Question: "Is God male or female?"

Answer: In examining Scripture, two facts become clear. First, God is a Spirit and does not possess human characteristics or limitations. Second, all the evidence contained in Scripture agrees that God revealed Himself to mankind in a male form. To begin, God’s true nature needs to be understood. God is a Person, obviously, because God exhibits all the characteristics of personhood: God has a mind, a will, an intellect, and emotions. God communicates and He has relationships, and God’s personal actions are evidenced throughout Scripture.

As John 4:24 states, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” Since God is a spiritual being, He does not possess physical human characteristics. However, sometimes figurative language used in Scripture assigns human characteristics to God in order to make it possible for man to understand God. This assignment of human characteristics to describe God is called “anthropomorphism.” Anthropomorphism is simply a means for God (a spiritual being) to communicate truth about His nature to humanity, physical beings. Since humanity is physical, we are limited in our understanding of those things beyond the physical realm; therefore, anthropomorphism in Scripture helps us to understand who God is.

Some of the difficulty comes in examining the fact that humanity is created in God’s image. Genesis 1:26-27 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Both man and woman are created in the image of God, in that they are greater than all the other creations as they, like God, have a mind, will, intellect, emotions, and moral capacity. Animals do not possess a moral capacity and do not possess an immaterial component like humanity does. The image of God is the spiritual component that humanity alone possesses. God created humanity to have a relationship with Him. Humanity is the only creation designed for that purpose.

That said, man and woman are only patterned after the image of God—they are not tiny “copies” of God. The fact that there are men and women does not require God to have male and female features. Remember, being made in the image of God has nothing to do with physical characteristics.

We know that God is a spiritual being and does not possess physical characteristics. This does not limit, however, how God may choose to reveal Himself to humanity. Scripture contains all the revelation God gave to humanity about Himself, and so it is the only objective source of information about God. In looking at what Scripture tells us, there are several observations of evidence about the form in which God revealed Himself to humanity.

Scripture contains approximately 170 references to God as the “Father.” By necessity, one cannot be a father unless one is male. If God had chosen to be revealed to man in a female form, then the word “mother” would have occurred in these places, not “father.” In the Old and New Testaments, masculine pronouns are used over and over again in reference to God.

Jesus Christ referred to God as the Father several times and in other cases used masculine pronouns in reference to God. In the Gospels alone, Christ uses the term “Father” in direct reference to God nearly 160 times. Of particular interest is Christ’s statement in John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.” Obviously, Jesus Christ came in the form of a human man to die on the cross as payment for the sins of the world. Like God the Father, Jesus was revealed to humanity in a male form. Scripture records numerous other instances where Christ utilized masculine nouns and pronouns in reference to God.

The New Testament Epistles (from Acts to Revelation) also contain nearly 900 verses where the word theos—a masculine noun in the Greek—is used in direct reference to God. In countless references to God in Scripture, there is clearly a consistent pattern of His being referred to with masculine titles, nouns, and pronouns. While God is not a man, He chose a masculine form in order to reveal Himself to humanity. Likewise, Jesus Christ, who is constantly referred to with masculine titles, nouns, and pronouns, took a male form while He walked on the earth. The prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New Testament refer to both God and Jesus Christ with masculine names and titles. God chose to be revealed in this form in order for man to more easily grasp who He is. While God makes allowances in order to help us understand Him, it is important to not try to “force God into a box,” so to speak, by placing limitations on Him that are not appropriate to His nature.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/God-male-female.html#ixzz3QhREhv6C

zyzxx:
am a male
Shey Ija ti pari

eheeee now u come... am guessing u are gonna loose ur joystick when u get to this ur heaven?

SNCOQ3:
Question: "Is God male or female?"

Answer: In examining Scripture, two facts become clear. First, God is a Spirit and does not possess human characteristics or limitations. Second, all the evidence contained in Scripture agrees that God revealed Himself to mankind in a male form. To begin, God’s true nature needs to be understood. God is a Person, obviously, because God exhibits all the characteristics of personhood: God has a mind, a will, an intellect, and emotions. God communicates and He has relationships, and God’s personal actions are evidenced throughout Scripture.

As John 4:24 states, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” Since God is a spiritual being, He does not possess physical human characteristics. However, sometimes figurative language used in Scripture assigns human characteristics to God in order to make it possible for man to understand God. This assignment of human characteristics to describe God is called “anthropomorphism.” Anthropomorphism is simply a means for God (a spiritual being) to communicate truth about His nature to humanity, physical beings. Since humanity is physical, we are limited in our understanding of those things beyond the physical realm; therefore, anthropomorphism in Scripture helps us to understand who God is.

