Christian Creeds (Part 4)

4. The Chalcedonian Creed
This creed was adopted at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 in Asia Minor. The Chalcedonian Creed teaches about Christ. It is against Nestorianism that teaches that Christ has two persons - man Jesus and God the Word - and also against Euthichianism (Monophysitism) that teaches that Christ has one nature, that is, that His divine and human nature, being joined, formed a new nature.

Nestorianism was previously condemned at The First Council of Ephesus in 431. The Assyrian Church of the East was formed after this council and is Nestorian.

Some oriental churches did not accept the Chalcedonian Creed (Syriac Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (India) and Armenian Apostolic churches). They are called Oriental Orthodox churches and are different from Eastern Orthodox churches that receive this creed. These churches teach Monophysism.

Other branches of traditional Christianity (Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Churches, and Protestant churches) accept this creed.

The text of the Chalcedonian Creed:

Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.

Besides the four main creeds, in Christianity, there are many others. However, each of them is accepted only by some denominations. The four main creeds are accepted by the most part of traditional Christianity.

Christian Creeds (Part 3)

3. The Athanasian Creed
This creed is named after Athanasius of Alexandria who defended the equality of the Son and the Father at the First Nicene Council and opposed Arius who taught that the Son is inferior than the Father. However, many theologians doubt that Athanasius was the author of this creed. According to one opinion, its author was Augustine because this creed was written in his style.

The Athanasian Creed has two parts. The first part is about the Trinity. The second part is about Christ. The Athanasian Creed gives the most clear statements regarding the Trinity and Christ among the four commonly accepted Christian creeds.

The text of the Athanasian Creed:

1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

2. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

3. Neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance

4. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son and another of the Holy Spirit.

5. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.

6. Such as the Father is, such is the Son and such is the Holy Spirit.

7. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Spirit uncreate.

8. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

9. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

10. And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.

11. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensibles, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.

12. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty;

13. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.

14. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;

15. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

16. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;

17. And yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.

18. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord;

19. so are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say: There are three Gods or three Lords.

20. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.

21. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.

22. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

23. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

24. And in this Trinity none is afore, nor after another; none is greater, or less than another.

25. But the whole three persons are co-eternal, and co-equal.

26. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

27. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

28. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

29. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.

30. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and made of the substance of His mother, born in the world.

31. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

32. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.

33. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ.

34. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the manhood into God.

35. One altogether, not by the confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

36. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ;

37. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;

38. He ascended into heaven, He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty;

39. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

40. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;

41. And shall give account of their own works.

42. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

43. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

This creed teaches about the Trinity and Christ in a very clear, definite, and detailed way.

Christian Creeds (Part 2)

2. The Nicene Creed (The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed)
The Nicene Creed was adopted in the First Council of Nicaea (325) and revised at the First Council of Constantinople (381). Both versions were adopted as reaction to theological controversies.

The original version was a response to Arianism - the teaching that the Son does not equal the Father. Thus it stressed their equality.

The original version of the Nicene Creed (English translation):

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made both in heaven and on earth; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; he suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

And in the Holy Ghost.

But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was not before he was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another substance' or 'essence,' or 'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or 'alterable' — they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.

The original version of this creed did not say much about the Holy Spirit. In the revised version, the description of the Holy Spirit was added - as a response to the teaching of Eustaphius (Pneumatomachianism) - the teaching that the Holy Spirit does not equal the Father (though some Pneumatomachians also denied that the Son equals the Father). This description does not speaks directly that the Holy Spirit is God. However, it implies that.

The text of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (revised version of the Nicene Creed):

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

This version is different from the commonly used in the Western Church. Synod in Toledo, Spain in 589 added the words "and from the Son" (filioque) to the processing of the Holy Spirit. The Eastern Church has never agreed with this change.

The text of the commonly used in the Western Church version of the Nicene (Niceno-Constantinopolitan) Creed:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The main purpose of this creed is to declare the Trinity - the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. However, in some ways, its statements are not sufficient. This creed does not states clearly that there is only one God and also that the Holy Spirit is God. The Athanasian Creed contains much more clear definition of the Trinity.

Christian Creeds (Part 1)

There are four main Christian creeds that are accepted by practically all the branches of traditional Christianity with the exception of some oriental churches (Armenian, Syrian, and Coptic):
1. The Apostles' Creed
2. The Nicene Creed (The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed)
3. The Athanasian Creed
4. The Chalcedonian Creed

1. The Apostles' Creed
It is considered to be the oldest Christian creed that is believed to come from the apostles. This is why it has this name.

