THEDOCTRINEOF GODFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage iA THEOLOGY OF LORDSHIPA SERIES BY JOHN M. FRAMEAlso available in the series:The Doctrine of the Knowledge of GodFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage iiTHEDOCTRINEOF GODJOHN M. FRAMEFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage iii 2002 by John M. FrameAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmit-ted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwiseex-cept for brief quotations for the purpose of review or comment, without the prior permission of thepublisher, P&R Publishing Company, P.O. Box 817, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865-0817.Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNA-TIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Usedby permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.Italics in Scripture quotations indicate emphasis added.Printed in the United States of AmericaLibrary of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataFrame, John M., 1939The doctrine of God / John M. Frame.p. cm. (A theology of lordship)Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and indexes.ISBN:10: 0-87552-263-7ISBN-13: 978-0-87552-263-01. God. I. Title. II. Series.BT103 .F73 2002231dc21 2001059110Frame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage ivTo JustinFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage vIntentional BlankFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage viFor my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,declares the Lord.As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your waysand my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa. 55:89)For this is what the high and lofty One sayshe 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 lowlyand to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isa. 57:15)Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable his judgments,and his paths beyond tracing out!Who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has been his counselor?Who has ever given to God,that God should repay him?For from him and through him and to him are all things.To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Rom. 11:3336)Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strengthand honor and glory and praise! (Rev. 5:12)Frame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage vii* Why Cant I See God? FromSongs on the Westminster Catechismby Judy Rogers, usedby permission. www.judyrogers.com Judy Rogers, 1991.Why cant I see God; Is he watching me?Is he somewhere out in space, or is he here with me?I am just a child; teach me from his word;Then Ill go and tell to all the great things I have heard.Teach me while my heart is tender;Tell me all that I should know,And even through the years I will remember,No matter where I go.*Frame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage viiiContentsAnalytical Outline xiPreface xxiAbbreviations of Frequently Cited Titles xxiii1. Introduction 1PART ONE: YAHWEH THE LORD2. The Lord 213. The Lordship Attributes: Control 364. Gods Control: Its Efcacy and Universality 475. The Lordship Attributes: Authority 806. The Lordship Attributes: Covenant Presence 947. Transcendence and Immanence 103PART TWO: SOME PROBLEM AREAS8. Human Responsibility and Freedom 1199. The Problem of Evil 160PART THREE: A PHILOSOPHY OF LORDSHIP10. Ethics 18511. Epistemology 19912. Metaphysics 214PART FOUR: THE ACTS OF THE LORD13. Miracle 24114. Providence 27415. Creation 28916. Gods Decrees 313ixFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage ixPART FIVE: BIBLICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF GOD17. Names of God 34318. Images of God 36219. Gods Attributes 38720. Gods Goodness 40221. Gods Righteousness and Wrath 44622. Gods Knowledge 46923. Gods Power 51324. Lord of Time 54325. Lord of Space, Matter, Light, and Breath 57626. The Self-Contained God 600PART SIX: THE TRIUNE GOD27. God, Three in One 61928. The Three Are God 64429. Father, Son, and Spirit 68830. Summary and Conclusion 736Appendix A: More Triads 743Appendix B: Mark Karlberg on The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God 751Appendix C: Mark Karlberg on Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis ofHis Thought 759Appendix D: Review of Benjamin Wirt Farley, The Providence of God 769Appendix E: Review of Paul Helm, The Providence of God 775Appendix F: Review of Frederick Sontag and M. Darrol Bryant (eds.),God: The Contemporary Discussion 781Appendix G: Review of Colin Brown, Miracles and the