Is God Male?

[HAZARD]

Some recent threads inspired me this morning to pose the question, "Is God male?" Please answer the poll and include a reply to the thread. In your reply begin with how you answered, then explain in as many words as you want why you answered that way, and use Scripture to support of your answer. Then be prepared to giv an answer to others who respond to you.

Have fun!

God definately is male.

There are over twenty thousand references about God in the Bible stating in almost infinate detail what God is like, what God can and cannot do, and what God has done and yet plans to do, Men have changed and spiritualized so many statements about God in Scripture that they have practicly nullified the true meaning of the Bible revelation about God. We have failed to get the true, sane, and simple knowledge of God in past centuries by that method of interpretation.

We should believe what God says about Himself in the same literal sense in which we understand the same kind of language when it is used of anyone else? We should believe that God means what He says about Himself. He knows more about Himself than any man, trying to interpret what God says about Himself? It is far easier to believe what God does say about Himself than to believe what He does not say. If God did not mean what He said about Himself, why would He say such things? We have all been taught that God cannot be comprehended, and all the books written by men explaining God make Him vague, and beyond the reach of all sane men. These books are good in explaining away what the Bible says of God, and of what God says about Himself.

These two words alone, stated many times by Jesus Christ HIMSELF, prove the gender of God, and also of Jesus Christ. Jesus calls God the Father, Father. And, God the Father calls Jesus His Son. A Father is one who has "begotten" or brought forth into existence a child. A Son is the one who is begotten by a Father. It requires two separate persons to be a Father and a Son. They could in no sense be one person, but they could be one in unity, as any two persons can be.

[apothanein kerdos]

Again, I would caution people about a few things concerning this topic:

1) Male and female refer to human anatomy and biological make up. Though it also stands true for most of biology, there are certain asexual biological creatures in this world. The point I am making, however, is that "male and female" is a construct of a created being, not necessarily of an infinite being.

2) God is not only different ontologically, He is outside of our metaphysical realm - all this means is that God is not human and resides in a realm higher than humans. Thus, He is not a creature. This would most likely mean He has no gender at all.

3) Just because God has no gender does not mean we can call Him "she." Though the "feminine" side is alluded to a few times in scripture, male pronouns are still used. The reason is this is simply how God, and those that follow Him, have always referred to Him. This shows His authority and headship over creation.

4) Do not make the mistake of saying we can know nothing about God. If this were the case, then the Bible is deceptive because it makes quite a few truth claims about God and how He acts. In fact, saying we know nothing about God is still a positive statement of our knowledge about God - to say we cannot know Him one must say He is too big for us to know...thus a truth statement is being made about God, meaning the original statement is self-contradictory, rendering it false.

[Guest Jude 1:3]

Angels are thought to be male, but Zechariah 5:9 demonstrates there are some Angels which are female. Now, if there are both male and female Angels, why must we assume God is not male? When God created male and female, He saw that it was good; so why do we suppose God being male would somehow make Him less holy? The Bible says God is a He. I, for one, believe it!

[OopsMartin]

Angels are thought to be male, but Zechariah 5:9 demonstrates there are some Angels which are female. Now, if there are both male and female Angels, why must we assume God is not male? When God created male and female, He saw that it was good; so why do we suppose God being male would somehow make Him less holy? The Bible says God is a He. I, for one, believe it!

Pronouns do not designate gender. The pronoun "he" is used both for when a gender is already disignated and for when there is no gender designated. When there is no gender designated or gender is unknown, using "he" shows personhood and personality. Also, many cultures use various pronouns for all sorts of things that have no gender at all.

And then there is the question, "why must we assume God is male when there is no direction in Scripture to do so. Male and female are things that God created. Even plants and bugs have gender created by God, although not all have only male and female. It's an earthly thing. God is heavenly. He has no use for Gender.

As for angels being male or female, it is likely that their appearance is so for our sakes, not for theirs.

[Floatingaxe]

Not male...but masculine, yes.