The text of the Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Many Christian theologians question Christ's descending into hell stated in this creed because the Bible does not clearly state that. All the other statements are in the agreement with the Bible and are accepted by all the branches of traditional Christianity. In this creed as well as in others, "the catholic church" is not Roman Catholic Church, but the universal church as it is presented in the New Testament.

Although this creed speaks about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it does not clearly state that the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. It does not clearly teach about the Trinity.

Basically, this creed just summarizes the main doctrines of the New Testament. It pays much attention to Christ. Many churches use this creed in their worship.

Arguments for God's Existence

Both Christian and Muslim theology contain a number of arguments for God's existence. Actually, they are not so convincing for atheists and there are refutations of them. These refutations, in turn, have some weaknesses and also can be refuted. So, theists (those who believe in God) and atheists cannot convince one another by these arguments or their refutations. However, these arguments give theists logical foundation of their faith. I have no intention to convince atheist to believe in God and post these arguments only as a part of theology.

There are four main arguments for God's existence in Christian theology. Other arguments are based on them. The same is, actually, with arguments for God's existence in Muslim theology.

1. Cosmological argument
The fact of the existence of the universe testifies that God exists; the universe is consequence, and God is the cause.

There may be three causes of the existence of the universe:
1. Eternal matter and eternal universe.
2. Accidence as the eternal cause (impersonal cause).
3. Eternal God (Person).

The first variant contradicts the laws of thermodynamics and lost popularity. The second and the third variants are both matters of faith - faith in impersonal evolution or faith in the personal God.

2. Teleological argument
The world is in order. We can see order, purpose, and design in it. This causes us to think that there is the one who designed it - its Creator.

3. Anthropological argument
Human being is a living being, has mind and morality. His existence indicates the existence of the wise, living, and righteous God.

4. Ontological argument
We have a concept of the most perfect Being. The concept of Him involves His existence because something that does not exist is not so perfect as something that exists. Consequently, the most perfect Being must exist.

In the Muslim theology, there are also two arguments for the existence of the only one God. I did not find them in the Christian theology.

1. Burhani Tamanu
Suppose, there are two Gods who equal one another in everything. They both are free in expression of their will and in their power. Suppose, one of them wants a man to move and the other wants a man to rest. There are only three possibilities:
1. The will of each of them is fulfilled. However, this is impossible.
2. The will of neither of them is fulfilled. This means that both of them are not almighty because they cannot fulfill their will. So, this means that neither of them is God.
3. The will of one of them is fulfilled. This means that the other one is not almighty because his will is not fulfilled. However, both of them are equal to one another. It means that both of them are not almighty and consequently neither of them is God.
So, all the three possibilities are wrong.

If the two Gods come to the mutual agreement, it may mean:
1. Their union is forced. Then, both of them are limited in their power, but God cannot be limited.
2. Their union is voluntary, that is, one God willingly submit to another God. Then, the submissive God:
1) is able to contradict the other God. Then, they will fight with one another (see above);
2) is unable to contradict the other God. Then, it means that he is not almighty. The other God is completely equal to the submissive one. It means that he is not almighty either and neither of them is God;
3) has power to contradict, but has no choice, that is, limited in his will. Then, he is also not God.

2. Burhani Tawarud
Suppose, there are several creators of this universe. It may mean one of the three possibilities:
1. In order to create the universe, they had to join their power. It means that none of them is almighty is none of them is God.
2. Each God created everything separately. Then, there would be the same two perfect things, for example, two suns. However, it is useless to create the existing unique thing again.
3. Everything was created by one creator without the others' participation. This means that they were limited in their will and choice. So, they did not create anything. However, all of them are equal. This means that the first one did not create anything either. Then, this world would not exist.

God's Attributes in the Bible

God's attributes in the Protestant theology are based on the Bible. In the beginning, I would like to quote what two of the Protestant confessions say about God.

We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God -- eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty; completely wise, just, and good, and the overflowing source of all good. (The Belgic Confession, article 1)

I. There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will, for his own glory, most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments; hating all sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty.

II. God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone foundation of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom, are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature; so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience he is pleased to require of them. (The Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter II)

These two confessions mention a number of God's attributes.