Some of the difficulty comes in examining the fact that humanity is created in God’s image. Genesis 1:26-27 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Both man and woman are created in the image of God, in that they are greater than all the other creations as they, like God, have a mind, will, intellect, emotions, and moral capacity. Animals do not possess a moral capacity and do not possess an immaterial component like humanity does. The image of God is the spiritual component that humanity alone possesses. God created humanity to have a relationship with Him. Humanity is the only creation designed for that purpose.

That said, man and woman are only patterned after the image of God—they are not tiny “copies” of God. The fact that there are men and women does not require God to have male and female features. Remember, being made in the image of God has nothing to do with physical characteristics.

We know that God is a spiritual being and does not possess physical characteristics. This does not limit, however, how God may choose to reveal Himself to humanity. Scripture contains all the revelation God gave to humanity about Himself, and so it is the only objective source of information about God. In looking at what Scripture tells us, there are several observations of evidence about the form in which God revealed Himself to humanity.

Scripture contains approximately 170 references to God as the “Father.” By necessity, one cannot be a father unless one is male. If God had chosen to be revealed to man in a female form, then the word “mother” would have occurred in these places, not “father.” In the Old and New Testaments, masculine pronouns are used over and over again in reference to God.

Jesus Christ referred to God as the Father several times and in other cases used masculine pronouns in reference to God. In the Gospels alone, Christ uses the term “Father” in direct reference to God nearly 160 times. Of particular interest is Christ’s statement in John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.” Obviously, Jesus Christ came in the form of a human man to die on the cross as payment for the sins of the world. Like God the Father, Jesus was revealed to humanity in a male form. Scripture records numerous other instances where Christ utilized masculine nouns and pronouns in reference to God.

The New Testament Epistles (from Acts to Revelation) also contain nearly 900 verses where the word theos—a masculine noun in the Greek—is used in direct reference to God. In countless references to God in Scripture, there is clearly a consistent pattern of His being referred to with masculine titles, nouns, and pronouns. While God is not a man, He chose a masculine form in order to reveal Himself to humanity. Likewise, Jesus Christ, who is constantly referred to with masculine titles, nouns, and pronouns, took a male form while He walked on the earth. The prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New Testament refer to both God and Jesus Christ with masculine names and titles. God chose to be revealed in this form in order for man to more easily grasp who He is. While God makes allowances in order to help us understand Him, it is important to not try to “force God into a box,” so to speak, by placing limitations on Him that are not appropriate to His nature.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/God-male-female.html#ixzz3QhREhv6C

Nawa oooo.. **sighs** So u actually copied this and pasted...atleast u should have read it well before posting

herald9:


have you finally resorted to cameo appearances?

I'm attending classes.

I suppose to be studying now, but my book is out of reach.

johnydon22:

Nawa oooo.. **sighs** So u actually copied this and pasted...atleast u have read it well before posting

Were you expecting them to be logical in reasoning?
Like the primitive men that wrote bible, they must contradict themselves.

pesty100:
Am cönfuse

Why are you confused? There is no God.

Yahweh is one of the many deities(not a god) of the Jew,so was Molech,Ba al and other blood and sacrifice loving deities.

FrancisTony:

Were you expecting them to be logical in reasoning?
Like the primitive men that wrote bible, they must contradict themselves.

after all this long boring post he didnt even answer the question...Just beat around the bush...he has human qualities and emotions and is a person yet no human gender tho potrayed to be male... nawa ooooo...why not just say its an IT and be done with it.. not even an it shaa... just and an idea

zyzxx:
Ok.
U will be wu u are on earth in heaven

LOL powder milk brain. What a waste!

FrancisTony:

Were you expecting them to be logical in reasoning?
Like the primitive men that wrote bible, they must contradict themselves.

FrancisTony:

I'm attending classes.

I suppose to be studying now, but my book is out of reach.

Alright

Be a good boy

johnydon22:

Nawa oooo.. **sighs** So u actually copied this and pasted...atleast u should have read it well before posting

eeeeeeeeeeeeasy young man, no dey rush

You assumed wrongly that this 2 lines from the body text contradict each other. Not so.

