Zusammenfassung der Ressource
The Goodness of God
- TEN COMMANDMENTS
- Exodus 20
- Clear standards of what is morally right and wrong.
- 'Do not kill'
- Theophany
- Event beyond description - reveals God.
- Forms a covenant with God - holy
agreement to stick to the
commandments.
- WHAT MAKES AN ACTION GOOD?
- Poses the problem - is God seen
as a divine dictator? (what he commands is law)
- Is an action good because...
- God commands it
- or God commands what is good
- Independent standard - God as an enforcer.
- Goodness originates from God.
- PLATO'S FORM OF THE GOOD & GOD
- God = source of goodness
- Form of good = self evidently good
- Forms, like God, aren't
physical/material.
- God does act in the physical world
(miracles, creation).
- .. but God is transcendent -
different from humans, so we can't
understand his 'goodness'.
- GOODNESS OF GOD (NEW TESTAMENT)
- Gospels & Epistles
- Jesus is God's incarnate - is willing to
die for humanity, this is the ultimate
display of goodness.
- Jesus was shown to heal.
- God forgives = God is good.
- PROBLEMS
- Problem of evil and suffering -
challenges God's 'omni'
qualities.
- Is God really good? Destruction of Ai (Joshua 8) and sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22)
- Some people haven't experienced miracles so
question whether God does intervene in the world.
- God is not a physical being so surely we can't
describe his actions as good with our
understanding of what is good.
- GOD IN THE BIBLE
- God is good - this is unquestionable.
- God's actions are good.
- God's goodness is revealed in his
activity in the world (healing, miracles).
- God's goodness is visible in the world (creation).
- His actions benefit people.