There are several classifications of God's attributes. Most among Protestant theologians divide God's attributes into communicable and incommunicable. The incommunicable attributes belong only to God (for example, eternity, immensity), while the communicable attributes to some extend may belong to people (for example, wisdom and justice). However, there are some difficulties with putting some of God's attributes into one of these groups. For example, God is omniscient, that is, He knows everything. Human being has some knowledge, but human knowledge is limited. Human being has the attribute of knowledge, but not the attribute of omniscience.

There are similar difficulties with other classifications. So, many theologians do not use these classifications.

1. Personality
God is a Person. He has self-consciousness and self-determination. He has attributes of personality - mind, emotions, and will. He can speak, see, hear.

God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:14)

But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases. (Job 23:13)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)

2. Spirituality
God's nature is spiritual. He is not physical.

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

3. Invisibility
God is invisible.

No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. (John 1:18)

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

4. Life
God is living.

But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath. (Jeremiah 10:10)

For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. (1 Thessalonians 1:9)

5. Independence (aseity)
God does not need people or any other creatures. However, people can praise and worship Him.

24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." (Acts 17:24-25)

6. Immutability
God is immutable in His being, attributes, intentions, and promises.

But you remain the same, and your years will never end. (Psalm 102:27)

I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. (Malachi 3:6)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

7. Eternity
God has no beginning nor end.

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:2)

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!' (Deuteronomy 33:27)

For this is what the high and lofty One says — he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." (Isaiah 57:15)

But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath. (Jeremiah 10:10)

8. Omnipresence
God is everywhere at the same time.

23 "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away?
24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:23-24)

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:7-10)

9. Immensity
God is not limited by space, has no sizes or dimensions.

But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! (1 Kings 8:27)

10. Unity (unitas singularitas)
God is one.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4)

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

11. Simplicity (unitas simplicitas)
God does not consist of any parts or components. Neither does He consist of His attributes.

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

12. Truthfulness
God is true in His nature and also in His words and actions.

But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath. (Jeremiah 10:10)

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true — even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

13. Faithfulness
God is faithful in His promises.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

14. Omniscience
God knows everything.

Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge? (Job 37:16)

15. Wisdom
God uses His knowledge in the best way in order to fulfill His purpose.

To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:27)

16. Holiness
God is different from everything and is separated from sin.

For this is what the high and lofty One says — he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." (Isaiah 57:15)

There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2)

17. Righteousness

Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. (Daniel 9:7)

The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. (Psalm 144:17)

18. Justice
God is just toward everyone.

For God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:11)

19. Omnipotence
God is almighty.

I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. (Exodus 6:3)

20. Sovereignty
God is sovereign in His position and authority.

To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. (Deuteronomy 10:14)

Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. (Chronicles 29:12)

21. Perfection
God is perfect in everything.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

22. Goodness
God is the highest standard of good. All His works are worthy to be approved.

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone." (Luke 18:19)

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

23. Love

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)

24. Hatred
God hates sin.

The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. (Psalm 11:5)

Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious. (Hosea 9:15)

25. Grace
God kindly deals with people who do not deserve that.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)

26. Mercy
God is compassionate to people who are guilty or who suffer.

For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath. (Deuteronomy 4:31)

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (James 5:11)

27. Long-suffering
God is patient to those who upset or provoke Him.

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. (Jonah 4:2)

28. Peace (order)

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

29. Jealousy
God's jealousy means that He always defends His honor.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. (Exodus 20:5)

30. Will
God decides what to do and what not to do.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. (Ephesians 1:11)

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:11)

31. Freedom
God does what He wants.

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. (Psalm 115:3)

All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:35)

32. Bliss
God is fully satisfied with Himself and everything that reflects His attributes.

Which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. (1 Timothy 6:15)

That conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. (1 Timothy 1:11)

33. Beauty
God is full of desired attributes.

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

34. Glory

Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. (Isaiah 43:7)

Other Concepts of the Trinity

The Biblical teaching of the Trinity consists of the three main points:
1. God is three Persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
2. Each Person is complete God.
3. God is one.
All the unbiblical concepts deny, at least, one of these points. These concepts are considered to be heresies by the main part of Christians.

1. Modalism (modalist monarchism, Sabellianism)
Modalism teaches that there is only one Person that appears in three forms. In the Old Testament, this Person was the Father. In the Gospels, this Person was the Son. After the Day of Pentecost, this Person is the Holy Spirit.

