the book of Job. In every case some element of the greatness of God is displayed. In re­lation to the immensity of the created universe, it is most prominent in Job 40:2. But such aspects as protection from this God (Psa. 91:1), destruction proceeding from Him (Isa. 13:6; Joel 1:15), and His greatness as represented by the cheru­bim also appear (Ezek. 1:24; 10:5).

For a total of nine times, the Greek word for Almighty appears in the New Testament. This is the equivalent for the Hebrew expression in the Old Testament. Except for one time (2 Cor. 6:18), the remaining eight appear­ances are in the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7,14; 19:15; 21:22). In every case it is the greatness of this God that is displayed, and therefore the terror He inspires as He marches forward to the ultimate triumph. In addition to this word, the term "Majesty" also appears in the New Testament (Heb. 1:3; 8:1; Jude 25; 2 Pet. 1:16). The essential significance of the word is greatness in some one of several aspects, such as superb, glory, splendor, magnifi­cence, mighty power.