Critical Mind 790Appendix H: Review of David Ray Grifn, Evil Revisited 797Appendix I: Review of Brian G. Armstrong, Calvinism and theAmyraut Heresy 801Bibliography 807Index of Names 813Index of Subjects 819Index of Scripture 837x ContentsFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xAnalytical Outline1. IntroductionA. The Doctrine of God in HistoryB. A Response to Scholasticism(1) Sola Scriptura Versus Philosophical Imperialism andTraditionalism(2) Covenant Lordship and the Central Message of the Bible(3) Engagement with Recent Philosophy and Theology(4) Changes in the Order of Topics to Facilitate CommunicationC. The Structure of This VolumePART ONE: YAHWEH THE LORD2. The LordA. The Centrality of LordshipB. Yahweh: the Name of a PersonC. Yahweh, the Holy OneD. Lordship as Covenant Headship3. The Lordship Attributes: ControlA. Recent and Traditional Views of Exodus 3:14B. Passages Expounding the Name YahwehC. The Covenantal TriadD. Yahweh the Controller4. Gods Control: Its Efcacy and UniversalityA. The Efcacy of Gods ControlB. Universality: the Natural WorldC. Human HistoryD. Individual Human LivesE. Human DecisionsF. SinsxiFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xiG. Faith and SalvationH. Summary Passages5. The Lordship Attributes: AuthorityA. The Concept of Divine AuthorityB. Authority as an Aspect of LordshipC. Absolute AuthorityD. Divine Authority in the History of RedemptionE. The Universality of Divine Authority6. The Lordship Attributes: Covenant PresenceA. Presence in TimeB. Presence in PlaceC. Presence in Blessing and JudgmentD. The Lords Presence in All Creation7. Transcendence and ImmanenceA. Transcendence and Immanence in ScriptureB. Transcendence and Immanence in TheologyC. A Religious AntithesisPART TWO: SOME PROBLEM AREAS8. Human Responsibility and FreedomA. Responsibility as AccountabilityB. Responsibility as LiabilityC. Responsibility and AbilityD. Excursus on AbilityE. FreedomF. A Critique of LibertarianismG. Freedom in the Westminster ConfessionH. Creaturely Otherness, Integrity, and SignicanceI. Divine and Human CausalityJ. Models of Divine and Human Agency9. The Problem of EvilA. The Nature of EvilB. Some Good Things about EvilC. Evil and Gods Agencyxii Analytical OutlineFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xiiPART THREE: A PHILOSOPHY OF LORDSHIP10. EthicsA. Existential EthicsB. Teleological EthicsC. Deontological EthicsD. Mixed ApproachesE. Christian EthicsF. Some Applications11. EpistemologyA. Incomprehensibility and KnowabilityB. AnalogyC. Lordship and Knowledge12. MetaphysicsA. The Great Chain of BeingB. The Scholastic Philosophy of BeingC. SimplicityD. Necessity and FreedomE. Metaphysical PerspectivesPART FOUR: THE ACTS OF THE LORD13. MiracleA. Structural Overview of Parts Four through SixB. Dening MiracleC. Natural LawD. ImmediacyE. Attesting Gods MessengersF. Some Other Reformed Views of MiracleG. Miracles as Demonstrations of Gods Covenant LordshipH. Miracle and ProvidenceI. Have Miracles Ceased?J. Possibility and ProbabilityK. Evidence for MiracleL. Miracle as Evidence for Christianity14. ProvidenceAnalytical Outline xiiiFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xiiiA. GovernmentB. PreservationC. RevelationD. Concurrence15. CreationA. Dening CreationB. Creation and Covenant LordshipC. Creation and RedemptionD. Creation out of NothingE. The Six DaysF. The Age of the EarthG. Evolution16. Gods DecreesA. Gods PlanB. The Decrees and Gods LordshipC. Historical ElectionD. Eternal ElectionE. ReprobationF. The Order of the DecreesPART FIVE: BIBLICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF GOD17. Names of GodA. Naming and DescribingB. Gods Name and God HimselfC. Name and Lordship(1) Control(2) Authority(3) PresenceD. Some Names of God(1) Yahweh(2) Adon(3) Elohim(4) El(5) El shadday(6) Compound Namesxiv Analytical OutlineFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xiv18. Images of GodA. The Theological Possibility of ImagesB. AnthropomorphismsC. Some Biblical Images of GodD. God and Gender(1) What Would a Female God Be Like?