Modalism contradicts some biblical verses, for example:

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17, New International Version)

Jesus (the Son) was baptized in the water. The Holy Spirit descended from the heavens. The Father was speaking from the heavens. All the three Persons were there at the same time.

2. Dynamic monarchism
Dynamic monarchism taught that Jesus was not God, but was a common man. Sometimes God came upon him, and he carried out God's work.

This teaching contradicts John, chapter 1:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1,2,14, New International Version)

The Word is Christ. He was God in the beginning and became a man in time.

3. Arianism
Arianism denies the full divinity of the Son and the Holy Spirit. It teaches that the Son was created. This teaching contradicts the same verses from John, chapter 1.

4. Adoptianism
Adoptionism taught that Jesus lived as a common man, but then God adopted him and gave him supernatural power. This teaching also contradicts chapter 1 of John.

5. Subordinationism
Subordinationism teaches that the Son is eternal and divine, but still not equal to God and subordinate to the Father.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8, New International Version)

Christ (the Son) is equal to the Father as God, but He humbled Himself, becoming a man.

6. Triteism
Triteism is the teaching that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three different Gods. This teaching also contradicts the Bible:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4, New International Version)

Classifications of God's Attributes

Christian theologians find God's attributes in the Bible. Muslims theologians find Allah's attributes in Qur'an and Sunnah.

There are three main classifications of God's attributes in Protestant theology:

1. Communicable and incommunicable attributes. The incommunicable attributes belong only to God (for example, eternity, immensity), while the communicable attributes to some extend may belong to people (for example, wisdom and justice).

2. Natural and moral attributes. The natural attributes describe God's nature (for example, self-existence and eternity), while the moral attributes describe His will (for example, justice and holiness).

3. Absolute and relative attributes. The absolute attributes characterize God Himself (for example, eternity and immensity), while the relative attributes characterize His relation to the creation (for example, omniscience).

According to Sunni theology, Allah's attributes are classified in the following way:
1. Al-Wujud - the attribute of Allah's essence (existence).
2. As-Salbi - the attributes that deny everything inappropriate to Allah. Al-Wujud and as-Salbi are sometimes put into the same group - as-Salbi or az-Zati (Sifats az-Zatiyya) (the essential attributes of Allah).
3. As-Subuti (Sifats as-Subutiyya) - the attributes that are necessary or mandatory for Allah.
4. Al-Jaizi - the attributes that are optional or possible for Allah. These attributes are also called al-Fi'li (Sifats al-Fi'liyya) - the attributes of Allah's actions.
5. Al-Habari - the informing attributes of Allah.

Actually, there are more similarities than differences between God's attributes and names in Christianity and Islam. Of course, I do not mean the doctrine of the Trinity that Islam completely rejects.

God's Names in the Bible

The Bible contains many God's names.

God's names in the Old Testament:
1. Elohim - God (Genesis 1:1); variants - El, Eloah, Elah
2. Adonai - Lord (Amos 7:7-8)
3. Yahweh (Jehovah) - God's name usually translated as LORD (Jeremiah 33:2)
4. El Shaddai - Almighty God (Genesis 17:1)
5. El Olam - Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33)
6. El Elion - Most High God (Genesis 14:18-20)
7. El Kadosh - Holy God (Joshua 24:19)
8. El Kanno - Jealous God (Joshua 24:19)
9. El Elohe Israel - God, God of Israel (Genesis 33:20)
10. El Roi - Seeing God (Genesis 16:13)
11. El Gadol ve Nora - Great and Awesome God (Deuteronomy 7:21)
12. El Hanun ve Rahum - Gracious and Merciful God (Jonah 4:2)
13. El Neeman - Faithful God (Deuteronomy 7:9)
14. El Hai - Living God (Joshua 3:10)
15. Elohim Hayim - Living God (Deuteronomy 5:26)
16. Elohim Tsebaot - God of hosts (Amos 3:13)
17. Yahweh Tsebaot - LORD of hosts (1 Samuel 17:45)
18. Yahweh Yireh - LORD will provide (Genesis 22:14)
19. Yahweh Rafa - LORD who heals (Exodus 15:26)
20. Yahweh Nissi - LORD is my banner (Exodus 17:15)
21. Yahweh Kadash - LORD who sanctifies (Leviticus 20:8)
22. Yahweh Raah - LORD is my shepherd (Psalom 23:1)
23. Yahweh Tsidkenu - LORD is our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
24. Yahweh Shalom - LORD is peace (Judges 6:24)
25. Yahweh Shammah - LORD is there (Ezekiel 48:35)
26. Yahweh Elohim Israel - LORD, God of Israel (Judges 5:3)
27. Yahweh Elohim - LORD God (Genesis 2:4)
28. Adonai Yahweh - usually translated as Lord GOD (Genesis 15:8)

