The Holiness of God in the Old Testament
Keywords:
God, Old Testament, HolinessAbstract
"Be holy, for 1, the Lord, your God, am holy." This command found in Leviticus is in many ways a summary of the religious experience of the Israelites. It speaks of an understanding of God, Yahweh as "holy", and suggests the possibility of human relationships with God. Moreover, such relationships are explained as participations in the very holiness of God Himself.
Quite naturally then, holiness is a key, pivotal concept or the religion of the Old Testament. Indeed, holiness is as vast, wide, and deep as the mystery of Yahweh Himself. Gradually this Hebrew understanding of holiness deepened and developed as the Israelites listened, reflected, and responded to God's call.
References
D. J. Haenel. Die Religion der Heiligkeit. Gutersich 1931.
H. Ringgred. The Prophetical Conception of Holiness. Upsala, 1948. p. 4.
R. Otto. The Idea of the Holy. Oxford, 1923. p. 12.
J. Muilenburg. "Holiness" in Interrpeter's Dictionary of the Bible. G. A. Buttrick, ed. Nashville : Abingdon Press, Vol. Il, p. 616.
T. Worden. "Be Holy as I am Holy." The Way. 3 (1963) p. 3.
I. Efros. "Holiness and Glory in the Bible," Jewish Quarterly Review. (1950) P. 363.
G. Von Rad. Old Testament Theology. London : SCM Press, 1975. vol. 1. p. 205.
Dhorme. La Religion des Hebreux nomades. 1937, p. 309
W. Eichrodt. Theology of the Old Testament. London : SCM Press Vol. Il, 276.
O. Eissfeldt. The Old Testament: an Introduction. Oxford. 1974, p. 233.