(2) Feminine Images of God in Scripture(3) The Theological Importance of Masculine Imagery19. Gods AttributesA. Review of the Divine AttributesB. Gods Attributes and His LordshipC. Does God Have a Fundamental Attribute?D. Classifying Gods AttributesE. Distinctions within Attribute GroupsF. Starting with Goodness20. Gods GoodnessA. Goodness as PerfectionB. The Euthyphro ProblemC. Goodness as BenevolenceD. Objects of Gods GoodnessE. Gods Goodness and His LordshipF. Gods LoveG. Objects of Gods Love(1) Gods Self-Love(2) Gods Universal Love(3) Gods Saving LoveH. Gods Love and His LordshipI. Gods GraceJ. Common Grace and Gods Patience(1) God Restrains Sin(2) God Restrains His Wrath(3) God Gives Temporal Blessings to All(4) Unregenerate People Do Good(5) Unregenerate People Know TruthAnalytical Outline xvFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xv(6) Unregenerate People Experience Some Blessings of the HolySpiritK. Gods Covenant LoveL. Gods CompassionM. Other Forms of Gods Goodness21. Gods Righteousness and WrathA. Gods Righteous StandardsB. Gods Righteous DeedsC. Gods JealousyD. Gods HatredE. Gods Wrath22. Gods KnowledgeA. Gods SpeechB. Gods TruthC. Gods KnowledgeD. Gods Knowledge and His LordshipE. OmniscienceF. Gods Knowledge of the Future(1) Gods Knowledge of the Future in General(2) Gods Foreknowledge of Free Human Decisions and Actions(3) Passages Alleged to Teach Divine IgnoranceG. Gods Knowledge of PossibilitiesH. Gods Knowledge of Contingencies: Middle KnowledgeI. Gods WisdomJ. Gods Mind23. Gods PowerA. Gods Omnipotence(1) God Can Do Anything He Pleases(2) Nothing Is Too Hard for GodB. What God Cannot DoC. Denitions of OmnipotenceD. Absolute and Ordinate PowerE. Omnipotence and RedemptionF. Power and Weaknessxvi Analytical OutlineFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xviG. Gods WillH. Antecedent and Consequent WillsI. Decretive and Preceptive WillsJ. Does God Desire the Salvation of All?K. Which Is the Real Will of God?L. A Third Will?24. Lord of TimeA. Gods InnityB. Gods EternityC. Arguments against Divine AtemporalityD. Arguments for Divine AtemporalityE. Scripture on God and TimeF. Gods Temporal OmnipresenceG. Gods Unchangeability(1) A God Who Relents(2) How Is God Unchanging?(3) Unchangeability and Temporal OmnipresenceH. Some Modern Views(1) Process Theology(2) Futurism25. Lord of Space, Matter, Light, and BreathA. Gods Immensity(1) Explicit Scripture Texts(2) An Ethical Focus(3) Biblical Personalism(4) Lordship and SpaceB. Gods Spatial OmnipresenceC. Gods IncorporealityD. Theophany and IncarnationE. Gods InvisibilityF. Gods Glory(1) The Glory-Theophany(2) Glory as Gods Presence(3) Gods Glory in CreationAnalytical Outline xviiFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xvii(4) Glory and the TrinityG. Gods Spirituality(1) Power(2) Authority(3) Presence in Blessing and Judgment(4) The Spirit in Redemptive History26. The Self-Contained GodA. Gods AseityB. Does God Have Feelings?C. Can God Suffer?PART SIX: THE TRIUNE GOD27. God, Three in OneA. Trinitarian BasicsB. God Is OneC. God and the GodsD. Contemporary Critiques of MonotheismE. God Is Three(1) Plurals(2) Hypostatizations(3) Divine Persons in the Old Testament(4) Triads in the Old Testament(5) Old Testament Triads of Divine Beings(6) The Divine Persons of the New Testament28. The Three Are GodA. Functional and Ontological ChristologiesB. Taking Jesus Deity for GrantedC. Christ, the Covenant LordD. Christ, the Son of GodE. Jesus, the ChristF. Jesus Christ Is God(1) John 1:1(2) John 1:18(3) John 20:28(4) Acts 20:28xviii Analytical OutlineFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xviii(5) Romans 9:5(6) 1 Timothy 3:1516(7) 2 Thessalonians 1:12; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1(8) Hebrews 1:8(9) 1 John 5:20(10) Philippians 2:6(11) Colossians 2:9(12) EpilogueG. Other Titles of ChristH. Divine Attributes of JesusI. Divine Acts of JesusJ. Jesus, Object of Faith and WorshipK. Alleged Problem Passages(1) Proverbs 8:22(2) Mark 10:18(3) John 14:28; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 15:28(4) John 17:3(5) 1 Corinthians 8:6(6) Colossians 1:1518L. The Deity of the Holy Spirit29. Father, Son, and SpiritA. The Distinctness of the PersonsB. The Distinct Personality of the SpiritC. CircumincessioD. Mutual GloricationE. Substance and PersonsF. The Ontological and Economic TrinitiesG. Eternal GenerationH. Eternal ProcessionI. FilioqueJ. SubordinationK. Trinitarian ModelsL. Trinitarian AnalogiesM. Philosophical AnalogiesN. Trinity and the Lordship of GodAnalytical Outline xixFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xix30. Summary and ConclusionA. Does God Exist?Appendix A: More TriadsAppendix B: Mark Karlberg on The Doctrine of the Knowledge of GodAppendix C: Mark Karlberg on Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis of His ThoughtAppendix D: Review of Benjamin Wirt Farley, The Providence of GodAppendix E: Review of Paul Helm, The Providence of GodAppendix F: Review of Frederick Sontag and M. Darrol Bryant (eds.), God: TheContemporary DiscussionAppendix G: Review