Commentary on Why Does the Bible Describe God in Human Terms?
Since "God is a Spirit," we cannot see him with our physical eyes. (John 4:24) Ihe Bible therefore uses figures of speech, such as similes, metaphors, and anthropomorphisms to help US comprehend God's might, majesty, and activities. Anthropomorphisms (Greek, "manform") is the attributing of human characteristics to a nonhuman subject. So even though we do not know what God's spirit body looks like, the Bible speaks of God as having eyes, ears, hands, arms, fingers, feet, and a heart.-Genesis 8:21; Exodus 3:20; 31:18; Job 40:9; psalm 18:9; 34:15.
Such descriptive language does not mean that God's spirit body has the same kind of members that human bodies have. Anthropomorphisms are not to be taken literally. They merely help humans to have a better understanding of God. Without such figures of speech, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for any description of God to be comprehensible to mere humans. However, that does not mean that Jehovah God's personality has been fabricated by humans. The Bible clearly explains that man was created in God's image -not God in man's image. (Genesis 1 :27) Because Bible writers were inspired of God," their depiction of God's personality is in reality his own description of his personal qualities-the very qualities that he has implanted to varying degrees in his human creation per 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, " 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."(Rothrham Bible Translation; RBT). Rather than being man's qualities In God, they are really God's qualities in man.
As you read the Bible, you can learn how to make God rejoice.
Since "God is a Spirit," we cannot see him with our physical eyes. (John 4:24) Ihe Bible therefore uses figures of speech, such as similes, metaphors, and anthropomorphisms to help US comprehend God's might, majesty, and activities. Anthropomorphisms (Greek, "manform") is the attributing of human characteristics to a nonhuman subject. So even though we do not know what God's spirit body looks like, the Bible speaks of God as having eyes, ears, hands, arms, fingers, feet, and a heart.-Genesis 8:21; Exodus 3:20; 31:18; Job 40:9; psalm 18:9; 34:15.
Such descriptive language does not mean that God's spirit body has the same kind of members that human bodies have. Anthropomorphisms are not to be taken literally. They merely help humans to have a better understanding of God. Without such figures of speech, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for any description of God to be comprehensible to mere humans. However, that does not mean that Jehovah God's personality has been fabricated by humans. The Bible clearly explains that man was created in God's image -not God in man's image. (Genesis 1 :27) Because Bible writers were inspired of God," their depiction of God's personality is in reality his own description of his personal qualities-the very qualities that he has implanted to varying degrees in his human creation per 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, " 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."(Rothrham Bible Translation; RBT). Rather than being man's qualities In God, they are really God's qualities in man.
As you read the Bible, you can learn how to make God rejoice.