Th 503 Chapter 38 -39

1. PPt prepared by Mark E. Hardgrove, Ph.D.

2. Systematic TheologySystematic Theology
Chapter 38
“God’s Majesty, Beauty, and
Ineffability”

3. Majesty, Beauty, and
Ineffability
According to Geisler these three nonmoral
attributes go together:
His beauty is part of His majesty, and His
majesty is constituted in part by his
inexpressible beauty. Both, along with His
infinity and transcendence, are the reason for
His ineffability, meaning that He goes far
beyond our finite ability to comprehend or
express.

4. God’s Majesty
Definition of God’s Majesty:
Majesty is represented in Hebrews by a several
words with a range of meaning. Two Greek
words capture the meaning of majesty.
In short, God’s majesty consists of unsurpassed
greatness, highest eminence, unparalleled
exaltation, and unmatched glory. (Geisler)

5. Biblical Basis for God’s
Majesty
 1 Chron. 16:27; 29:11
 Job 37:4; 37:22
 Ps. 29:4; 45:3-4; 48:1; 93:1; 96:6; 104:1; 145:5, 12
 Isa. 6:1-5; 26:10; 33:20-21
 Micah 5:4
 Luke 9:43
 Heb. 1:3; 8:1
 2 Peter 1:16
 Jude 25
 Rev. 4:11

6. God’s Beauty
Definition of God’s Beauty:
Several Hebrew and Greek words convey the
idea of beauty. As applied to God, beauty is
the essential attribute of goodness that
produces in the beholder a sense of
overwhelming pleasure and delight.
(Geisler)

7. Biblical Basis for God’s
Beauty
1 Chron. 16:29
2 Chron. 20:21
Ps. 27:4; 29: 2; 96:9
Job 40:10
Isa. 33:17

8. God’s Ineffability
Definition of God’s Ineffability:
Literally, “ineffable” means “incapable of being
expressed.” Theologically, ineffability refers
to the transcendent characteristics of God
that cannot be adequately expressed in
human language. Though we can apprehend
God, we cannot fully comprehend Him.
(Geisler)

9. Biblical Basis for God’s
Ineffability
 Deut. 29:29
 Ps. 139:6
 Job 11:7
 Isa. 55:8
 Rom. 11:33
 1 Tim. 3:16

10. A Mystery versus a Problem
Familiarize yourself with theFamiliarize yourself with the
distinction between a problemdistinction between a problem
and a mystery in Geisler, pp.and a mystery in Geisler, pp.
529-530.529-530.

11. Systematic TheologySystematic Theology
Chapter 39
“God’s Life and Immortality”

12. God’s Life
Definition of Life:
Theologically, to speak of God as life is to say
two basic things: God is alive, and He is the
Source of all other life. He has life
intrinsically; He is life, while all other things
have life as a gift from Him. . . Whatever else
it may include, life involves immanent self-
activity. (Geisler)

13. Biblical Sources for God’s
Life
Familiarize yourself with the biblical basis ofFamiliarize yourself with the biblical basis of
God’s attribute of life. Geisler places theseGod’s attribute of life. Geisler places these
references under five headings (pp. 531-533):references under five headings (pp. 531-533):
1.God’s As Living
2.God As a Source of Life
3.God As the Resurrector From the Dead
4.God As the Giver of Living Bread and Water
5.God As the Source of Living Words

14. God’s Immortality
Definition of God’s Immortality:
Theologically, immortality as applied to God
means that He possesses life intrinsically and
eternally. God is life; all else merely has life.
As life itself, He is the Fountain of all other
life.
(Geisler)

15. Biblical Basis for God’s
Immortality
God is Immortal
 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:16
 Rom. 1:23
God Gives Immortality to Some Creatures
 Rom. 2:7
 2 Tim. 1:10
 1 Cor. 9:25; 15:53-54
 1 Pet. 1:4; 1:23
God is the Giver of Eternal Life
 John 3:16; 5:24; cf. John 3:36