of Colin Brown, Miracles and the Critical MindAppendix H: Review of David Ray Grifn, Evil RevisitedAppendix I: Review of Brian Armstrong, Calvinism and the Amyraut Heresyxx Analytical OutlineFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xxPrefaceI am now returning to my Theology of Lordship series, fteen years af-ter the publication of its rst installment, The Doctrine of the Knowledge ofGod.1First, let me thank all of you who encouraged me to continue, de-spite many interruptions! Im sorry to have kept you waiting so long, butI do believe that in Gods providence these intervening years have helpedme to make this a better book than it otherwise would have been.I have spent these years researching and focusing my thoughts, as wellas doing other writing that has helped me to put the doctrine of God intoa broader perspective. My Medical Ethics2and my Perspectives on the Wordof God3were originally series of lectures in which I was able to explain anddevelop my three-perspective approach in application to specic issues andwith a broader range of readers in mind.My Evangelical Reunion4and my two books on worship, Worship in Spiritand Truth5and Contemporary Worship Music: A Biblical Defense,6were re-sponses to church controversiesresponses that, in these situations, I feltreally couldnt wait. But though my studies of worship were forced on meby circumstances, I must regard those circumstances as providential. Noth-ing has been more helpful to my understanding of Gods nature and workthan my study of what it means to worship him according to Scripture.And, of course, 1995 was the one hundredth anniversary of CorneliusVan Tils birth. I had long planned to pay homage to him in that year, andmy rereading of his work yielded my Apologetics to the Glory of God7andCornelius Van Til: An Analysis of His Thought.8I have always seen the The-ology of Lordship series as in large part an attempt to apply Van Tils in-sights, and so I am very glad that I was able to give him some thorough at-tention before writing the present volume.1. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 1987. Beginning in chapter 1, I shall refer to mybooks as shown in the list of abbreviations that follows this preface.2. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 1988.3. Eugene, Ore.: Wipf and Stock, 1999; originally published by P&R Publishing, 1990.4. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991. Now out of print.5. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 1996.6. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 1997.7. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 1994.8. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 1995.xxiFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xxiBut Im very happy to be back on track now with this series, and I hopethat, after this book, The Doctrine of the Word of God and The Doctrine ofthe Christian Life will follow in fairly rapid successionwell, with perhapsa few minor interruptions. The Doctrine of God is the second volume to ap-pear, but the third in the series as I envision it. The completed series willbe on the doctrines of (1) the Word of God, (2) the knowledge of God,(3) God, and (4) the Christian life. The principle of this organization isthat we meet God in his Word, a meeting that gives us knowledge, whichenables us to describe him as God, which enables us to live for him. Ofcourse, in my viewthis is not a rigid, temporal sequence. Each of these pre-supposes and enriches the other three, and each can be described from theperspective of the others. Careful readers will notice that each of these booksdiscusses the subjects of the other three in summary fashion, so that thebooksdiffermoreinemphasisandperspectivethaninsharplydistin-guishable subject matter. So the series itself has a perspectival structure,though each book can, I think, be understood by someone who hasnt readthe others.I envision these books as seminary-level texts that will be helpful to pas-tors and also to lay Christians who have done some college-level study.Again, I want to thank all of those who have helped me to think throughthese matters, including my negative critics. As I approach this particularsubject, I feel especially indebted to my teachers and colleagues, living anddeparted, who have taught the doctrine of God: Cornelius Van Til, JohnMurray,EdwinH.Palmer,D.ClairDavis,NormanShepherd,VernS.Poythress, and Sinclair Ferguson. Thanks also to Doug Swagerty, who pro-duced an excellent edition of my lecture notes, a crucial step in getting mythoughts into some meaningful