Journal: Reformed Baptist Theological Review
Volume: RBTR 01:2 (Jul 2004)
Article: The Emotivity Of God
Author: Gregory G. Nichols

RBTR 1:2 (Jul 2004) p. 95

The Emotivity Of God

Gregory G. Nichols*

* Gregory G. Nichols is one of the pastors of Reformed Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, MI. Before relocating to Michigan, he taught Systematic Theology at Trinity Ministerial Academy, Montville, NJ.

Jesus teaches us that God is a spiritual being, the supreme Spirit (Jn. 4:24). Scripture teaches that all spiritual beings are endowed with three primary metaphysical capabilities: the faculties of mind, will, and affection. We must not think of these faculties as separate compartments, as though one part of a spirit thinks, another part wills, and yet another part feels. The whole spirit thinks, wills, and feels. Nor must we conceive of a spirit as thinking without willing and feeling, or as feeling without thinking and willing, or as willing without feeling and thinking. Rather, a spirit exercises each faculty simultaneously with the others, and in conjunction with the others. Still, the Bible distinguishes these various faculties. It employs distinct terminology for them, and presents them in distinct relations. Thus, when we distinguish them, we neither impose man-made categories on the Bible, nor import foreign concepts. Both Charles Hodge and John Gill confirm this perspective:

As power of some kind belongs to every substance, the power which belongs to spirit, to the substance itself, is that of thought, feeling, and volition. We are not more certain that we exist, than that we think, feel, and will. We know ourselves only as thus thinking, feeling, and willing, and we therefore are sure that these powers or faculties are the essential attributes of a spirit, and must belong to every spirit... As all this is involved in our consciousness of ourselves as spirit, it must all be true of God, or, God is of a lower order of being than man... It need hardly be remarked that the Scriptures everywhere represent God as possessing all the above-mentioned attributes of a spirit. On this foundation all religion rests; all intercourse with God, all worship, all prayer, all confidence in God as preserver, benefactor, and redeemer [emphasis added].1

But as God is defined a Spirit in Scripture, as has been observed, I shall endeavor to sort the perfections and attributes of God in agreement with

RBTR 1:2 (Jul 2004) p. 96

that...with respect to it [his nature] as active, and operative, the life of God, and his omnipotence: and with respect to the faculties, as a rational spirit, particularly the understanding, to which may belong his omniscience, and manifold wisdom; and the will, under which may be considered the acts of that, and the sovereign...