Characteristics of God

[CWBetts]

I was listening to Dr. Scott Hahn today, and in the talk he brought up a point that I cannot shake. Not to downplay God’s love or mercy, but both in the Old and New Testaments we read that seraphim sing “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts” According to Dr. Hahn, in the Hebrew there is no comparitive or superlative forms of adjectives. To convey comapritive the adjective is written twice, or three times for the superlative. He then said that nowhere is it written “Merciful, Merciful, Merciful” or “Gracious, gracious gracious” but “Holy, Holy, Holy” This is not to say that God is not merciful or gracious, bit that he is the Holiest being in existence. I am still wrapping my brain around that. God is holy, and He is more holy than is imaginible. Isaiah said “Woe is me, for I am undone! I am a man of unclean lips…” This is a Prophet of God saying this. In Revelation, John fell as dead upon the sight of the Lord. How much holier are these men than I? It really puts things in perspective. I wish to be holy. I really do. And when I see my faults, I thank God He gave us His Church, and I thank God He gave us the sacrements, especially the Eucharist, where we get to be in His Presence, and reconciliation, where He gives us a way to go back to him after hwe have fallen. I don’t know what anyone else thinks about this. I do know that I feel blessed that God loves us enough to provide a means of fellowship with him, even in our fallen state.

 

[Cachonga]

Just a thought - “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts” could also be praises to the Trinity (Holy Father, Holy Son and Holy Holy Spirit). There is no question that God is Holy, and nothing in creation can approach Him in Holiness (I would add the same is true for Mercy and Grace). I am also reminded of Peter’s reaction on his first fishing trip with Jesus (But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Luke 5:8 RSV).

 

[CWBetts]

Just a thought - “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts” could also be praises to the Trinity (Holy Father, Holy Son and Holy Holy Spirit). There is no question that God is Holy, and nothing in creation can approach Him in Holiness (I would add the same is true for Mercy and Grace). I am also reminded of Peter’s reaction on his first fishing trip with Jesus (But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Luke 5:8 RSV).

Like I said, i am not downplaying his love or mercy, but I find it interesting that the only repetition in this form is the word “holy” I think that is significant.

 

[Cachonga]

I agree with you that it is significant.

 

[Peter_Dawson]

One of the things I taught the kids as they grew up is that a good way to view God is that He is “extremely” everything that He is.

So, God is “extremely” loving; He is “extremely” just, and so on.

 

[CWBetts]

AgainI AM NOT DOWNPLAYING GOD"S OTHER ATTRIBUTES! I just think that we have no concept, no idea whatsoever how holy God is. There must be a reason the Scriptures give this kind of emphasis on God’s holiness…

 

[Cachonga]

I’m getting the feeling you would like to stick to the “Holy, Holy, Holy” issue. I notice that the only place you find it in scripture like this is in Isa 6:3 and Rev 4:8 (though the word Holy is found in over 400 verses). While it’s true that there is no comparative or superlative forms in Hebrew, this isn’t the case in Greek. That the verse in Rev reads the same is in Isa is significant. I also think it is significant that these 2 verses describe a scene in Heaven, and would again suggest that it is in recognition of the Trinity (Holy Father, Holy Son and Holy Holy Spirit). There is no question that God is holier than anything He has created, and will not dispute Scott Hahn when he says that God “is the Holiest being in existence.”

 

[CWBetts]

I’m getting the feeling you would like to stick to the “Holy, Holy, Holy” issue. I notice that the only place you find it in scripture like this is in Isa 6:3 and Rev 4:8 (though the word Holy is found in over 400 verses). While it’s true that there is no comparative or superlative forms in Hebrew, this isn’t the case in Greek. That the verse in Rev reads the same is in Isa is significant. I also think it is significant that these 2 verses describe a scene in Heaven, and would again suggest that it is in recognition of the Trinity (Holy Father, Holy Son and Holy Holy Spirit). There is no question that God is holier than anything He has created, and will not dispute Scott Hahn when he says that God “is the Holiest being in existence.”

The truth is that modern Christians have no concept whatsoever of the holiness of God.

 

[Cachonga]

CWBetts:

The truth is that modern Christians have no concept whatsoever of the holiness of God.

I agree 100%! Sadly, many people seem to be unaware of 1 Peter 1:16 ('because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” '). As Christians, we are called to a life of Holiness, which is more than just avoiding sin and going to Church. It’s a lifestyle. The other day, I was going someplace, and without paying attention, missed my turn and ended up on my way to work (out of habit). Wouldn’t it be wonderful to walk with God to the point that, even when sin tempts us, it is a “habit” to continue in the way of Holiness?