[HAZARD]

Again, I would caution people about a few things concerning this topic:

1) Male and female refer to human anatomy and biological make up. Though it also stands true for most of biology, there are certain asexual biological creatures in this world. The point I am making, however, is that "male and female" is a construct of a created being, not necessarily of an infinite being.

2) God is not only different ontologically, He is outside of our metaphysical realm - all this means is that God is not human and resides in a realm higher than humans. Thus, He is not a creature. This would most likely mean He has no gender at all.

3) Just because God has no gender does not mean we can call Him "she." Though the "feminine" side is alluded to a few times in scripture, male pronouns are still used. The reason is this is simply how God, and those that follow Him, have always referred to Him. This shows His authority and headship over creation.

4) Do not make the mistake of saying we can know nothing about God. If this were the case, then the Bible is deceptive because it makes quite a few truth claims about God and how He acts. In fact, saying we know nothing about God is still a positive statement of our knowledge about God - to say we cannot know Him one must say He is too big for us to know...thus a truth statement is being made about God, meaning the original statement is self-contradictory, rendering it false.

God has a spirit body and He lives in Heaven, sits on His throne with Jesus sitting at His right hand (Mark 16:19; Luke 22:69).

God personally dwells in Heaven. When Jesus was on Earth He addressed His Father and referred to Him as being in Heaven. Eighteen times Jesus said, "Father which is in Heaven" (Matt. 5:16, 45; 48; 6:1, 9; 7:11, 21, etc.)

Jesus knew what He was saying when He addressed the Father as being in Heaven. How could Jesus who was on Earth in His physical body be the Father or an esense of the Father who in His Spirit body, was in Heaven the entire time Jesus, His Son was on the Earth?

Bible writers not only stated that God has a personal body, but they also testified that they have seen it with their own eyes. Abraham made a dinner for God and two angels and they actually ate food with him (Gen. 18). Jacob had a physical wrestling match with God all night (Gen. 32:24-30). Moses talked with God face to face (Exodus 33:11-23). Seventy elders of Israel had a banquet with God in Sinai (Exodus 24:9-11).

Joshua and all Israel saw God with a sword in His hand (Josh. 5:13-15).

Jesus always prayed to the Father and addressed Him as a separate person from Himself (Matt. 11:25; 26:39, 42-46; Luke 10:21; 22:42; 23:34; John 11:41; 12:28; 17:1-25). No where in Scripture do we read of the Father praying to anyone, but the Son constantly prays to someone else outside of Himself.

The Father was OUTSIDE the body of Jesus protecting Him, so He could not be incarnated in Jesus, or be God inside of Jesus as some teach (Matt. 2:12-23; 3:16-17; 17:5; Luke 22:39-46; John 12:27-30). They could never be one and the same. They are separate beings and they are "one" in unity in all things for the good of all.

Father, (male), Son, (male). These two words alone, stated many times by Jesus Christ HIMSELF, prove the gender of God, and also of Jesus Christ. Jesus calls God the Father, Father. And, God the Father calls Jesus His Son. A Father is one who has "begotten" or brought forth into existence a child. A Son is the one who is begotten by a Father. It requires two separate persons to be a Father and a Son. They could in no sense be one person, but they could be one in unity, as any two persons can be.

[Guest Jude 1:3]

Pronouns do not designate gender. The pronoun "he" is used both for when a gender is already disignated and for when there is no gender designated. When there is no gender designated or gender is unknown, using "he" shows personhood and personality. Also, many cultures use various pronouns for all sorts of things that have no gender at all.

I understand, but in this case I would have to disagree.

I think the Bible clearly emphasizes God's masculinity.

It's an earthly thing. God is heavenly. He has no use for Gender.

At the second coming, you and I will be raised in body and perfected, and shall inhabit a paradisaical earth for ever with Christ. Do you suppose we will lose our gender identity in the Resurrection?

As for angels being male or female, it is likely that their appearance is so for our sakes, not for theirs.

This is not compatible with the events of Genesis chapter six. Male angelic beings engaged in sexual relations with mortal women, and these women gave birth to hybrid children, which became Giants. Clearly these angelic beings possess some kind of genetic identity.