order; Carla Meberg, who helped me withproofreadingonavolunteerbasis; SteveHays, JimJordan, andVernPoythress, who sent me their usual thorough and insightful reviews of thebook; the faculty and trustees of Westminster Theological Seminary in Cal-ifornia, for giving me a leave of absence to complete the book; my studentsin the Doctrine of God and Man course at Westminster, who studied anddiscussed my manuscript, making many useful suggestions; the people atReformed Theological Seminary, who welcomed me to my new positionand encouraged me much through a difcult time in my life. Thanks alsoto James W. Scott, who edited this volume, and to P&RPublishing for theirgreat patience with me.xxii PrefaceFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xxiiAbbreviations ofFrequently Cited TitlesI will refer to classical sources merely by title (or abbreviation). Thesecan be found in a variety of editions, some of which I have listed in thebibliography.AGG John M. Frame, Apologetics to the Glory of God (Phillipsburg, N.J.:P&R Publishing, 1994)ChD KarlBarth, ChurchDogmatics(Edinburgh: T. andT. Clark,193660)CVT John M. Frame, Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis of His Thought(Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 1995)DBI Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman III, Dic-tionary of Biblical Imagery (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsityPress, 1998)DG Herman Bavinck, The Doctrine of God (Grand Rapids: Baker,1951)DKG John M. Frame, The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God (Phillips-burg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 1987)Institutes JohnCalvin, InstitutesoftheChristianReligion,ed. JohnT.McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis Battles, The Library of ChristianClassics (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960)JETS Journal of the Evangelical Theological SocietyRD HeinrichHeppe, ReformedDogmatics(GrandRapids:Baker,1950, 1978)SCG Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra gentilesST Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiaeWCF Westminster Confession of FaithWLC Westminster Larger CatechismWSC Westminster Shorter CatechismWTJ Westminster Theological JournalxxiiiFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xxiiiIntentional BlankFrame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage xxivThere is nothing more important than knowing God. Consider theseScripture passages:Let not the wise man boast of his wisdomor the strong man boast of his strengthor the rich man boast of his riches,but let him who boasts boast about this:that he understands and knows me,that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,justice and righteousness on earth,for in these I delight,declares the Lord. (Jer. 9:2324)Nowthis is eternal life: that they may knowyou, the only true God,and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)But we live in an age in which the knowledge of God is rare. Many speakglibly about their belief in some god or other. But most would not even claimto know the true God, the God of the Bible. We know of so many people,of whom the psalmists words are true:In his pride the wicked does not seek him;inall his thoughts thereis noroomfor God. (Ps. 10:4; cf. Rom. 3:11)Alarge percentage of people today would say that they believe in God, butthey rarely give him a thought, and they routinely make their decisions asCHAPTER 1Introduction1Frame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage 1if he didnt exist. So the fool says in his heart, There is no God (Ps. 14:1),whatever else he may say with his lips. Modern culture becomes more andmore secular, pressing even to remove expressions of Christian faith fromthe public square. Abortion becomes a constitutional right. Criticisms ofnaturalistic evolution are excluded frompublic discussion because they arereligious.1Opinion makers and the mass media regard as hopelessly out-dated the views that sex belongs only within marriage, that homosexual-ity is wicked, and that marriage is for life.Alongside this idolatry of the secular, there are elements of modern so-ciety that are becoming more open to various old and new spiritualities, toviews and practices dismissed by traditional Christianity as superstitions:crystals, occult healing, channeling, and mysticisms of various sorts.2Theirony is that while society becomes more tolerant of these things, it becomesless tolerant of biblical Christianity. Although the opinion makers tell usthat there are many paths to God, they exclude the Christian