Unpacked

1 The bible Unpacked Comprehensive study Series The bible s teaching presented for bible students Paul Mallison 1. God s Being The bible Unpacked Comprehensive study Series The bible s teaching presented for bible students 1. God s Being Paul Mallison The bible Unpacked Copyright 1994 2017 by Paul Ian Mallison. All rights reserved. This book may be freely reproduced for use for non-profit Christian purposes. Free electronic copies may be downloaded at: In return, users are asked to increase their support of persecuted Christians in prayer and if possible financially. (See for a list of organizations that help persecuted Christians.) Scripture quotations marked CEV are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright 1991, 1992, 1995 by American bible Society. Used by Permission. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy bible , English Standard Version , copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

2 Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked GNT are from the Good News Translation in Today s English Version- Second Edition Copyright 1992 by American bible Society. Used by Permission. Scripture quotations marked GW are taken from God s Word Copyright 1995 God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ISV are taken from the Holy bible : International Standard Version , Release Copyright 1996 2007 by The ISV Foundation of Fullerton, California USA. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC. All rights reserved internationally. Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version . Copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from The New King James Version / Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers., Copyright 1982.

3 Used by permission. All rights reserved. Quotations designated NET are from the NET bible copyright 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, All rights reserved. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations of short phrases from other bible translations are on occasions included in comments on the verses. The copyright notices for these translations are given below. Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified bible , Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission. ( ). Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard bible , Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.

4 All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the bible , copyright 1989 by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. This copy made: 18-Nov-17. 1. God s Being iii Contents A Quick Word .. iv Suggestions for study Groups .. v I. Basics a) God s Form .. 2 b) God s Glory .. 5 c) God s Personhood .. 9 d) God s Eternity .. 12 II. God s Pre-Eminence a) God s Greatness .. 16 b) God s Power (I): Ultimate Power .. 18 c) God s Power (II): His Deeds .. 21 d) God s Knowledge and Wisdom .. 23 e) Addendum: God s Name .. 26 Topics in This Series .. 31 The Seven Editions .. 33 Supporting Persecuted Christians .. 34 iv The bible Unpacked - Comprehensive study Series A Quick Word This series of studies aims to present a compilation of the bible s teachings in a clear and readable order. There are 40 booklets in the series, based on the 40 chapters of the book The bible Unpacked - Comprehensive Edition.

5 Each booklet has two sections, which can be used for two or more studies. See Topics in This Series towards the end of this booklet for a full listing of all the topics. Note that studying booklets alternatively from the two major sections (What to Know and What to Do) would add variety. The material contains bible verses. Before the verses are headings, which reflect what the verses say in particular the parts of the verses in italics. The verses are sometimes followed by a comment. The verses often have a brief introduction. Usually these state who is speaking and often who they are speaking to. Apart from God and Jesus Christ, the main speakers are: Moses who lead the Israelites and taught them God s laws; David Israel s greatest king who wrote many of the psalms, most of which are essentially prayers; Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and other prophets who spoke to the people of Israel on God s behalf; and Paul, Peter, John and other leaders of the early church who spoke to various groups and wrote letters to believers.

6 Much care has been taken in order to correctly interpret the verses. Nevertheless, if you encounter a verse that is used to teach something that is contrary to or goes beyond your understanding, assess its use by doing such things as: reading the passage it is from; and considering how its teaching fits in with Scripture as a whole ( interpret OT teaching in the light of NT teaching). For more information on The bible Unpacked and free downloads, go to the website: Paul Mallison 1. God s Being v Suggestions for study Groups Preliminary matters: Beforehand the leader should: check the context of any verses they are not familiar with; and review the questions. If need be, they should compose questions more applicable to the group. Each person should have a bible , for things such as checking a verse s context. It would also be helpful to have bible commentaries on hand. Pray before beginning the study . Ask God for help in understanding the meaning of the verses and to affect your lives through them.

7 Also pray together at the end. Doing the study : Ideally, read the material and answer the questions prior to the meeting. Then share answers and discuss any issues arising from the material in the meeting. Alternatively, read the material and answer the questions in the meeting reading either aloud as a group or individually (prior to sharing answers). If reading as a group, try having one person read the headings, another read the verses and another read the comments. Additionally, a fourth person could read the bible references. General or concluding questions: If time permits, conclude with one or more of the following questions: What is something that you either: did not know before; gained greater insight into; or needed reminding of? What verse would be helpful to memorize and bear in mind during the next week? In taking the verses seriously, is there anything you should change in: (a) how you relate to God and/or to other people; or (b) any other area of your life ( attitudes, values or behavior)?

8 If so, are there any specific steps you could take to do this? I. Basics The concepts in the first half of this chapter are fundamental to understanding what God is like, as they concern basic attributes of his being. These include attributes which show God to be very different to us, but also attributes which indicate that he is like us in that he is a personal being. 2 The bible Unpacked - Comprehensive study Series a) God s Form God is one MARK 12:29B, 32 [JES U S, Q U O T I N G MO S ES:] Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.. 32 The expert in the law said to him, That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him. NET In teaching that God is one, the bible indicates that God is a single entity or being. God is spirit .. JOHN 4:24 God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. NET God s nature is spirit; he is a spiritual being. So God is not a physical being, in contrast to people and particularly to idols.

9 As such, God cannot be seen by people 1 TIM 6:16 [PAU L, S P E A K I NG O F GOD:] He alone has endless life and lives in inaccessible light. No one has ever seen him, nor can anyone see him. Honor and eternal power belong to him! Amen. ISV God is everywhere, not just in temples .. JER 23:23 24 I am a God who is near, says the LORD. I am also a God who is far away. 24 No one can hide where I cannot see him, says the LORD. I fill all of heaven and earth, says the LORD. NCV 1KI 8:27 [SO LO M O N, P R AY I N G A T T H E D E D ICA T IO N O F T H E T E M P L E:] But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! NKJV .. Thus, God is always near PS 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. GW PS 139:7 10 [DA V ID, TO GOD:] Where can I go to escape your spirit? Where can I flee to escape your presence?

10 8If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you 1. I. Basics 3 would be. 9If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn, and settle down on the other side of the sea, 10even there your hand would guide me, your right hand would grab hold of me. NET However, God primarily dwells in heaven DEUT 26:15A [MO S ES, TO GOD:] Look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people .. NET Verses which speak of God being in heaven are not understood to indicate that he is in any way confined to one location. But they do suggest that his form is such that his primary presence is in heaven. Note that some verses imply that God is present throughout the earth through his Holy Spirit (cf. Ps 139:7 10 ). What does God being spirit mean for us in relating to him? _____ _____ _____ How should the fact of God being everywhere always present with us stimulate and/or encourage us?