Topical Encyclopedia
The term "absolute" is not directly found in the text of the Bible; however, the concept of absoluteness is inherent in the nature and attributes of God, as well as in His laws and decrees. In theological discourse, "absolute" often refers to something that is unchanging, perfect, and independent of any other being or condition. This entry explores the biblical understanding of absoluteness as it pertains to God, His truth, and His moral standards.
God's Absolute Nature1.
Eternality and Immutability: God's nature is absolute in that He is eternal and unchanging. In
Malachi 3:6, God declares, "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." This verse highlights God's immutability, an absolute attribute that assures His promises and character remain constant.
2.
Sovereignty: God's sovereignty is absolute, meaning He has ultimate authority and control over all creation.
Psalm 115:3 states, "Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases." This reflects the absolute power and freedom of God to execute His will without constraint.
3.
Perfection: God's absolute perfection is evident in His holiness and righteousness. In
Matthew 5:48, Jesus instructs, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." This call to perfection underscores the absolute moral standard embodied by God.
Absolute Truth1.
Divine Revelation: The Bible presents God's Word as absolute truth. In
John 17:17, Jesus prays, "Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth." This affirms the Bible as the ultimate standard of truth, unaltered by human opinion or cultural shifts.
2.
Jesus as the Truth: Jesus Christ embodies absolute truth. In
John 14:6, He declares, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." This statement asserts the exclusivity and absoluteness of Christ as the sole path to God.
Absolute Moral Standards1.
The Ten Commandments: God's moral laws, such as the Ten Commandments, are absolute standards for righteous living.
Exodus 20:1-17 outlines these commandments, which serve as a timeless moral compass for humanity.
2.
Love as the Fulfillment of the Law: In
Romans 13:10, Paul writes, "Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." This principle of love is an absolute moral standard that encapsulates the essence of God's commandments.
Absolute Justice and Mercy1.
Divine Justice: God's justice is absolute, ensuring that righteousness prevails. In
Deuteronomy 32:4, it is written, "He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He."
2.
Mercy and Grace: While God's justice is absolute, His mercy and grace are also absolute, providing salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast."
In summary, the concept of "absolute" in the Bible is intricately linked to the nature of God, His truth, and His moral standards. These absolutes provide a foundation for understanding the divine character and the expectations for human conduct as revealed in Scripture.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Loosed from any limitation or condition; uncontrolled; unrestricted; unconditional; as, absolute authority, monarchy, sovereignty, an absolute promise or command; absolute power; an absolute monarch.
2. (a.) Complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless; as, absolute perfection; absolute beauty.
3. (a.) Viewed apart from modifying influences or without comparison with other objects; actual; real; -- opposed to relative and comparative; as, absolute motion; absolute time or space.
4. (a.) Loosed from, or unconnected by, dependence on any other being; self-existent; self-sufficing.
5. (a.) Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone; unconditioned; non-relative.
6. (a.) Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful.
7. (a.) Authoritative; peremptory.
8. (a.) Pure; unmixed; as, absolute alcohol.
9. (a.) Not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in government; as, the case absolute. See Ablative absolute, under Ablative.
10. (n.) In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity.
Greek
5181. Turannos -- "absolute ruler," Tyrannus, an Ephesian... Turannos. 5182 . "
absolute ruler
... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition "
absolute ruler," Tyrannus, an Ephesian NASB Word Usage Tyrannus (1). Tyrannus.
...3841. pantokrator -- almighty
... almighty. 3841 (from 3956 , "all" and 2902 , "prevail") -- properly, ;
unrestricted power exercisingabsolute dominion. Word Origin...
1203. despotes -- lord, master
... [1203 () implies someone exercising "unrestricted power andabsolute domination,
confessing no limitations or restraints" (R. Trench, 96).]....
5598. O -- the last letter of the Gr. alphabet
... In the NT, 5598 ("") is always used of the glorified Christ (Rev 1:8, 21;6, 22:13),
referring to Hisabsolute to meet all the needs of finite (limited) people....
3724. horizo -- to mark off by boundaries, to determine
... term "" ("" comes from 3724 (), "to set ." 4309 ("-horizon, -determine") emphasizes
God's with, as operating in His perfect wisdom,absolute foreknowledge, etc...
4214. posos -- how much? how great?
... how great. From anabsolute pos (who, what) and hos; interrogative pronoun (of amount)
how much (large, long or (plural) many) -- how great (long, many), what....
4434. ptochos -- (of one who crouches and cowers, hence) beggarly...
