Omnibenevolent

• Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 


  1 John 4:8
• Swinburne believed that God was like a loving parent. May involve punishing or rewarding their creation
• And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 


  1 Corinthian 13: 13 - importance of love for Christians
• Omni - benevolence - doesn't actually mean all loving- it means unlimited good.
• Love:

  • love as an attribute is closely connected to ideas about God's goodness and righteousness
  • goodness of God described by God in the Bible is demonstrated as love for the people - differing from Platos opinion of the Form of Good
  • Love of God appears to be interactive - differing from aristotles prime mover
• Hosea - prophet that lived in the 8th Century BC and was given the uneviable task of forming a marriage that was to work as a symbol of God's love in Israel. Hosea married a known adulterous (Gomer) to show that Israel betrayed God, but Hosea took her back just like God took Israel back
• Old Testament and love:

  • strong theme of love throughout - should have love for eachother and God
  • Taken for granted that God should be loved and obeyed - he is concerned for our well being
  • When they were led from slavery in Egypt - they're reminded of God's love before they are given the 10 commandments
• When they were led from slavery in Egypt - they're reminded of God's love before they are given the 10 commandments. Exodus 19: 4-6

  You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
• New Testament and Love:

  • Christian love is Agape love
  • First letter of John - writer summarises the Christian understanding of the love of God, God is the source of love
• Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.


  1 John 4: 7-9 (God is love)
• Creation as good:

  • everything made by God has a purpose
  • nothing exists by change
  • nothing is inferior
  • God described creation in Genesis as "very good"
• What do people mean when they say, "I am not afraid of God because I know He is good." Have they ever been to a dentist?

  CS Lewis - A Grief Observed - God is good even if he scares us
• Love and Evil:

  • existence of suffering in the world appear to some (Hume and Mill) to contradict a loving God - why would he allow disasters outside our control
  • all encounter hardship
  • Aquinas - we need to remember that when we speak of the love of God - talking of a love outside our opinions
• He is good, his love endures for ever


  Chronicles 7:3 - love
• In the hope of eternal life which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time


  Titus 1:2 - omnipotence