Most
Christians take for granted that the creator of the universe and the God of
Israel are one and the same being. The one who made the heavens and the earth
is the one who called Abraham. The one who brought
But there is a subtle difference of approaching this equation that can have far
reaching consequences. The question can be put this way: Is the Creator of the
Universe the God of Israel, or is the God of Israel the Creator of the
Universe? In other words, which is given priority: the universality of the
divine creator or the particularity of the divine covenant? Let's take a look
at each view in turn.
The Creator of the Universe is the God of
The point here is that we all know something about the
creator of the universe. There is a general human common ground here.
Christians come along and say, "Hey, that thing you call 'God,' or 'The
Ultimate,' or 'The Supreme Being' happens to be the God who linked himself up
with the history of
The advantage to this way of speaking is that the universal scope of God's
reign is emphasized. Also, a point of contact is established between people's
assumptions about divinity and their fulfillment in Scriptural revelation. The
disadvantage is that the particular history of
The God of Israel is the Creator of the Universe
The point here is that if there is a specific revelation of God we should start
there, before moving on to the larger implications of who God is in relation to
the world. God has chosen to focus his dealings with creation and humanity on
the one little nation of
The advantage to this way of thinking is that the particular identity of God is
emphasized. Thus one is not caught in the forecourt of philosophical questions
of whether God exists or what God is like, but rather turns directly to who
God is. Also, this view can serve to support claims about the uniqueness of
Jesus the Jew. The disadvantage of this approach is that one is always tangled
up in questions of the scope of mercy outside the history of covenant (e.g.,
"what about the man on the desert
What do you think?
Is the Creator of the Universe the God of
Or is the God of Israel the Creator of the Universe?
How do you decide?
In what ways does this distinction play itself out practically?
For instance, do you communicate the Gospel differently in each case?Is there something missing
from this discussion?
Is there a way to use both of these approaches?
At 6:43 AM, November 17, 2005, Dakotaranger
said...
The God of Israel is the Creator of the Universe. The fact that Christ focused so much on the individual
relationship.
The Samaratan Woman, Zachecios, and Paul for examples. Then the whole
thing about God numbering the hairs on our heads and knowing about the sparrows
in the field.
While God obviously is big enough to create everything with
one word. His desire that all be saved is amazing.
that's my Buck fifty
At 2:38 PM, November 17, 2005, Anonymous said...
I think both.
I like to always think both when I can. Sorry Bud Bence
who always wants us to fall off the log.
But I think I should qualify my both by actually saying "It depends."
I think to those of us already swept up into the particularity of God's story
in the world it must be that the God of Istrael is
the Creator of the Universe. For us that is what is true. The particularity of
who God is finds itself in the pages of history with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
etc.
But, those who have never been swept up into the
history of God's story in the world yet (as we know it to be...) MUST find the
Creator of the Universe. They may never find the God of Israel until that surprising
day when they are invited to rest and they say "Lord?"
In other words, to me as I write off the cuff with whatever seems best at the
moment, the guy on the desert island and the unreached
tribal warrior all find God as the universal creator. Eternity has been written
in their hearts, and they might act as a law to themselves.
But to those who have turned the pages of scripture, heard the scandalous story
of the cross, and encountered this "good news" that smells like death
at first, they MUST find the God of
At least...that's how I think right now.
GREAT QUESTION. LOVE IT!
If that's true...big missiological implications I think. Find the "divine
markers" of God in the universal first, then
bring in the particular.
Hmm....just had another thought though. What if the only reason the emphasis is
on the particular for those who know is that they already know. They have
already moved through the season of emphasis on the universal. Maybe we ALWAYS
start with the universal (like the canon) and emphasize the particular knowing
we will end with the universal again someday (like the canon)
I think I wrote too much already. :)
Dave Ward
At 3:46 PM, November 17, 2005, Just .
Jay said...
well, the Bible seems to
think the place to start is God the Creator of the Universe. Am I wrong? The
Canon doesn't start with the God of
I think Creator is the greater emphasis, however they CANNOT be separated.
It is a tricky question, like: "which of the Trinity is the most
important?"