... From ptosso (to crouch); akin to ptoeo and the alternate of pipto); a beggar (as
cringing), ie Pauper (strictly denotingabsolute or public mendicancy...
4268. prognosis -- foreknowledge
... Cognate: 4268 (from 4267 , "foreknow") -- properly, . 4268 () occurs twice
in the NT, both times of "God'sabsolute ." See 4267 ()....
3361. me -- not, that...not, lest (used for qualified negation)
... A primary particle of qualified negation (whereas ou expresses anabsolute denial);
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a...
2048. eremos -- solitary, desolate
... vegetation"). This root () does "not suggestabsolute barrenness but territory
affording free range for shepherds and their flocks....
Library
Absolute Surrender
Absolute Surrender. <.Absolute Surrender Andrew Murray. Table of Contents.
Title Page.ABSOLUTE SURRENDER. "THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE"....
From FastsAbsolute Tertullian Comes to Partial Ones and...
... Chapter IX."From FastsAbsolute Tertullian Comes to Partial Ones and
Xerophagies. This principal species in the category of dietary...
Affinity of Christianity, asAbsolute Truth, for the Various...
... THE JEWS. Section 28. Affinity of Christianity, asabsolute Truth, for
the various opposing Religious Systems. On the dissolution...
Our Lord Has Said thisAbsolute Truth, that Unless we be Born...
... Address 229: Our Lord has said thisabsolute truth, that unless we be born
again from above? Our Lord has said thisabsolute truth...
TheAbsolute God Entirely Incomprehensible by Man.
... Homily XIX. Chapter X."TheAbsolute God Entirely Incomprehensible by Man.
"For instance, then, what did you say in the beginning?...
Absolute Surrender
Absolute Surrender. <....ABSOLUTE SURRENDER. "And Ben-hadad the
king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there...
TheAbsolute Godhood of God is Seen in Salvation
... 4. TheAbsolute Godhood of God is Seen in Salvation. God'sabsolute and
irresistible proprietorship has been and is being displayed...
TheAbsolute Godhood of God is Seen in Creation
... 1. TheAbsolute Godhood of God is Seen in Creation. With whom took He counsel
in creation? Whom did He consult when He determined...
TheAbsolute Godhood of God is Seen in Administration
... 2. TheAbsolute Godhood of God is Seen in Administration. God not only created
everything, but everything which He created is subject to His immediate control....
TheAbsolute Godhood of God is Seen in Giving of the Scriptures
... 3. TheAbsolute Godhood of God is Seen in Giving of the Scriptures. What part or
lot did man have in the composition of the Bible? None whatever....
Thesaurus
Absolute (5 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Loosed from any limitation or condition; uncontrolled; unrestricted;
unconditional; as,
absolute authority, monarchy, sovereignty, an
absolute promise
...Birthday (4 Occurrences)
... This need not be called "a caseabsolute," though it corresponds to the Latin ablative
(locative)absolute; and the Greek genitiveabsolute is itself not...
Creator (19 Occurrences)
... But the creative process is not a case of sheer almightiness, creating something
out of nothing, but an expression of God, as theAbsolute Reason, under the...
Predestination
... Hodge has well remarked that, "rightly understood, this doctrine (1) exalts the
majesty andabsolute sovereignty of God, while it illustrates the riches of his...
Omniscience
... 2. Tacit Assumption and Explicit Affirmation: Scripture everywhere teaches
theabsolute universality of the divine knowledge. In...
Creation (35 Occurrences)
... immanent in its evolution. For God is theAbsolute Reason, always immanent
in the developing universe. Apart from the cosmogonic...
Absolutely (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In anabsolute, independent, or unconditional manner;
wholly; positively. Multi-Version Concordance Absolutely (6 Occurrences)....
Eternity (23 Occurrences)
... not in the merely negative form of the non-temporal, or immeasurable time, but
positively, as the mode of the timeless self-existence of theAbsolute Ground of...
Foreknowledge (2 Occurrences)
... In the mostabsolute sense his knowledge is infinite (1 Samuel 23:9-13; Jeremiah
38:17-23; 42:9-22, Matthew 11:21, 23; Acts 15:18). Noah Webster's Dictionary....
Anthropomorphism
... Hence, it would be a mistake to suppose that our knowledge of God must remain
anthropomorphic in content, and cannot think theAbsolute Being or Essence save...
Resources
Is there such a thing as absolute truth / universal truth? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is absolute reality? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is absolute idealism? | GotQuestions.orgAbsolute: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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