God is a Person, obviously, because God exhibits all the characteristics of personhood: God has a mind, a will, an intellect, and emotions

Since God is a spiritual being, He does not possess physical human characteristics

Your error is the fact that you are confusing Person for Physical

From a Christian orthological perspective:
A person is an entity with mind, will and emotion - not necessarily a physical being.

A human individual is a physical being possessing mind, will, emotions; therefore, a physical person (corporeal).
We believe in the existence of spirits: A spirit can think, exercise will, express emotions; therefore an incorporeal person
---------------------------------------------------------------------
corporeal
kɔːˈpɔːrɪəl/
adjective
adjective: corporeal
relating to a person's body, especially as opposed to their spirit.
"he was frank about his corporeal appetites"
having a body.
"a corporeal God"
synonyms: bodily, fleshly, carnal, corporal, human, mortal, earthly; More
antonyms: incorporeal

incorporeal
ˌɪnkɔːˈpɔːrɪəl/Submit
adjective
not composed of matter; having no material existence.
"a supreme but incorporeal being called God"
synonyms: intangible, impalpable, non-material, non-physical;
--------------------------------------------------------------------
3. God is a spirit; therefore God is an Incorporeal PERSON

SNCOQ3:

eeeeeeeeeeeeasy young man, no dey rush

You assumed wrongly that this 2 lines from the body text contradict each other. Not so.


Your error is the fact that you are confusing Person for Physical

From a Christian orthological perspective:
A human individual is a physical being possessing mind, will, emotions; therefore, a physical person (corporeal).
We believe in the existence of spirits: A spirit can think, exercise will, express emotions; therefore an incorporeal person
---------------------------------------------------------------------
corporeal
kɔːˈpɔːrɪəl/
adjective
adjective: corporeal
relating to a person's body, especially as opposed to their spirit.
"he was frank about his corporeal appetites"
having a body.
"a corporeal God"
synonyms: bodily, fleshly, carnal, corporal, human, mortal, earthly; More
antonyms: incorporeal

incorporeal
ˌɪnkɔːˈpɔːrɪəl/Submit
adjective
not composed of matter; having no material existence.
"a supreme but incorporeal being called God"
synonyms: intangible, impalpable, non-material, non-physical;
--------------------------------------------------------------------
3. God is a spirit; therefore God is an Incorporeal PERSON

You guys are so funny... something that isnt flesh not even human possess emotions!!! jealousy the most of all... habaaa cant you guys just see all this are just assumptions?
nawa ooo
Its quite good you know its just mere belief (of assumptions) and not knowledge

johnydon22:

You guys are so funny... something that isnt flesh not even human possess emotions!!! jealousy the most of all ... habaaa cant you guys just see all this are just assumptions?
nawa ooo

You are gradually shifting ground -that is not the point of the OP.
For the bolded, a negative emotion is not the same as an evil emotion. When someone is angry against injustice, that is a righteous anger. When someone is jealous for the one he loves, that is a good thing. (not jealous of).

Can you prove that emotion is material?

johnydon22:

---
---

Its quite good you know its just mere belief (of assumptions) and not knowledge

I did not see this.
To believe something to be true is not the same as an assumption. Belief can be based on knowledge.

I encourage you NL Atheists to be rigorous with your thinking and stop being impulsive.

"Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God's grace be with you all." (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

ifeness:


LOL powder milk brain. What a waste!

"Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God's grace be with you all." (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

johnydon22:

eheeee now u come... am guessing u are gonna loose ur joystick when u get to this ur heaven?

"Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God's grace be with you all." (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

pesty100:
what if we dont reach heaven

don't generalize that. Heaven is my home

zyzxx:
"Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God's grace be with you all." (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

Was only just a simple question that only needed a simple answer!!! smh

SNCOQ3:

I did not see this.
To believe something to be true is not the same as an assumption. Belief can be based on knowledge.

I encourage you NL Atheists to be rigorous with your thinking and stop being impulsive.

That you believe an assumption to be true doesnt make it true...
If you are honest to yourself, you have no idea what or who or how this your god is exactly; You are just assuming how you think it is or how you want it to be so its plain assumption...
That you believe this assumption to be true doesnt make it true, same goes to that you believe that their is a supernatural man that is not a man too that lives in the sky, has a son and exhibits human traits and emotions like jealousy does not making it true that their is such entity.

johnydon22:

That you believe an assumption to be true doesnt make it true...

