The Omnibenevolence and Justice of God
God’s nature is love – this is seen in both New and Old Testaments (The Hebrew word used
is hesed).
How does Plato’s form of the Good and Aristotle’s Prime Mover differ from the Christian view of
God?
God’s love, like God’s existence, has no cause. It is not brought into being by something else but
is part of the nature of God from the start. God’s love is compared with that of a human
parent. Full of love and tenderness but also hurt when love is rejected.
Plato
Love as an attribute of God is closely connected to ideas about God’s goodness and
righteousness. Unlike Plato’s static ‘Form of the Good’, which exists as a concept in the
realm of ideas unaffected by anything, the goodness of God described in the Bible is
demonstrated as love for the people.
Prime Mover
Aristotle’s Prime Mover, too, although seen to be perfect, does not have the characteristics of the
Christian God of love.
The Prime Mover cannot be affected or changed and so it thinks only of itself and its own perfect
nature, whereas the God of the Bible is moved by the way people act, especially by the way
they treat those who are weak or in poverty.
Give a brief overview of the prophet Hosea.
The prophet Hosea lived in the eight century BC and was given the unenviable task of forming a
marriage that was to work as a symbol of God’s love for Israel.
The bible chapter is Hosea
Gomer was the wife, and she was repeatedly unfaithful (just like Israel had been to God) but
Hosea loved her and took her back.
Give an example of a quote that supports the view that God’s love is reliable and enduring
“Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have
rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely.”
Hosea 7:13 New international version
The Old Testament
What are the responsibilities that comes about as a result of the love shown by God to
the Hebrew people?
They can’t follow other religions
They can’t have a secular lifestyle
If they do not keep this up they are punished
It is taught that God should be obeyed and His laws are right. The people
should love each other and is a result of the love that God has shown to them.
The idea of an omnibenevolent God is closely linked with a God of justice and of
judgement. His punishment of sin is because of his love.
New Testament
‘Agape’ – selfless love shown through action, not simply an emotion.
God’s nature is love – this is seen in both New and Old Testaments (The Hebrew word used
is hesed).
How does Plato’s form of the Good and Aristotle’s Prime Mover differ from the Christian view of
God?
God’s love, like God’s existence, has no cause. It is not brought into being by something else but
is part of the nature of God from the start. God’s love is compared with that of a human
parent. Full of love and tenderness but also hurt when love is rejected.
Plato
Love as an attribute of God is closely connected to ideas about God’s goodness and
righteousness. Unlike Plato’s static ‘Form of the Good’, which exists as a concept in the
realm of ideas unaffected by anything, the goodness of God described in the Bible is
demonstrated as love for the people.
Prime Mover
Aristotle’s Prime Mover, too, although seen to be perfect, does not have the characteristics of the
Christian God of love.
The Prime Mover cannot be affected or changed and so it thinks only of itself and its own perfect
nature, whereas the God of the Bible is moved by the way people act, especially by the way
they treat those who are weak or in poverty.
Give a brief overview of the prophet Hosea.
The prophet Hosea lived in the eight century BC and was given the unenviable task of forming a
marriage that was to work as a symbol of God’s love for Israel.
The bible chapter is Hosea
Gomer was the wife, and she was repeatedly unfaithful (just like Israel had been to God) but
Hosea loved her and took her back.
Give an example of a quote that supports the view that God’s love is reliable and enduring
“Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have
rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely.”
Hosea 7:13 New international version
The Old Testament
What are the responsibilities that comes about as a result of the love shown by God to
the Hebrew people?
They can’t follow other religions
They can’t have a secular lifestyle
If they do not keep this up they are punished
It is taught that God should be obeyed and His laws are right. The people
should love each other and is a result of the love that God has shown to them.
The idea of an omnibenevolent God is closely linked with a God of justice and of
judgement. His punishment of sin is because of his love.
New Testament
‘Agape’ – selfless love shown through action, not simply an emotion.
