Topical Encyclopedia
GodIn the Christian tradition, God is understood as the eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Creator of the universe. He is the central figure of the Bible, revealing Himself through His creation, His Word, and His interactions with humanity. The Bible begins with the declaration of God's creative power: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (
Genesis 1:1). This foundational statement establishes God as the source of all that exists.
God is described with various attributes throughout the Scriptures. He is holy (
Isaiah 6:3), just (
Deuteronomy 32:4), loving (1
John 4:8), and merciful (
Exodus 34:6). His nature is unchanging, as stated in
Malachi 3:6: "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed" . The Bible also emphasizes God's sovereignty over all creation, as seen in
Psalm 103:19: "The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all" .
God's relationship with humanity is central to the biblical narrative. He created humans in His image (
Genesis 1:27) and desires a personal relationship with them. This relationship was marred by sin, but God initiated a plan of redemption through covenants with figures such as Noah, Abraham, and Moses. The ultimate expression of God's love and plan for salvation is found in the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ.
His Son, Jesus ChristJesus Christ, the Son of God, is the second person of the Holy Trinity, which includes God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The New Testament presents Jesus as both fully divine and fully human, a mystery central to Christian faith. The Gospel of John opens with a profound declaration of Jesus' divine nature: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (
John 1:1). This passage identifies Jesus as the "Word" (Logos), affirming His preexistence and divinity.
The incarnation of Jesus is a pivotal event in Christian theology. According to the Gospels, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (
Matthew 1:18-25,
Luke 1:26-38). His life and ministry fulfilled Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God, performed miracles, and taught with authority, as seen in
Matthew 4:23: "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people" .
Central to Jesus' mission was His sacrificial death and resurrection. The Apostle Paul writes in
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" . Through His death, Jesus atoned for the sins of humanity, and His resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian hope, affirming His victory over sin and death.
Jesus' relationship with God the Father is characterized by unity and obedience. In
John 10:30, Jesus declares, "I and the Father are one" , emphasizing their inseparable nature. Furthermore, Jesus' submission to the Father's will is evident in His prayer at Gethsemane: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will" (
Matthew 26:39).
The New Testament also speaks of Jesus' exaltation and His role as the mediator between God and humanity.
Philippians 2:9-11 states, "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" . Jesus' mediatory role is further highlighted in
1 Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" .
In summary, God and His Son, Jesus Christ, are central to the Christian faith, with God as the Creator and Sustainer of all things and Jesus as the Redeemer and Savior of humanity. Their relationship is marked by unity, love, and the divine plan of salvation for the world.