Topical Encyclopedia
The attribute of incorruptibility ascribed to God is a fundamental aspect of His divine nature, emphasizing His purity, holiness, and eternal perfection. In the Scriptures, God's incorruptibility is presented as a contrast to the corruptible nature of creation and humanity, highlighting His transcendence and the unchanging nature of His being.
Biblical References:1.
Romans 1:23 : "and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." This verse underscores the folly of idolatry, where humanity, in its fallen state, turns away from the incorruptible God to worship corruptible images. The term "immortal" here is synonymous with incorruptibility, indicating God's eternal and untainted nature.
2.
1 Timothy 1:17 : "Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." This doxology praises God for His eternal and incorruptible nature, affirming His sovereignty and the reverence due to Him. The use of "immortal" again highlights God's freedom from decay and change.
3.
1 Peter 1:23 : "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." While this verse primarily speaks to the incorruptible nature of the new birth in Christ, it reflects the incorruptible source from which this new life springs—God Himself and His enduring word.
Theological Implications:God's incorruptibility is central to His holiness and righteousness. Unlike His creation, which is subject to decay and corruption due to sin, God remains eternally pure and unchanging. This attribute assures believers of His reliability and the certainty of His promises. The incorruptible nature of God also serves as a model for Christian living, calling believers to pursue holiness and integrity in their own lives.
Contrast with Humanity:Humanity, in its fallen state, is marked by corruption and mortality. The contrast between the corruptible nature of man and the incorruptible nature of God is a recurring theme in Scripture, serving to highlight the need for redemption and transformation through Christ. As believers are conformed to the image of Christ, they are called to reflect God's incorruptible nature in their conduct and character.
Eternal Perspective:The incorruptibility of God assures believers of the eternal nature of their relationship with Him. It provides a foundation for hope, as the promises of God are rooted in His unchanging and incorruptible character. This eternal perspective encourages believers to focus on the things of God, which are imperishable, rather than the transient and corruptible things of the world.
In summary, the declaration of God as incorruptible is a profound testament to His divine nature, setting Him apart from His creation and affirming His eternal, unchanging, and holy character.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Romans 1:23And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
Argument. --Moreover, He is Good, Always the Same, Immutable, one...
...God's own name also cannot bedeclared, because He... to be able thereby to obtainGod's
mercy... is therefore also both immortal andincorruptible, neither conscious...
The Canons of Dordt
... election by the most wise counsel ofGod wasdeclared?... Article 6 ButGod, who is
rich in mercy, according to... falls He preserves in them theincorruptible seed...
The Spiritual Temple ofGod.
... There is"where He himselfdeclared He would make... Wherefore in our habitationGod
truly dwells in us.... us repentance introduced us into theincorruptible temple...
On the Nature ofGod
... To the essence ofGod no attribute can be added... This mode may bedeclared in this
one expression... that it is unchangeable, impassable andincorruptible, in the...
The Prophets were Sent from one and the Same Father from whom the...
... to the marriage of His Son, and who grants them theincorruptible banquet, [also...
at different periods of the day, one and the sameGod isdeclared [4387] as...
God's Dealings with the Creature; Basilides' Notion of -1 the...
... abide in (this) quarter [848] areincorruptible, but corruptible... Sonship, and the
Non-ExistentGod, the cause... to these (heretics), as we have alreadydeclared....
How Moses Ascended up to Mount Sinai, and Received Laws fromGod...
... ofGod and been made a hearer of hisincorruptible voice so... His appearance filled
the army with gladness, and hedeclared to them what careGod had of them...
A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity
... Name Can Never BeDeclared, and He isIncorruptible and Immortal. Chapter V.
Argument.--If We Regard the Anger, and Indignation, and Hatred ofGod Described...
The First Great Deception.
... referring to the state of the dead,declared: "I confess... they are awakened by the
trump ofGod to a... shall sound, and the dead shall be raisedincorruptible.......
The First Great Deception
... referring to the state of the dead,declared: "I confess... they are awakened by the
trump ofGod to a... shall sound, and the dead shall be raisedincorruptible. ....
Resources
Is God male or female? | GotQuestions.orgIs God man-made? Did man create the idea of God? | GotQuestions.orgThe Identity of God ' Article Index | GotQuestions.orgGod: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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