BIBLE STUDY
1. What are some of the more common biblical images of God? Provide specific examples.
2. What is the basic truth communicated by each of these images? Where does the analogy between the image and God break down?
3. What does Jesus mean when He tells Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9)?
4. How do we know from Scripture that the incomprehensibility of God does not mean that God cannot communicate truth about Himself to man?
5. What do the following Scriptures have to say about the difference between knowing about God and knowing God Himself?
a. John 5:39–40
b. James 2:19
c. 1 John 2:3–6
6. What are some specific examples of anthropomorphic language in Scripture? Is it accurate to say that the entire Bible itself is written in anthropomorphic language to one degree or another?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. If all human language about God is anthropomorphic, is the word “God” itself anthropomorphic? What does it mean to say that the word “God” is language in human form about God?
2. Were the images you had of the Father similar to those discussed in the lecture? Would the same general observations apply?
3. Why do we have such a difficult time imagining God the Father? Do we have the same difficulty forming a mental image of the Son?
4. Do you believe it is possible to speak or think about God without forming some type of mental image? If we do so, are we violating the second commandment?
APPLICATION
1. What does your mental image of God communicate to you about your understanding of God?
2. What does your mental image of God communicate to you about yourself? Why do you think this way about God?
3. How can you more fully conform your concept of God to the truth of God Himself?
1. What are some of the more common biblical images of God? Provide specific examples.
2. What is the basic truth communicated by each of these images? Where does the analogy between the image and God break down?
3. What does Jesus mean when He tells Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9)?
4. How do we know from Scripture that the incomprehensibility of God does not mean that God cannot communicate truth about Himself to man?
5. What do the following Scriptures have to say about the difference between knowing about God and knowing God Himself?
a. John 5:39–40
b. James 2:19
c. 1 John 2:3–6
6. What are some specific examples of anthropomorphic language in Scripture? Is it accurate to say that the entire Bible itself is written in anthropomorphic language to one degree or another?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. If all human language about God is anthropomorphic, is the word “God” itself anthropomorphic? What does it mean to say that the word “God” is language in human form about God?
2. Were the images you had of the Father similar to those discussed in the lecture? Would the same general observations apply?
3. Why do we have such a difficult time imagining God the Father? Do we have the same difficulty forming a mental image of the Son?
4. Do you believe it is possible to speak or think about God without forming some type of mental image? If we do so, are we violating the second commandment?
APPLICATION
1. What does your mental image of God communicate to you about your understanding of God?
2. What does your mental image of God communicate to you about yourself? Why do you think this way about God?
3. How can you more fully conform your concept of God to the truth of God Himself?