CHAPTER ONE
PATEROLOGY
God The Father
DEFINITION
Paterology comes from two Greek words which mean "father" and "word". When combined and
used in terms of theology, they mean "the study of the Father". Common subjects studied in
Paterology include the knowledge of the existence of God, the Trinity of God, the attributes of
God, the names of God, His sovereignty, and His purposes and plans.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE GOD
We obtain knowledge of God in the following ways:
-From Creation.
The first words in Genesis are: "In the beginning God created..." Genesis chapters 1-3 record
that God is the creator. If you do not believe these first five words, then you will be unable to
understand or accept the remaining truths of biblical theology. God created both the natural and
spiritual worlds.
Here are some other verses confirming God as Creator:
O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you
alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. (Isaiah 37:16)
Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power
and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He
was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was
not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3)
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through
him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)
God created everything--the universe, the earth, plants, animals, water, light, seasons, etc. His
greatest creation was man who was made in His image.
6
,All creation continues to be sustained by God:
He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; The earth is satisfied with the fruit of
His works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the labor of
man, So that he may bring forth food from the earth, (Psalm 104:13-14)
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17)
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and
upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He
sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3)
Creation actually declares and confirms the existence of God:
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day
unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech
nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3)
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. (Psalm 97:6)
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that
they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
-From History.
History confirms the existence of Jesus Christ, the Son of God--His birth, ministry, death, and
resurrection. Historical records of kings, wars, and other events in the Bible are also confirmed
by history. Archeological digs have also confirmed many cities, villages, and events mentioned
in the Bible.
-From Tradition.
Accurate knowledge of God is passed from one generation to the next.
-From Experience.
Through the new birth experience, people come to a knowledge of the living God. Experiences
such as dreams and visions may also provide knowledge of the true God, as do experiences of
observing God at work in the lives of others in miracles and transformation.
-From Revelation.
The greatest confirmation of the existence of God is found in the Word of God through
numerous statements such as these:
7
, I am God, even thy God...(Psalm 50:7)
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God , and there is none
else. (Isaiah 45:22)
...I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. (Isaiah 46:9)
THE TRINITY OF GOD
The one true God is revealed in three distinct personalities of the Father, the Son Jesus Christ,
and the Holy Spirit. They are one in essence, one God with three distinct natures. The doctrine
of the Trinity must be accepted by faith, as it is difficult to grasp with our finite minds.
The first person of the Trinity of God is called the Father. He is the father of:
-Israel: Exodus 4:22
-The angels: Job 38:7
-Jesus Christ: John 17:1
-All believers: John 1:12-13
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for God, "Elohim", is a plural word. Plural pronouns are
used of God (Genesis 1:26), and the angel of Jehovah is deemed to be Old Testament
appearances of Christ (Judges 2:1-5). The strongest Old Testament verse for the doctrine of the
Trinity is:
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from
the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
(Isaiah 48:16)
In the New Testament, the Father, Son and Spirit are confirmed to be divine, to do the works of
God, and to be worshipped. Much is written about the deity of Jesus (examples in John 1:1;
Titus 2:13), yet He is distinguished from the Father and the Spirit. The Spirit is also God
(Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 5:3-5), but distinguished from the Father and the Son.
God has a triune nature with three distinct personalities, yet He is one God:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
There are several Scriptures which confirm this triune nature of God. When Jesus was being
baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, God spoke and the Holy Spirit descended:
And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the
heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo, a voice from Heaven saying, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16-17)
8
, Prior to returning to Heaven after His ministry on earth, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit coming
from God:
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the
Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me.(John 15:26)
The Apostle Peter spoke of the triune nature of God:
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of
God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.
(1 Peter 4:14)
The Apostle Paul spoke of the Trinity in his writings:
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending
His own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.
(Romans 8:2-3)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Ghost, be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
For through Him (the Son) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
(Ephesians 2:18)
The book of Acts also verifies the triune nature of God:
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the
promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
(Acts 2:33)
THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are described in the Bible in terms of their
nature. When we speak of "nature" we mean basic qualities which describe God. These qualities
are also known as "attributes" which means "characteristics." The Bible reveals that God is...
Eternal.