Some comments regarding the last name: The Jews pronounced Adonai (Lord) instead of YHWH (Yahweh). However, they pronounced Adonai YHWH as Adonai Elohim in order to avoid saying Adonai two times. In the cases when one word should be pronounced instead of another word, Masorets (Hebrew scholars who added special symbols for vowels to the Old Testament text) did not change the consonants of the original word, but added vowels of the word that should be pronounced instead. In Hebrew Masoretic punctuation, YHWH is spelled as Yehovah in order to indicate that this word should be pronounced as Adonai (the first vowel "a" of Adonai is substituted by "e" because "a" in Adonai indicates very short "a" that cannot be pronounced after "y" and should be substituted by very short "e"). However, Adonai YHWH is spelled as Adonay Yehowih in order to indicate that in this construction YHWH should be pronounced as Elohim.

God's names in the New Testament:
1. Theos - God (John 1:1)
2. Kurios - Lord (Ephesians 4:5)
3. Despotes - the Sovereign One (Acts 4:24; Revelation 6:10)
4. Pater - Father (Matthew 6:9; Romans 8:15)
5. Ego Eimi - I AM (John 8:58)

More on the Trinity

As I wrote in a previous post, there is no biblical verse that clearly says about the Trinity. So, it is necessary to use more than one verse in order to prove this teaching biblically. However, there are two verses that are sometimes used for biblical foundation of the Trinity:

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. (1 John 5:7, New King James Version)

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

The problem with the first verse is that it can be found only in a limited number of manuscripts of 14th century and is absent in all the early manuscripts. So, Christian theologians believe that it was not in the original text. This verse is not included into the most modern translations of the New Testament.

The second verse is used because of the singular number "name", not "names". Since there is one name for the three - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it indicates that they are one.

The main points regarding the Trinity are:
1. There are three Persons in the Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, there is only one God.
2. These Persons are distinct, but not separated.
3. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.
4. Each Person is not one third of God, but the whole God.
5. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, and the Holy Spirit is eternal. The Father did not become the Son, and the Son did not become the Holy Spirit.
6. None of the Persons is greater or less than the other. They all are equal to one another.

There are also three points that indicate the difference between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit:
1. The Father is not begotten nor proceeding.
2. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father.
3. The Holy Spirit is eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. (Oriental Orthodox churches teach that the Holy Spirit is proceeding only from the Father.)

These points are called "opera ad intra" (the inward works of the Trinity). Each of the Persons of the Trinity has different and separated inward works.

The biblical foundation for the Son's eternal begetting is Psalm 2:7:

I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.'

In this verse, "today" is the day of the eternal decree, or the eternal purpose:

According to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:11)

The biblical foundation for the Holy Spirit's eternal proceeding is John 15:26:

But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

It is important to notice that the Son's eternal begetting is different from the human birth. It is eternal process without beginning and end. The Father is the Originator of the Son. The Holy Spirit's proceeding is also eternal, without beginning and end. The Son's eternal begetting is different from the Holy Spirit's eternal proceeding.

There is also difference between the Persons of the Trinity in the outward works of the Trinity (opera ad extra):
1. The Father chooses (1 Peter 1:2).
2. The Son redeems (1 Peter 1:18).
3. The Holy Spirit regenerates (Titus 3:5) and sanctifies (1 Peter 1:2).

However, in opera ad extra, all the Persons work together. Also, there is no subordination of the Persons of the Trinity in their essence, however, there is subordination in their outward works.

Structures of Christian and Muslim Theology

The main parts of Protestant Christian systematic theology are the doctrines of:
1. The Bible
2. God
3. Christ
4. The Holy Spirit
5. Man (human being)
6. Sin
7. Angels, Satan, and demons
8. Salvation
9. Church
10. Future events

The main parts of Sunni Muslim dogmatics (akida) are faith in:
1. Allah
2. Angels and jinns
3. Books (Holy Scriptures)
4. Prophets and messengers
5. The Day of Judgment and future events
6. Predestination and destiny of everything

It is interesting to compare these two structures.