You are going around in circles.
First, it is a fallacy to assume that a belief is based on assumption.
Your argument was: belief is assumption not knowledge. This is fallacy because a belief could be predicated on knowledge.

If you are honest to yourself, you have no idea what or who or how this your god is exactly; You are just assuming how you think it is or how you want it to be so its plain assumption...

By definition, a spirit cannot be seen. God is spirit. Except He chooses to manifest Himself. I cannot prove my subjective experience of a spiritual encounter to you; neither can you prove it to be an assumption - so you are the one that needs to be honest with yourself.

That you believe this assumption to be true doesnt make it true, same goes to that you believe that their is a supernatural man that is not a man too that lives in the sky, has a son and exhibits human traits and emotions like jealousy does not making it true that their is such entity.

This is a messed up analysis in need of of refinement. You might want to think more carefully and repost.

Prove that emotion is material.

SNCOQ3:

You are going around in circles.
First, it is a fallacy to assume that a belief is based on assumption.
Your argument was: belief is assumption not knowledge. This is fallacy because a belief could be predicated on knowledge.

first i hate long boring arguments....let me take you to the dictionary...Belief is defined as "
Mental acceptance of a claim as truth regardless of supporting or contrary empirical evidence." now tell me how belief can pass as knowledge?

SNCOQ3:

By definition, a spirit cannot be seen. God is spirit. Except He chooses to manifest Himself. I cannot prove my subjective experience of a spiritual encounter to you; neither can you prove it to be an assumption - so you are the one that needs to be honest with yourself.

You already said it all...

SNCOQ3:

This is a messed up analysis in need of of refinement. You might want to think more carefully and repost.

Prove that emotion is material.

Please what part of ur body is responsible for emotions? (simple question no long boring post)

johnydon22:
first i hate long boring arguments....let me take you to the dictionary...Belief is defined as "
Mental acceptance of a claim as truth regardless of supporting or contrary empirical evidence." now tell me how belief can pass as knowledge?

You just affirm what I've been educating you about.
This is my proposition: belief could be predicated on knowledge.
In other words, belief could be based on anything including knowledge.

You already said it all...

Swallow your pride and stop being dishonest by cherry picking. This is it in full:
I cannot prove my subjective experience of a spiritual encounter to you; neither can you prove it to be an assumption.

Please what part of ur body is responsible for emotions? (simple question no long boring post)

Prove that emotion is material. I asked you first.

SNCOQ3:

You just affirm what I've been educating you about.
This is my proposition: belief could be predicated on knowledge.
In other words, belief could be based on anything including knowledge.

So this ur belief is actually based on knowledge?

SNCOQ3:

Swallow your pride and stop being dishonest by cherry picking. This is it in full:
I cannot prove my subjective experience of a spiritual encounter to you; neither can you prove it to be an assumption.

**sighs** Now how am i supposed to negatively prove what you that is making the claim can't even prove? alright I have a flying horse, can you prove i dont?

SNCOQ3:

Prove that emotion is material. I asked you first.

[/quote] Thats exactly what am trying to do, now be a good boy and tell me which part of you is responsible for emotions?

johnydon22:
So this ur belief is actually based on knowledge?

Do you now agree that a belief could be based on knowledge?

**sighs** Now how am i supposed to negatively prove what you that is making the claim can't even prove? alright I have a flying horse, can you prove i dont?

You should stop messing around.
You are the one who assumed belief is but an assumption(positive); Therefore the onus is on you to prove your assumption true.

Thats exactly what am trying to do, now be a good boy and tell me which part of you is responsible for emotions?

You should have been a responsible boy and answer the question you elicited in the first place.

The non-existent "contradiction" you recklessly sited in my post that was mend to help someone else as been roundly debunked. It is the reason why I responded to you anyway.

Good night

pesty100:
Am cönfuse

Even if you don't have the common sense it takes to think, at least thou art literate enough
to have written that which thou wrote - and to therefore be able to read this: Which gender does that
word, "God," designate?

- Ikoro Iyineleda.

TheIkoro:


Even if you don't have the common sense it takes to think, at least thou art literate enough
to have written that which thou wrote - and to therefore be able to read this: Which gender does that
word, "God," designate?

- Ikoro Iyineleda.

attacking the messenger instead of the message ehy, and thou art not even dealt justice to me question instead thou art asketh me bck

zyzxx:
"Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God's grace be with you all." (1 Timothy 6:20-21)

wat has god entrusted to you? And how is this discussion supposed to be godless