The Trinity of God is eternal with no beginning and no ending:
Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were
brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting
to everlasting, Thou art God. (Psalms 90:1-2)
And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the
9
PATEROLOGY
God The Father
DEFINITION
Paterology comes from two Greek words which mean "father" and "word". When combined and
used in terms of theology, they mean "the study of the Father". Common subjects studied in
Paterology include the knowledge of the existence of God, the Trinity of God, the attributes of
God, the names of God, His sovereignty, and His purposes and plans.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE GOD
We obtain knowledge of God in the following ways:
-From Creation.
The first words in Genesis are: "In the beginning God created..." Genesis chapters 1-3 record
that God is the creator. If you do not believe these first five words, then you will be unable to
understand or accept the remaining truths of biblical theology. God created both the natural and
spiritual worlds.
Here are some other verses confirming God as Creator:
O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you
alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. (Isaiah 37:16)
Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power
and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He
was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was
not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3)
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through
him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)
God created everything--the universe, the earth, plants, animals, water, light, seasons, etc. His
greatest creation was man who was made in His image.
6
,All creation continues to be sustained by God:
He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; The earth is satisfied with the fruit of
His works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the labor of
man, So that he may bring forth food from the earth, (Psalm 104:13-14)
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17)
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and
upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He
sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3)
Creation actually declares and confirms the existence of God:
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day
unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech
nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3)
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. (Psalm 97:6)
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that
they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
-From History.
History confirms the existence of Jesus Christ, the Son of God--His birth, ministry, death, and
resurrection. Historical records of kings, wars, and other events in the Bible are also confirmed
by history. Archeological digs have also confirmed many cities, villages, and events mentioned
in the Bible.
-From Tradition.
Accurate knowledge of God is passed from one generation to the next.
-From Experience.
Through the new birth experience, people come to a knowledge of the living God. Experiences
such as dreams and visions may also provide knowledge of the true God, as do experiences of
observing God at work in the lives of others in miracles and transformation.
-From Revelation.
The greatest confirmation of the existence of God is found in the Word of God through
numerous statements such as these:
7
, I am God, even thy God...(Psalm 50:7)
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God , and there is none
else. (Isaiah 45:22)
...I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. (Isaiah 46:9)
THE TRINITY OF GOD
The one true God is revealed in three distinct personalities of the Father, the Son Jesus Christ,
and the Holy Spirit. They are one in essence, one God with three distinct natures. The doctrine
of the Trinity must be accepted by faith, as it is difficult to grasp with our finite minds.
The first person of the Trinity of God is called the Father. He is the father of:
-Israel: Exodus 4:22
-The angels: Job 38:7
-Jesus Christ: John 17:1
-All believers: John 1:12-13
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for God, "Elohim", is a plural word. Plural pronouns are
used of God (Genesis 1:26), and the angel of Jehovah is deemed to be Old Testament
appearances of Christ (Judges 2:1-5). The strongest Old Testament verse for the doctrine of the
Trinity is:
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from
the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
(Isaiah 48:16)
In the New Testament, the Father, Son and Spirit are confirmed to be divine, to do the works of
God, and to be worshipped. Much is written about the deity of Jesus (examples in John 1:1;
Titus 2:13), yet He is distinguished from the Father and the Spirit. The Spirit is also God
(Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 5:3-5), but distinguished from the Father and the Son.
God has a triune nature with three distinct personalities, yet He is one God:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
There are several Scriptures which confirm this triune nature of God. When Jesus was being
baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, God spoke and the Holy Spirit descended:
And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the
heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo, a voice from Heaven saying, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16-17)
8
, Prior to returning to Heaven after His ministry on earth, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit coming
from God:
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the
Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me.(John 15:26)
The Apostle Peter spoke of the triune nature of God:
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of
God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.
(1 Peter 4:14)
The Apostle Paul spoke of the Trinity in his writings:
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending
His own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.
(Romans 8:2-3)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Ghost, be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
For through Him (the Son) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
(Ephesians 2:18)
The book of Acts also verifies the triune nature of God:
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the
promise of the Holy Ghost, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
(Acts 2:33)
THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are described in the Bible in terms of their
nature. When we speak of "nature" we mean basic qualities which describe God. These qualities
are also known as "attributes" which means "characteristics." The Bible reveals that God is...
Eternal.
The Trinity of God is eternal with no beginning and no ending:
Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were
brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting
to everlasting, Thou art God. (Psalms 90:1-2)
And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the
9