Christian systematic theology	Muslim dogmatics
The Bible	Books
God	Allah
Christ
The Holy Spirit
Man
Sin
Angels, Satan, and demons	Angels and jinns
Salvation
Church
Future events	The Day of Judgment and future events
	Prophets and messengers
	Predestination and destiny of everything

Muslim theology does not have special sections on Christ and the Holy Spirit because Islam denies the Trinity. Muslim theology does not have sections on man, sin, and salvation because Islam denies man's sinful nature and Christ's redemption. Muslim theology does not have a section on the Church because there is no Church in Islam. Muslim theology has special sections on Allah's prophets and messengers and on Allah's predestination of everything and carrying out this predestination. In Muslim theology, the section on the Books includes Qur'an, some parts of the Bible, and all the other Holy Scriptures.

The Trinity

Christians believe in Trinity, Muslims reject this doctrine completely because they think that it is polytheism (shirk). However, polytheism is faith in more than one God while Christians are monotheists (believe that there is only one God). Actually, the doctrine of the Trinity does not contradict biblical monotheism.

Even though the doctrine of Trinity is biblical, there is no Bible verse that clearly teaches about Trinity. This doctrine is based on several verses and the logical conclusions from them.

In several Bible verses, it is said that God is one, for example:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4, New International Version)

The Bible also says that there are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

The Father, the Son, and the Spirit exist at the same time:

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)

Then, the Bible say that the Father is God:

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval. (John 6:27)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. (1 Peter 1:1-2)

The Bible says that the Son (Christ) is God:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-2, 14)

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! (Romans 9:5)

The Bible also says that the Holy Spirit is God:

3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." (Acts 5:3-4)

So, the Bible says that there is one God and also that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. It also says that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit exist at the same time. The doctrine of Trinity is the logical conclusion made from all these statements.

The Athanasian Creed contains a very detailed description of the Trinity:

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith [the term "catholic" in its usage is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church, but is a reference to the universal (catholic) faith since that is how the term was originally used]. Which faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance.

For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one Eternal.

As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one Uncreated, and one Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three gods, but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord. And yet not three lords, but one Lord.

For as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge each Person by Himself to be both God and Lord, so we are also forbidden by the catholic religion to say that there are three gods or three lords.

The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits.

And in the Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another, but all three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

He therefore that will be saved must think thus of the Trinity.

Qur'an completely denies Trinity. However, Qur'anic concept of Trinity is different from the Christian concept:

73 They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.
116 And behold! Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah'?" He will say: "Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, Thou I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden. (5:73, 116, Yusufali's translation)

According to Qur'an, Trinity is Jesus, Mary, and Allah. It is true that the Roman Catholic Church and oriental Orthodox churches have some tendency to deify Mary. However, they do not consider her as goddess and do not include her into the Trinity. In principle, it is possible that some Christians who lived in Arabia at the time of Muhammad did that. However, this is not was the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity is. According to the orthodox Christian teaching, the Trinity is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and this is one God. Actually, Qur'anic version of the Trinity as three gods - Jesus, Mary, and Allah - is polytheism (shirk). According to the Bible, Mary is not a goddess. She is a human being.

Also, Qur'anic version of the Trinity does not include the Holy Spirit. It is because in Qur'an the holy spirit is one of the names of angel Jibril (Jabrail) - biblical Gabriel.

What Qur'an and the Bible Say about Jesus

Jesus Christ in Arabic is Isa Masih. This is his name in Qur'an. He is also called Isa bin Mariam (Jesus son of Mary) because Qur'an says that he did not have a father. Qur'an denies that Jesus is God:

72 They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.
73 They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.
74 Why turn they not to Allah, and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
75 Christ the son of Mary was no more than a messenger; many were the messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make His signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth! (5:72-75, Yusufali's translation))

116 And behold! Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah'?" He will say: "Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, Thou I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden.
117 "Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say, to wit, 'worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things. (5:116-117, Yusufali's translation)

Qur'an says that Jesus was a man and messanger of Allah. Moreover, Qur'an includes him into the number of the five greatest prophets:

And remember We took from the prophets their covenant: As (We did) from thee: from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them a solemn covenant. (33:7)

The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him). (42:13)

Muslim theologians say that these two ayas (verses) indicate that Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad were the greatest prophets.

