Body: | Six different ontological views of God
Introduction:
Ontology is defined as: "a branch of metaphysics concerned with the
nature and relations of being, based on visible morphological characters".
Obviously, when we are speaking of the ontology of God, we are
looking into the hidden spirit world for which we know nothing other than
what the Bible tells us.
The Bible doesn't really tell us much about how God is "built". We
understand that humans have a body with bones etc., but the "metaphysical
structure" of God is in fact outside our ability to know.
The Bible, for example tells us that God is one, yet the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit are all called God, yet they are distinct. This has
brought about numerous speculations about how we might "diagram God out on
paper".
We really have no right to inquire about things that God has not
revealed. Duet 29:29.
The Nicene creed, for example, tries to explain God in metaphysical
terms. They debated whether Jesus had a divine or human spirit, whether
Jesus was made up of the same "stuff" as the Father, or different "stuff".
In fact they were trying to answer questions that went beyond what is
revealed.
We must therefore be content to know that God is one, yet three are
distinct, the Son is uncreated and the Holy Spirit is a person. Trying to
"diagram God out on paper" is going beyond what is written. Let us stay
within these parameters.
The nature of God, as a "Biblical trinity" is the single most talked
about subject in history. The discussion continues today. Let us all be
humble and honest when we approach this subject.
It may also help to keep in mind that there will always be a sliver
of truth contained within each of the various views. We may never know the
full story until the last day when we can all stand before God with our
sketch books and compare notes to see who was closest!
Let us not repeat the same mistake of "going back to Nicea" but be
content with simply what God has revealed, claiming we simply do not have
all the answers to our many questions. Perhaps that's the way God wanted
it.
Below, however, is an archive of various ontological views of God.
They represent "sketches on paper" of the invisible God. They are likely
all wrong in some regard!
Analyzing the different ontological views of God
Biblical Trinity
Catholic Trinity
WCG Twinity
UPCI Modalism
JW's Arianism
Monotheism
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Jesus is Divine
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Holy Spirit a person
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
God is one in unity not in number
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Three bodies
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
3 Personalities
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
God doesn't change form
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
God is a class of being of which there are three members
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
God is a name
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
A. Views of God
Polytheism
Monotheism
Trinity
Twinity
Modalism
Arianism
Jesus is Divine
Jesus a creature
Holy Spirit a person
Holy Spirit is a thing
Holy Spirit is a person
Holy Spirit is a thing
Many bodies in disunity
Three bodies one in unity
One body in number
Two bodies one in unity
one body in number
Many personalities
3 personalities
2 personalities
1 personality
God doesn't change form
God doesn't change form
God doesn't change form
God changes form
God doesn't change form
God is a class of being
God is a name
God is a class of being
God is a name
God is a name
Biblical Trinitarianism
Mysterious Trinitarianism
Twinity
Modalism
Arianism
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
A single man has many roles: father, employee and citizen.
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Click to View
Egg: shell, white and yolk
Apple: Peel, flesh, core
Click to View
Click to View
-
Click to View
-
-
Click to View
Ozone: (O3) A molecule that has three identical oxygen atoms joined by chemical bonds.
Click to View
Click to View Click to View
Water: H2O has three states depending on the temperature: liquid, solid (cold), gas (hot)
B. Illustrations of God that are best in our opinion:
Marriage: two distinct individuals, are joined as one.
Class of being: deity, Mankind: Singular word for a class of being
composed of many individuals.
Family: Singular word comprised of many members.
Organization: Singular word for a group of individuals functioning
together for a common goal or purpose.
Church/Body: Singular word with Christ as the head and individual
Christians as the body.
Unity: Three can be one in unity and purpose.
C. Modalism illustrations that should not be used because they erase the
distinctness of each of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Egg: shell, white and yolk
Apple: Peel, flesh, core
Water: H2O has three states depending on the temperature: liquid,
solid (cold), gas (hot)
Roles: A single man has many roles: father, employee and citizen.
By Steve Rudd
Click to View
Click to View
Go To Start: WWW.BIBLE.CA
|