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Arguments for the Existence of God: The Biblical Arguments
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Paul Jang
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2008-03-04 21:46:11, hit : 4,155 |
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The Biblical Arguments
The Bible does turn away and taciturn on the question what does God exist?" He does utterly disregard this question because it is not necessary to prove the existence of God. Why is not? First, God is not Being who needs the rational proof. Of course, it does not mean that the rational arguments are not entirely necessary.
God has revealed Himself through the nature including man and universe (Rom. 1:19), and the Bible (Heb. 11:6). The former belongs to the field of rational arguments, and the latter to the field of Biblical arguments. Hence it has been discoursed that God exists through the rational arguments even if they could not satisfy the proof for the existence of God.
In fact, the Bible is little concerned about the existence of God, "Does God exist?", rather more concerned about "what is God?" and what He has done for His creatures. Therefore, the Bible does emphasize rather to proclaim His works than to prove the existence of God. This means that there is the presupposition in which the Bible already has the proofs of God.
The existence of God is the great presupposition of theology and the Bible. There is no sense in speaking of the works of God unless it may be assumed that God exits. To be sure, the Bible declares less the existence of God and rather declare more of His works. But this declaration is also effected on the believers in God but not unbelievers, because this doctrine may be accepted through the faith that is based on evidence, and the evidence is found in the Bible.
Biblical proof on this point does less explicitly declare, and much less logical argument. On this point Louis Berkhof says as follows:
In that sense the Bible does not prove the existence of God. The closet it comes to a declaration is perhaps in Heb. 11:6..."for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him." It presupposes the existence of God in its very opening statement, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Not only does it describe God as the Creator of all things, but also as the Upholder of all His creatures and as the Ruler of the deities of individuals and nations. (Berkhof, 1971, 21)
Looking into the Bible, there is God on almost every page as He reveals Himself in words and actions. In fact, this revelation of God is the basis of faith in the existence of God, and makes this an entirely reasonable faith.
Jesus said, "If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself (John 7:17). This is the intensive proof of which His existence is certainly authentic, gaining from intimate communication with God. Therefore, Hosea said, "And let us know, let us follow on to know the Lord," (Hos. 6:3).
The Heb. 11:6 says, "for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him." This words are not the direct proclamation, but only the request of faith resulting from the words, under the presupposition, "he that come to God." This is also the words, under the presupposition of God's existence, i.e., the existence of God, "to God, that we must know who God is, and What He does.
Ps. 14:1 says, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" This means under presupposing the existence of God. that they (the fool) do not seek God.
Ps. 14:4 says, "Do all the workers of wickedness not know, Who eat up my people as they eat bread." These words presuppose the existence of God.
Ps. 19:1-4 says, "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day today pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, no are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth." This means that the order, harmony and unity of all the worlds of the creatures which God created do indirectly prove the existence of God (Rom. 10:18; Act. 14:17).
In conclusion, the unbeliever has no real understanding of the Word of God. Paul says, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of their age? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For, seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through is wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe" (I Cor. 1:20, 21).
Therefore, the unbeliever, even if the Bible says that God exists, does not understand it. But the believer does understand that God exists through the faith in the Bible.
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Introduction
Theology 