Ontology
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
Ontology is defined as a branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature and relations of being, based on visible morphological characters. Biblical ontology is concerned with the nature of God, Jesus, Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, the universe, humanity before or after the fall, and the Bible itself.
It is impossible to do science, or anything for that matter, without presupposing some ontology. For example, theists and atheists hold to very different inherent ontologies. Whereas the former see the cosmos as an ordered construct of a divine being, the latter views the universe as pure chaos. Likewise, the evolutionist perceives humanity as nothing more than an animal, while the creationist regards humankind as created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). These ontological views provide an underlying assumption that governs all theories.
Contents |
Ontology of God
Views on the ontology of God:
- Deism: God as separate from the physical universe, and not interacting with it;
- Theistic dualism: God as separate from our physical universe, and interacting with it;
- Immanentism: God as inseparable from the universe itself;
- Corporealism: Jehovah as a corporeal being, head of the counsel of Elohim;
God is One God
The monotheistic religions hold to one sacred doctrine, God is one and there is only one God. During Biblical times, this view was in stark contrast to the polytheistic religions (many Gods) practiced by the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians.
The Bible very clearly and emphatically makes this point like in Deuteronomy 6:4 where is says Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one, or in Isaiah 44:6 where it says I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. The New Testament also echoes this central theme. 1 Corinthians 8:4 says we know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.
The covenant established between God and Israel is reliant upon the recognition by His people that God is the one and only God, and strong warnings were given in the Old Testament against making and worshipping idols - a practice which was common at the time even among the Israelites Leviticus 19:4. The importance of this law is illustrated by its being the first command of the Ten Commandments given to Moses. You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). It should be noted that the "other gods" warned against here are not gods at all, but substitutes for God (idols), or simply mythological.
God in Three Persons
The Trinity of God is central to Christianity.
The word "trinity" is from the Latin trinitas, meaning threeness. Neither that word nor any equivalent occurs in the Bible, but the doctrine is logically derived from many statements spread throughout the scripture.
The very first word used for God, at the beginning of Genesis, is אֱלֹהִ֑ים (Elohim), which is a plural word, literally "gods". At verse 26 and 27 of that first chapter, we read:
God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...God created man in his own image."
so the plurality and unity of God are both evident at the very beginning.
Ontology of Humanity
Views on human ontology and the mind:
- Materialism: Humans are material and only material organisms. What we experience as the "mind" is only a consequence of the chemical interactions in our bodies;
- Dualism: Humans are more than the sum of their physical parts. In addition to our physical properties, we bear a soul, distinct from our bodies;
The Image of God
As Adam is described in Genesis as being made in the image of God, an important subject in Biblical ontology is regarding the aspect of God that humans now possess. There are 2 basic definitions of the image of God.
- Spiritual image: Adam was created to reflect the spiritual nature of Elohim;
- Physical image: Adam was created to reflect the physical appearance of Elohim;
Spiritual image
This belief, by far the most widespread among theists, holds that Adam was created in God's spiritual image, to reflect his reason and personality and ability to communicate. However, it is not believed that Adam was created in God's physical image, because it is believed that God has no physical existence or appearance.
Physical image
This view, much less common than the spiritual view, provides that Adam was created in the physical image of Elohim. Arguments for this view include:
- The same words used for image (tselem), and likeness (d@muwth), are used to describe the sons of the patriarchs. (e.g. "And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth;" Genesis 5:3
- Elohim is plural, as is the phrase, "Let us make Man in our image," implying that the Elohim (plural, to include Jehovah Elohim and the Sons of God) decided to create man in their image;
- Jehovah Elohim (the "Lord of the gods") is described as physically walking through the garden. "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden." Genesis 3:8
- “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty ; Walk before Me, and be blameless;" -- Genesis 17:1
- "Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.” -- Genesis 18:1
Related Reference
- Six different ontological views of God
- God and Science by Earle Fox
- The Church of the Holy Trinity By Robert Doyle. Originally published in Briefing #121.
- Ontology and Biblical Theology A response to Carl Trueman’s “A Revolutionary Balancing Act” by Graeme Goldsworthy
- The Oneness of God online book by By David K. Bernard, J.D.
 Browse |
