The Goodness of God

The Goodness of God

TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. Exodus 20
  1. Clear standards of what is morally right and wrong.
  2. 'Do not kill'
2. Theophany
  1. Event beyond description - reveals God.
3. Forms a covenant with God - holy agreement to stick to the commandments.
WHAT MAKES AN ACTION GOOD?
1. Poses the problem - is God seen as a divine dictator? (what he commands is law)
2. Is an action good because...
  1. God commands it
  2. or God commands what is good
3. Independent standard - God as an enforcer.
4. Goodness originates from God.
PLATO'S FORM OF THE GOOD & GOD
1. God = source of goodness
  1. Form of good = self evidently good
2. Forms, like God, aren't physical/material.
  1. God does act in the physical world (miracles, creation).
    1. .. but God is transcendent - different from humans, so we can't understand his 'goodness'.
GOODNESS OF GOD (NEW TESTAMENT)
1. Gospels & Epistles
  1. Jesus is God's incarnate - is willing to die for humanity, this is the ultimate display of goodness.
  2. Jesus was shown to heal.
  3. God forgives = God is good.
PROBLEMS
1. Problem of evil and suffering - challenges God's 'omni' qualities.
2. Is God really good? Destruction of Ai (Joshua 8) and sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22)
3. Some people haven't experienced miracles so question whether God does intervene in the world.
4. 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
1. God is good - this is unquestionable.
  1. God's actions are good.
2. God's goodness is revealed in his activity in the world (healing, miracles).
3. God's goodness is visible in the world (creation).
4. His actions benefit people.

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	Criado por jenny_allen mais de 11 anos atrás