path be-cause it claims to be exclusive. The interesting fact is that both those whoidolize secularity and those who promote alternative spiritualities agree inrejecting the God of Scripture. Only he is of sufcient weight for them torecognize as their enemy. So they are eager to shut him out of the culturaldialogue, to replace him with almost any alternative.This cultural drift often captivates Christians as well. David Wells speaksvividly of the weightlessness of God in many churches today.3Churchesand individual Christians devoted to the service of God often govern theirlives by the standards of modern secular culture, rather than by the Wordof God. They hear and speak about God, often with enthusiasm, but hemakes little real difference to them. But how can it be that the Lord ofheaven and earth makes no difference?The doctrine of God, therefore, is not only important for its own sake,as Scripture teaches us, but also particularly important in our own time, aspeople routinely neglect its vast implications. Our message to the worldmust emphasize that God is real, and that he will not be tried with. He2 Introduction1. See especially Phillip Johnson, Reason in the Balance (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVar-sity Press, 1995) for a critique of this compartmentalization.2. See the books of Peter Jones, The Gnostic Empire Strikes Back (Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&RPublishing, 1992), and Spirit Wars (Escondido, Calif.: Main Entry Editions, 1997).3. David F. Wells, God in the Wasteland (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994), 88117. I haveexpressed some differences with Wellss critique of modern evangelicals in my Contempo-rary Worship Music: ABiblical Defense (Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&RPublishing, 1997), 175201,a discussionalso published in WTJ 59 (1997): 269318, withresponses by Wells and RichardMuller, and a further response from me. But I have proted greatly from his observations.Frame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage 2is the almighty, majestic Lord of heaven and earth, and he demands ourmost passionate love and obedience.THE DOCTRINE OF GOD IN HISTORYTheology helps us to formulate that message, applying the biblical teach-ing about God to us and to our time.4The doctrine of God is one of thetraditional loci of systematic theology, such as the doctrine of Scripture,the doctrine of man, the doctrine of Christ, and so on.However, the doctrine of God is different from other loci in signicantrespects. For one thing, the church has reected on the doctrine of Godlargely in dialogue with Greek philosophy and ancient Gnosticism. EarlyChristian theologians did disagree with the Greeks on signicant points,and they were strong opponents of Gnosticism. Occasionally they agreedwith some Greek philosophers, but when they did, they usually cited bib-lical reasons for doing so. It is wrong, therefore, to nd in these early the-ologians a wholesale capitulation to non-Christian thought. Nevertheless,there were some compromises, as we shall see.And, more obviously, this philosophical discussion had a profound ef-fect on the vocabulary and style of Christian teaching concerning God.Terms like being, substance, attribute, accident, essence, necessity, and intel-lect came to dominate the Christian discussions of God, even though theyare absent from Scripture. It isnt wrong to use extrabiblical language toformulate theology. The very nature of theology is to take the language ofScripture and put it into other language, so that we can better understandthe Bible and apply it to issues not explicitly mentioned there. But the ratherpervasive use of Greek philosophical language had signicant effects on thesubstantive content of theology, and it impeded the churchs understand-ing and use of the actual ways in which the Bible speaks of God.The Protestant Reformers purged much of the philosophical languagefromthedoctrineofsalvation.Pre-Reformationtheologiansandpost-Reformation Roman Catholics tended to see grace almost as a material sub-stance that owed from God through the churchs sacraments to the peo-ple. The Reformers sawit, rather, in highly personal terms. In Protestantism,grace is Gods personal attitude of favor to those who deserve his wrath,received not by the sacraments ex opere operato, but by faith (personal trust).Luthers rediscovery of the gospel (salvation by grace alone, through faithIntroduction 34. For the concept of theology as application, see DKG, 8185.Frame D of G_cxd cr pg:Frame D of G 6/2/08 3:00 PMPage 3