Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Scope:Sovereignty, in a biblical context, refers to the supreme authority and power of God over all creation. It encompasses His absolute right to govern the universe according to His will, purpose, and pleasure. This concept is foundational to understanding God's nature and His interactions with the world.
Biblical Foundation:The sovereignty of God is a central theme throughout Scripture, affirming His ultimate control and authority. In
Genesis 1:1, the Bible begins with the declaration, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," establishing God's authority as Creator. His sovereignty is further emphasized in passages such as
Psalm 115:3, "Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases," and
Daniel 4:35, "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: 'What have You done?'"
Attributes of Divine Sovereignty:1.
Omnipotence: God's sovereignty is closely linked to His omnipotence, meaning He possesses unlimited power.
Jeremiah 32:17 states, "Ah, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You."
2.
Omniscience: God's all-knowing nature supports His sovereign rule.
Isaiah 46:10 declares, "I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.'"
3.
Providence: God's sovereignty is exercised through His providence, whereby He sustains and governs all things.
Colossians 1:17 affirms, "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."
Human Responsibility and Divine Sovereignty:While God is sovereign, Scripture also affirms human responsibility. The tension between divine sovereignty and human free will is a profound mystery.
Proverbs 16:9 states, "A man's heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." This suggests that while humans make choices, God's sovereign will ultimately prevails.
Sovereignty in Salvation:The doctrine of election highlights God's sovereignty in salvation.
Ephesians 1:4-5 explains, "For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will."
Sovereignty in History:God's sovereignty extends over the course of history.
Acts 17:26 states, "From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands." This indicates that God orchestrates the rise and fall of nations according to His divine plan.
Sovereignty in Suffering:The sovereignty of God provides comfort in times of suffering.
Romans 8:28 assures believers, "And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." This verse underscores the belief that God is in control, even in adversity, and is working for the ultimate good of His people.
Worship and Sovereignty:Acknowledging God's sovereignty leads to worship and reverence.
Revelation 4:11 proclaims, "Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." Recognizing God's sovereign rule inspires awe and submission to His divine authority.
Topical Bible Verses
Psalm 115:3But our God is in the heavens: he has done whatever he has pleased.
Topicalbible.orgActs 4:24
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, you are God, which have made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
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Romans 9:21
Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor?
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1 Chronicles 29:11-12
Yours, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is yours; your is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.
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1 Samuel 2:6
The LORD kills, and makes alive: he brings down to the grave, and brings up.
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Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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Easton's Bible Dictionary
Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (
Dan. 4:25, 35;
Romans 9:15-23;
1 Timothy 6:15;
Revelation 4:11).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) The quality or state of being sovereign, or of being a sovereign; the exercise of, or right to exercise, supreme power; dominion; sway; supremacy; independence; also, that which is sovereign; a sovereign state; as, Italy was formerly divided into many sovereignties.
Greek
932. basileia -- kingdom,sovereignty, royal power... kingdom,
sovereignty, royal power. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
basileia Phonetic Spelling: (bas-il-i'-ah) Short Definition: kingship
...2231. hegemonia -- rule
... Feminine Transliteration: hegemonia Phonetic Spelling: (hayg-em-on-ee'-ah) Short
Definition: rule, authority Definition: rule, authority,sovereignty; a reign....
4267. proginosko -- to know beforehand
... requiring) them" (G. Archer). [See also Jer 18:8-10 on the perfect harmony
of divinesovereignty and human freedom.]. Word Origin from...
Strong's Hebrew
4467. mamlakah -- kingdom,sovereignty, dominion, reign... 4466, 4467. mamlakah. 4468 . kingdom,
sovereignty, dominion, reign.
Transliteration: mamlakah Phonetic Spelling: (mam-law-kaw') Short Definition: kingdom.
...4437. malku -- royalty, reign, kingdom
... malkuth Definition royalty, reign, kingdom NASB Word Usage government affairs (1),
kingdom (38), kingdoms (3), realm (4), reign (4), royal (3),sovereignty (4...
