Old Testament revelation of God, from Scofield Reference Notes (1917)

Summary of the O.T. revelation of Deity: God is revealed in the O.T. (1) through His names, as follows: Class | English Form | Hebrew Equivalent

Primary: God (El, Elah, or Elohim) (Ge. 1:1 notes):; LORD (Jehovah) (Ge. 2,4, note); Lord (Adon or Adonai) (Ge. 15:2, note)

Compound (with El = God): Almighty God (El Shaddai) (Ge. 17:1, note); Most High, or most high God (El Elyon (Ge. 14:18, note); everlasting God (El Olam) (Ge. 21:33, note)

Compound with Jehovah = Lord) (LORD God (Jehovah Elohim) (Ge. 2:4, note); Lord GOD (Adonai Jehovah) (Ge. 15:2, note); LORD of hosts (Jehovah Sabaoth) (1 Samuel 1:3, note)

The trinity is suggested by the three times repeated groups of threes. This is not an arbitrary arrangement, but inheres in the O.T. itself.

This revelation of God by His name is invariably made in connection with some particular need of His people, and there can be no need of man to which these names do not answer as showing that man's true resource is in God. Even human failure and sin but evoke new and fuller revelations of the divine fulness.

(2) The O.T. Scriptures reveal the existence of a Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe and of man, the Source of all life and of all intelligence, who is to be worshipped and served by men and angels. This Supreme Being is One, but, in some sense not fully revealed in the O.T., is a unity in plurality. This is shown by the plural name, Elohim, by the use of the plural pronoun in the interrelation of deity as evidenced in Genesis 1:26; 3:22; Psalms 110:1; Isaiah 6:8. That this plurality is really a Trinity is intimated in the three primary names of Deity, and in the threefold ascription of the Seraphim in Isaiah 6:3 That the interrelation of Deity is that of Father and Son is directly asserted ; Psalms 2:7; Hebrews 1:5 and the Spirit is distinctly recognized in His personality, and to Him are ascribed all the divine attributes (e.g. ; Genesis 1:2; Numbers 11:25; 24:2; Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6,19; Judges 15:14; 2 Samuel 23:2; Job 26:13; 33:4; Psalms 106:33; 139:7; Isaiah 40:7; Isaiah 59:19; 63:10. (See Scofield “Malachi 2:15”) .

(3) The future incarnation is intimated in the theophanies, or appearances of God in human form (e.g. Genesis 18:1,13,17-22; 32:24-30 and distinctly predicted in the promises connected with redemption (e.g. Genesis 3:15 and with the Davidic Covenant: ; 9:6,7; Jeremiah 23:5,6.

The revelation of Deity in the N.T. so illuminates that of the O.T. that the latter is seen to be, from Genesis to Malachi, the foreshadowing of the coming incarnation of God in Jesus the Christ. In promise, covenant, type, and prophecy the O.T. points forward to Him.

(4) The revelation of God to man is one of authority and redemption. He requires righteousness from man, but saves the unrighteous through sacrifice; and in His redemptive dealings with man all the divine persons and attributes are brought into manifestation. The O.T. reveals the justice of God equally with His mercy, but never in opposition to His mercy. The flood, e.g., was an unspeakable mercy to unborn generations. From Genesis to Malachi He is revealed as the seeking God who has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and who heaps up before the sinner every possible motive to persuade to faith and obedience.

(5) In the experience of the O.T. men of faith their God inspires reverence but never slavish fear; and they exhaust the resources of language to express their love and adoration in view of His loving-kindness and tender mercy. This adoring love of His saints is the triumphant answer to those who pretend to find the O.T. revelation of God cruel and repellent. It is in harmony, not contrast, with the N.T. revelation of God in Christ.

(6) Those passages which attribute to God bodily parts and human emotions (e.g. Exodus 33:11,20; Deuteronomy 29:20; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Genesis 6:6,7; Jeremiah 15:6) are metaphorical and mean that in the infinite being of God exists that which answers to these things--eyes, a hand, feet, etc.; and the jealousy and anger attributed to Him are the emotions of perfect Love in view of the havoc of sin.

(7) In the O.T. revelation there is a true sense in which, wholly apart from sin or infirmity, God is like His creature man Genesis 1:27 and the supreme and perfect revelation of God, toward which the O.T. points, is a revelation in and through a perfect Man.

Genesis 1:26

And God said, Let us make man in , after our likeness: and let them have over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know : and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Psalms 110:1

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my , until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Isaiah 6:8

Also I heard the , saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Isaiah 6:3

And one cried unto another, and said, , is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Psalms 2:7

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I thee.

Hebrews 1:5

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a , and he shall be to me a ?

Genesis 1:2

And the earth was without , and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the moved upon the face of the waters.

Numbers 11:25

And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they , and did not cease.

Numbers 24:2

And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the came upon him.

Judges 3:10

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

Judges 6:34

But the Spirit of the LORD came upon , and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

Judges 11:29

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon , and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

Judges 13:25

And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Judges 14:6, 19

6 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

19 And the of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.

Judges 15:14

And when he came unto Lehi, the shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.

2 Samuel 23:2

The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his was in my tongue.

Job 26:13

By his spirit he hath garnished the ; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

Job 33:4

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the of the Almighty hath given me life.

Psalms 106:33

Because they his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

Psalms 139:7

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy ?

Isaiah 40:7

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the is grass.

Isaiah 59:19

So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the . When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

Isaiah 63:10

But they , and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

Genesis 18:1, 13, 17-22

1 And the appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah , saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from that thing which I do;

18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do ; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but stood yet before the LORD.

Genesis 32:24-30

24 And was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

25 And when he saw that he not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou me.

27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, .

28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but : for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he him there.

30 And Jacob called the name of the place : for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Genesis 3:15

And I will put between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Jeremiah 23:5-6

5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a , and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, .

Exodus 33:11, 20

11 And the LORD spake unto Moses , as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and .

Deuteronomy 29:20

The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall his name from under heaven.

2 Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Genesis 6:6-7

6 And it the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the LORD said, I will man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Jeremiah 15:6

Thou hast me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; created he them.

Old Testament revelation of God, from Scofield Reference Notes (1917)

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