News Flash Question: Does God have emotions? Answer: We can cite numerous passages of Scripture that speak to God’s emotions. For example, God demonstrated the following: • Anger – Psalm 7:11; Deuteronomy 9:22; Romans 1:18 • Laughter – Psalm 37:13; Psalm 2:4; Proverbs 1:26 • Compassion – Psalm 135:14; Judges 2:18; Deuteronomy 32:36 • Grief – Genesis 6:6; Psalm 78:40; Isaiah 68:10 • Love – 1 John 4:8; John 3:16; Jeremiah 31:3 • Hate – Proverbs 6:16; Psalm 5:5; Psalm 11:5 • Jealousy – Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14; Joshua 24:19 • Joy – Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 32:41 However, are God’s emotions the same kind of emotions we humans exhibit? Is it right to think of Him as “emotional” (does He have mood swings)? In theological circles, personhood is often defined as “the state of being an individual with intellect, emotion, and volition.” God, then, is a “person” in that He is a personal God with a mind, emotions, and a will of His own. To deny God’s emotions is to deny that He possesses personality. Humans respond to things in this world physically, of course, but we also respond spiritually—our souls react, and this is what we call “emotion.” The fact of human emotion is one proof that God has emotions, as well, for He created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). Another proof is the Incarnation. As the Son of God in this world, Jesus was not an emotionless automaton. He felt what we feel, weeping with those who wept (John 11:35), feeling compassion for the multitudes (Mark 6:34), and being overcome with sorrow (Matthew 26:38). Through it all, He revealed the Father to us (John 14:9). Though God is transcendent, we’ve come know Him as a personal, living God who engages intimately with His creation. He loves us in ways we cannot fathom (Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 5:38; 8:35, 38–39), and He is immeasurably pained by our sin and rebellion against Him (Psalm 1:5; 5:4–5; Proverbs 6:16–19).
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:15:55 +0000
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