The nature of God has always been one of my interests since I became a Christian. God’s nature is beyond the grasp of the human mind, yet as one draws closer to God, one cannot resist but try to probe into the depths of His being. In his classic work Knowing God, J. I. Packer opens the first chapter with the introduction of Charles Spurgeon’s sermon on the topic of God’s nature. Spurgeon eloquently and rightly conveyed the importance and the effects of studying the nature of God:
. . . the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.
There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; . . . But when we come to this master science, finding that our plumbline cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass’s colt; and with solemn exclamation, “I am but of yesterday, and know nothing.” No subject of contemplation will tend to humble the man, than thoughts of God. . . .
But while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it. He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe. . . . Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity.1
The purpose of this series is to enter into the study of those brave enough to enter into the study of the Godhead. Having studied with knowledgeable members of the groups to be examined; having discussed, conversed, and debated on the topic of the Godhead over the course of many years; and having studied the subject of the Godhead at the baccalaureate and beyond, I feel I have, know, and understand enough that would qualify me to do this series.
The audience I write toward is not the scholastic community but those who are not so theologically inclined. I seek to avoid deep philosophy as much as possible. The nature of such a topic as this, however, requires that philosophy be done to a certain extent. If there is a time that requires the study to engage the matter with deeper philosophy, only that which is needed to understand sufficiently the concept(s) will be relayed.
I also aim to contribute to the discussion that takes place between the members of each of these groups. To do this I will 1) retrace some historical aspects of the positions, 2) note the strengths that each position has, and 3) note where there are perceived deficiencies. To allow for fair evaluation of each position, I will attempt to remove as much of my own theology as can be removed. Where a particular group has felt its belief adheres to Scripture, I will seek to be as faithful as I am able in exegeting the Scripture and in representing the position so that both can accurately be compared.
I hope this series will educate and bless its readers. I welcome any questions, comments, clarifications, and corrections to this work.
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1 Charles H. Spurgeon, “The Immutability of God,” (sermon, New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, UK, January 7, 1855), quoted in J. I. Packer, Knowing God: 20th Anniversary Edition (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973, 1993), 17-18.[Back]
