Portraits of God: A Biblical Theology of Holiness

by Allan Coppedge

What is God like?Answering this is the great quest of human existence. Because God is so different from us, we struggle to describe him. While doctrinal statements about God certainly have their place in Christian understanding, the Bible more often uses God's actions and roles to help us know him better. Indeed, some of the most helpful insights in Scripture arise when God is compared to something a rock, an eagle or a tower. And many "human" metaphors--metaphors taken from the world of actions and relationships--bring us even closer to understanding of God.In Portraits of God, Allan Coppedge suggests we look carefully at God as our Father, Redeemer, King, Judge, Priest and Creator. These portraits taken together give us an understaning of the Holy One for which no single category is adequate. These images work their way through the whole of Scripture. They are the doorway allowing us into the mysteries of God's very being.In Portraits of God, Coppedge offers a comprehensive survey, picturing a God who wants to be known personally and who has profoundly communicated himself. Coppedge finds the inexhaustible nature of God to be one of holiness reflected in and best described by the language of diverse roles. Approaching God in this way transforms us, as churches and individuals, to reflect God's own holy character. This is a book for students, pastors and churchgoers alike. Anyone desiring to know more deeply and wholly the Christian God revealed in the Bible will find in Portraits of God a treasure of scholarship and truth.

432 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[SusanwithaGoodBook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant! This is a thorough (and I DO mean thorough) study of the holiness of God as revealed through eight basic roles described in scripture: Transcendent Creator, Sovereign King, Personal Revealer, Priest, Righteous Judge, Loving Father, Powerful Redeemer, Good Shepherd.

Each role is examined through the scriptures (both OT and NT) in great detail - looking at each as God in Unity, as Father, Son, and Spirit, and finally, considering the implications of each for us as individuals and as the church.

The organization and overwhelming attention to detail in this text appealed to my desire for order in all things. It took me a couple of months to slowly make my way through this a little at a time, but it was definitely time well spent. This is not a short daily devotional or a light-weight read. This is much deeper theologically and takes some effort and attention but it was worth the investment. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to know and understand God through scripture. I've never read anything better on the topic other than the Word itself. It turns you to the Word, not away from it, so although it is man-written and therefore must be used with caution, I can still recommend it as a companion to your study of Scripture.

[Greg Coates · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too dry and methodical for my taste. Tends to be a long string of Scripture references on various topics with little worthwhile commentary or original thinking in between. It is still worth skimming for ideas on a sermon series (what I'm using it for).

[Nathan Smith]

this is a great accounting of the different portraits of metaphors of God in Scripture that allows the progression of each portrait to be understood from front to back of the Bible.