How can you answer it without being right and wrong simultaneously? :) Kind of
like the Trinity can;t be
separated, neither can Creator and God of Israel. God IS
love, not just loving. God IS truth, not just
truthful. God IS the Creator and the God of
that's the best I can do (silly lay-people)
At 9:05 AM, November 18, 2005, David Drury said...
Excellent question and framing of
the debate. These "discusison
starters" are so good... I've never really thought of this question so
it's helping me gain a "fuller" theology, if not a tighter one.
On this particular question I would lean to the particularist
side (no pun intended). However, I wonder if there is a third or even a fourth
option that is more "descriptive" of "what actually
happens" in one's theology.
#3: We start by believing in the Creator God and then we move to believe in the
God of Israel. This is a nuance on the prior, because it's saying: "The
Creator of the Universe was the God of Israel All Along." I think this
"transition" has been the fundamental "modern apologetics"
problem, as you implied in your post. Modern apologetics has started often with
proofs of the Creator God's existence and then has struggled with trying to
connect those dots with the God of Israel and special revelation of Scripture
and Jesus.
#4 Others start believing in the God of Israel in a
more traditional sense (it "rubs off on them" because they grow up in
the church.) Over time they go through a transition in which they move beyond
believing in the God if
These categories aren't really "within" your binary list... but are
indeed another list that thinks of the "process" of belief rather
than the mechanics. But that's why the world needs both theologians and
pastors. :-)
At 9:25 AM, November 18, 2005, Amanda said...
I wanna know what YOU
think, John. You got to ask the question and pawn it off on us...no fair. ;)
Do you lean to one side or the other?
Amanda
At 2:47 PM, November 18, 2005, millinerd
said...
I'm with Amanda.
Is there some sort of Thomistic resolution to these
disputations?
At 3:34 PM, November 18, 2005, Anonymous said...
Who are we to separate who God is in one particular
over another? Just as Jesus was fully God and fully man. God is fully
the Creator of the Universe and fully the God of Israel. I guess I'm in
line with Dave Ward in my thinking.
Happy belated birthday btw John!!
Later,
Corey Rockey
At 5:23 PM, November 18, 2005, Brian Russell said...
I would argue for the position that the Creator of
the Universe is the God of Israel for the following reasons:
1)As Just Jay suggests, the Bible begins with Creation;
2) I would also prefer this for missiological reasons. Emphasizing the
universality of God reminds us of God's ultimate mission -- redemption not
merely of
Great discussion!
At 5:19 PM, November 19, 2005, Keith.Drury
said...
People should get graduate credit for reading your blog..and bonus points for reading
the fine comments (except this one)
At 5:04 PM, November 21, 2005, Summers
said...
As usual, great theological questions for us to
ponder, however, I do not think that one of two are wrong, however, missiologically I believe that “the God of Israel is the
Creator”, poses a greater problem when trying to communicate who God is and all
that He encompasses. As you stated, this view ‘is’ harder to bridge across
cultural boundaries. When facing issues of Social Justice, Religions within
Western and Eastern Religions societies, along with cultural norms and
practices, missiologically, “the Creator of the
Universe is the God of Israel”, provides avenues to insert their Story into the
One that Created the Universe, while expressing His Love and Power through His
People (
Side Note: I agree with your dad…all who read your posts should receive some
type of graduate credit :) …have a restful thanksgiving!
-J-
At 8:52 PM, November 23, 2005, JohnLDrury
said...
Great discussion everyone! It seems that there is a
thematic thread running through this discussion that the universal and
particular relate like an hour glass: we move from universal through particular
back to universal again. I think this may be the image that recognizes the
emphases of both statements as well as takes into account most of the concerned
voiced here. Thanks for a great discussion -- very stimulating.
PS - Mandy asked for my answer, and I would contend that for the sake of
Christ's uniqueness I would lean towards emphasizing the God of Israel as the identifer of Jesus, though certainly without every losing
the universal aspect. The missiological problematic should be dealt with in
terms of the particular God to whom we witness, and in our missionary zeal we
should not be tempted to move upstream to adjust the doctrine of God in light
of our ministry. Certainly this God has called us to this ministry, so they
must go together even if it takes a little work to think it through.