Genesis, Theology of The theology of Genesis can be studied on three levels. The first level of study focuses on its message in and of itself. This is the attempt to determine what the meaning of the book is apart from its place in the larger canon of Scripture, and particularly relates to the question […]

Gentleness Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. The Old Testament. Gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream ( Isa 8:6 ) or by wine flowing over lips and teeth ( So 7:9 ). It stands in contrast to baseness ( Deuteronomy 28:54 Deuteronomy 28:56 ), harshness ( 2 Sam 18:5 ), and wildness ( Job […]

Grace – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology The word “grace” in biblical parlance can, like forgiveness, repentance, regeneration, and salvation, mean something as broad as describing the whole of God’s activity toward man or as narrow as describing one segment of that activity. An accurate, common definition describes grace as the unmerited favor of […]

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary Of Biblical Theology – Golden Rule Golden Rule [N] The Old Testament. The term “Golden Rule” is not found in Scripture, but is the popular way of referring to the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12 and lu 6:31. Jesus states, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” With […]

Good, Goodness The main Old Testament words for good/goodness come from the Hebrew word tob [b’f] while the most common New Testament words are kalos [kalov”], agathos [ajgaqov”], chrestos [crhstov”], and their cognates. These words often appear in a nonmoral sense; a “good” or “good-of-appearance” woman is beautiful ( Gen 6:2 ; 24:16 ; 26:7 ; 2 Sam 11:2 ; Est 1:11 ; Esther 2:2-3 Esther 2:7 ) and a “good” man is handsome ( 1 Sam […]

Gospel [N] [E] “Glad tidings” or “good news, ” from Anglo-Saxon godspell. The Old Testament. Good news is proclaimed widely ( 1 Sam 31:9 ; Psalm 96:2-3 ; Isa 40:9 ; 52:7 ), spread rapidly ( 2 Sam 18:19-31 ; 2 Kings 7:9 ; Psalm 68:11 ), and declared and received joyfully ( 2 Sam 1:20 ; Psalm 96:11-12 ; Isa 52:7-9 ; Jer 20:15 ). Where the message is gospel for Israelites and based on fact, the news is in every case but one ( Jer […]

God, Name of The God of Israel was known by many different names, titles, and epithets. God’s particular names derive both from his revealing his attributes and character to Israel and from Israel’s response to him. However, alongside this wealth of names and epithets in the Bible, the concept of God’s “Name” itself plays an […]

Godly, Godliness Reverence for God and a life of holiness in the world. The Old Testament. “The Lord has set apart the godly for himself” ( Psalm 4:3 ); they are, and are to become, his holy people ( Lev 11:44-45 ). Communion with God is to be zealously cultivated: “Let everyone who is godly pray to you while […]

Glorification In the Scripture the idea of glorification deals with the ultimate perfection of believers. The word “glorification” is not used in the Hebrew Old Testament or the Greek New Testament, but the idea of glorification is conveyed by the Greek verb doxazo [doxavzw] (“glorify”) and the noun doxa [dovxa] (“glory”) as well as in passages that do not […]

Holy Spirit, Gifts of Four New Testament passages delineate specific gifts that God’s Spirit gives to his people ( Rom 12:3-8 ; 1 Cor 12-14; Eph 4:7-13 ; 1 Peter 4:10-11 ). The terminology varies from ordinary words for gift (dorea, doma — Eph 4:7-8 ) to a cognate of grace (charisma Rom 12:6 ; 1 Corinthians 12:4 1 Corinthians 12:9 1 Corinthians 12:28 1 Corinthians 12:30-31 ; 1 Peter 4:10 ), […]