4438. malkuth -- royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom
... 41), kingdoms (2), kingship (1), realm (3), reign (21), royal (15), royal position
(1), royal robes (1), royalty (1), rule (1),sovereignty (2), throne (1)....
Library
TheSovereignty of God
TheSovereignty of God. <. TheSovereignty of God Arthur W. Pink. Table
of Contents. Title Page. FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION....
DivineSovereignty
... DivineSovereignty. A Sermon (No.77). Delivered on Sabbath Morning, May 4, 1856,
by the. REV. CH SPURGEON. At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark....
Sovereignty and Salvation
...Sovereignty and Salvation. A Sermon (No.60). Delivered on Sabbath Morning, January
6, 1856, by the. REV. CH SPURGEON. At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark....
God'sSovereignty.
... The Past Failure God'sSovereignty. There has been a good bit of teaching about
"God'ssovereignty". Behind that mysterious, indefinite...
DivineSovereignty.
... LECTURE XLV. DIVINESOVEREIGNTY. In this discussion I shall endeavor to show, I.
What is not intended by the term "sovereignty" when applied to God....
TheSovereignty of God in Creation
TheSovereignty of God. <.... CHAPTER TWO THESOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN
CREATION. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and...
Psalm 8:1. SM God'sSovereignty and Goodness; and Man's Dominion...
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 8:1. SM God'ssovereignty and goodness;
and man's dominion over the creatures. 1 O Lord, our...
Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
TheSovereignty of God. <.... CHAPTER EIGHTSOVEREIGNTY AND HUMAN
RESPONSIBILITY. "So then every one of us shall give account...
TheSovereignty of God in Operation
TheSovereignty of God. <.... CHAPTER SIX THESOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN
OPERATION. "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are...
Sovereignty of God in Administration
TheSovereignty of God. <.... CHAPTER THREESOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN
ADMINISTRATION. "The LORD hath prepared His Throne In the...
Thesaurus
Sovereignty (14 Occurrences)... many sovereignties. Multi-Version Concordance
Sovereignty (14 Occurrences).
Luke 19:15 And upon his return, after he had obtained
...Choose (116 Occurrences)
... OLD TESTAMENT 1. Human Choice 2. God Chooses King of Israel 3. God Chooses Jerusalem
4. Election of Israel 5. Yahweh's Grace (1) An Act ofSovereignty (2) For...
Chosen (197 Occurrences)
... OLD TESTAMENT 1. Human Choice 2. God Chooses King of Israel 3. God Chooses Jerusalem
4. Election of Israel 5. Yahweh's Grace (1) An Act ofSovereignty (2) For...
Affliction (120 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew when afflicted did not doubt the universalsovereignty of God; yet, while
assuming thissovereignty, he was sometimes tempted to accuse Him of...
Predestination
... Hodge has well remarked that, "rightly understood, this doctrine (1) exalts the
majesty and absolutesovereignty of God, while it illustrates the riches of his...
Throne (181 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To place on a royal seat; to enthrone. 5. (vt) To place in an elevated
position; to givesovereignty or dominion to; to exalt....
Principality (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A territory ruled by a prince orsovereignty;
hence, superiority; predominance; high, or the highest, station....
Crown (94 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A royal headdress or cap ofsovereignty, worn by emperors, kings, princes,
etc.... 6. (n.) Imperial or regal power or dominion;sovereignty....
Sceptre (20 Occurrences)
... authority; a royal mace. 2. (n.) Hence, royal or imperial power or authority;
sovereignty; as, to assume the scepter. 3. (vt) To endow...
Province (66 Occurrences)
... In the older provinces these districts corresponded generally with the urban
communities which had been the units ofsovereignty before the advent of the Romans...
Resources
How does the sovereignty of God impact my everyday life? | GotQuestions.orgHow do God's sovereignty and humanity's free will work together in salvation? | GotQuestions.orgHow does God's sovereignty work together with free will? | GotQuestions.orgSovereignty: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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