Qur'an says that Jesus did not have a father and Mary was a virgin:

45 Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah;
46 "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous."
47 She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is! (3:45-47)

According to Qur'an, Jesus was not crucified:

157 That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-
158 Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. (4:157-158)

According to Qur'an, Jesus did not die and is still alive on the heavens (this is how Muslim theologians interpret the following aya):

Behold! Allah said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute. (3:55)

Moreover, according to Qur'an, Jesus will come back before the Day of Judgment:

And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way. (43:61)

There are also many hadiths about Jesus' second coming that give many details.

Comparing what Qur'an and the Bible say about Jesus, it is important to mention that the Bible says that Jesus is not only man, but also God:

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5, New International Version)

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! (Romans 9:5)

The Bible says that Jesus was not only born of a virgin, but also born of the Holy Spirit who is God:

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18-20)

The Bible says that Jesus was crucified, resurrected, ascended, and will come back:

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11)

God's Name in the Old Testament

God's name in the Old Testament is indicated by four letters YHWH which are often called "tetragrammaton" (this word in Greek means "four letters"). Ancient Jews as well as other Semitic nations did not indicate vowels. They did not pronounce God's name because of their fear to violate God's commandment:

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (Exodus 20:7, New International Version)

Instead of God's name, Jews pronounced "Adonai" which means "Lord" (literally, "my lords"). Because of this practice, the original pronunciation of tetragrammaton was lost. Later, when Jewish scholars called Masorets added special symbols for vowels, they used the vowels for Adonai (with some necessary changes). Then, some Western theologians read this word literally and got the pronunciation "Jehovah". Actually, Jews did not read this word in this way. They used the vowels of Adonai in order to indicate that this word should be pronounced as Adonai.

Another variant of pronunciation of this word is Yahweh. This pronunciation is an attempt to reconstruct the original pronunciation. In Exodus 3:13-15, Moses asks God about His name:

13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"

14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation. (New International Version)

In Hebrew, "I am who I am" is "'ehyeh 'asher 'ehyeh". "'ehyeh" means "I am" and this word is related to YHWH. According to a hypothesis, YHWH is the form of 3rd person, singular number of the same Hebrew verb that means "to be". That is, YHWH means "He is". Yahweh is singular 3rd person form from the Hebrew verb "hawah". This reconstruction follows the hypothesis that YHWH is singular 3rd person form from this verb.

In Septuagint (ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament), "I am who I am" is "Ego eimi ho on". Here, "ego eimi" means "I am", "ho" is the definite article, "on" is the present participle of the verb "to be". So, this phrase means "I am the existing one".

The meaning of YHWH is that God is ever-existing and self-existing. He exists always. This is why He says, "I am who I am". He also exists by Himself. Some theologians believe that YHWH also means that God becomes known to people by revealing Himself. In Hebrew, there is the same verb for "to be" and "to become". However, most often, this word means "to be". So, I agree with the view that the meaning of God's name is that "He is", not that "He becomes".

Now, it is interesting to compare the meaning of YHWH with surah (chapter) 112 of Qur'an:

1 Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
2 Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
3 He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
4 And there is none like unto Him.
(Surah (chapter) 112, translation of Abdullah Yusufali)

The word translated as "the Eternal, Absolute" in Arabic is "as-Samad". This is one of 99 names of Allah. This name means that Allah exists by Himself, eternally, and does not need anything or anybody for His existence. This is about the same concept as expressed by YHWH in the Old Testament.

In Sunni theology, four of Allah's sifats (God's attributes) are:
1. Al-Wujud - Existence. This attribute means that Allah exists and His non-existence is impossible.
2. Al-Kidam - Eternity without beginning. This attribute means that Allah exists eternally without beginning, He did not have beginning of His existence.
3. Al-Baka - Eternity without end. This attribute means that Allah exists eternally without end, His existence will never end.
4. Al-Kiyamu bi-nafsi-hi - Self-existence. This means that Allah exists by Himself and does not need anything or anybody for His existence.

In Christian theology, God's attributes include these four attributes. The only difference is that in Christian theology there is one attribute - God's eternal existence without beginning and end.

God of Christianity and God of Islam

Both Christianity and Islam are monotheistic religions. The Bible says that God is one:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4, New International Version)

Likewise, Qur'an says that there is only one God - Allah:

1 Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
2 Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
3 He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
4 And there is none like unto Him.
(Surah (chapter) 112, translation of Abdullah Yusufali)

Some Western people think that Muslims believe that Muhammad is God. This is not so. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last God's prophet and a human being. Many Muslims think that Christians believe in three Gods. Again, this is not so. Christians believe that God is one. Christian Trinity is not three separated and distinct God. The Trinity is one God.

As far as I know, Muslims believe that God of Qur'an and God of the Bible is the same God. However, Christians tend to disagree with this statement because Muslims do not believe in Trinity. On the other hand, Christians believe that God of the Old Testament and God of the New Testament is the same God. Consequently, they believe that God of Judaism and God of Christianity is the same God. However, Jews do not believe in Trinity.

Muslims believe in God who created the universe, created Adam and Eve, sent people His Scriptures, including Torah (Pentateuch), Psalms, and Gospel, and made some people His prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ismael, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, and John the Baptist. Is this the same God? I think so.

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew (some parts - in Aramaic), Qur'an was written in Arabic. All these languages are Semitic, and have many things in common. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for God is Elohim. This word is plural from two words - El and Eloah. Both denote God. In Aramaic, the second word is Elah. In Arabic, the word for a god is ilah. Eloah, Elah, and ilah are obviously related.

In Islam, the most common name of God is Allah (it is commonly considered that there are 99 names of Allah, though there are actually more than 99). Some Western researchers say that Allah means "the God" (al+ilah). Al is the definite article in Arabic. However, Muslims reply that "the God" in Arabic is al-ilah.

In Hebrew and Arabic, there is the definite article. In Hebrew, the main form is "ha", in Arabic, the main form is "al". However, in Aramaic, there was no article. Instead, there was so called emphatic form with ending "-a". In some Syrian Aramaic dialect, the emphatic form for God was Alaha. Some scientists consider that Arabs borrowed this word, dropping the ending.

So, it seems that the original meaning of the word "Allah" is "the God" whether this form was constructed by Arabs or borrowed from Syrians. This word comes from the same root as Hebrew Elohim.

There are several opinions why the Hebrew word for God is usually used in plural. Many Christian theologians say that this is a hint that God is triune. However, the Old Testament never says clearly about the Trinity. Some secular researchers say that the plural form means that originally Jew were polytheists and only later became monotheists. However, there is nothing that would support this idea.

The third hypothesis is that Elohim is plural of majesty. The same is with the word Adonai. This word is usually translated as Lord, but literally means "my lords". Also, in some verses, God says about Himself "We". I think that this hypothesis is most probable. In Qur'an, Allah often says about Himself "We". However, Qur'an emphasizes that there is only one God. So, "We" is usually interpreted as plural of majesty. Actually, many other languages have plural of majesty. So, it is not something unusual.

Introduction

In this blog, I am going to consider and compare Christian and Muslim theology. For quite a long time, I have been interested in Protestant and Sunni theologies and have studied both of them. Unfortunately, many Christians have many misunderstandings regarding Islam. Likewise, many Muslims have many misunderstandings regarding Christianity. This is why I preferred to use Christian literature to find information about Christianity and use Muslim literature to find information about Islam. Inside of both Protestantism and Sunni Islam, there are diversities. I am going to consider these diversities also.

For now, I was able to find only one book that presents both Christian and Muslim views without distortions and mutual attacks. This is the book A Muslim and a Christian in a Dialogue by Badru D. Kateregga and David W. Shenk. Kateregga is a Muslim, Shenk is a Christian, and they are friends. They present their religions and discuss religious matters without in a respectful way, without mutual attacks. I liked their approach. However, since the size of their book was limited, they were unable to discuss many Christian and Muslim doctrines. So, I am going to follow their approach in this blog and consider some doctrines here. Actually, I think there are many things to be considered, and I do not expect that I will be able to cover most of them. I am not going to re-post anything from this book here.

In my opinion, Christians should know more about Islam, and Muslims should know more about Christianity. This is the purpose of my blog. I am not going to promote any of these religions here. I am just going to consider them from the position of an outside observer. I do have my own religious preferences and opinions. However, I will do my best to be objective and avoid my subjectivity here. I will just provide the information without promotion of any religion.