The omnibenevolence of God is a key doctrine in Christianity that speaks to the perfect goodness and love of God towards His creation. To say God is omnibenevolent means that He is entirely or unlimitedly benevolent, loving, and good. This doctrine is rooted in a number of biblical truths about the nature and character of God.
First and foremost, the Bible declares that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). This foundational truth about God’s essence means that His core nature is one of perfect, sacrificial, unconditional love towards human beings and, more broadly, towards all of His creation. He does not just possess love, He actually is love. Everything God does flows out of His loving nature.
God’s benevolence towards humanity is also seen in that He created us in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). All human beings, therefore, have inherent value, dignity, and worth because they reflect and represent God in a unique way. We are the pinnacle of God’s creation, made to know Him and receive His benevolent care and provision.
Furthermore, the Bible presents God as a loving Father who cares deeply for His children (Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13). God relates to human beings with the intimacy of a perfect Heavenly Father. He attends to our needs, comes to our aid, corrects us, comforts us, and bountifully provides for us out of His innate love.
Perhaps the greatest exhibit of God’s omnibenevolence is the Gospel message itself. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God showed His love for sinful, flawed humanity by sending His Son Jesus into the world to die for our sins and redeem us. The incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ represent the ultimate demonstration of God’s unlimited goodness.
God also displays His benevolence by working all things together for the good of His children (Romans 8:28) and by being patient and compassionate towards sinners (Psalm 86:5; 2 Peter 3:9). Even when His holiness requires justice against sin, God’s goodness leads Him towards mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
Simply put, from beginning to end, the biblical narrative reveals a God who desires the flourishing of His creation and continuously acts to bless humanity because He is intrinsically good, loving, and benevolent.
Common Questions
If God is omnibenevolent, why is there evil and suffering in the world?
This is a challenging question that has troubled thinkers for centuries. First, it is important to note that God’s omni-benevolence does not mean that He eliminates human free will or prevents all suffering from occurring. Rather, His goodness motivates Him to ultimately redeem suffering and evil through His sovereign power and purposes.
Though God’s motives are often past finding out, we do know that He can use suffering to draw people to Himself (Psalm 119:71), develop Christlike character (Romans 5:3-5), and equip believers for ministry (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Most importantly, in the person of Jesus Christ, God entered into human pain and suffering in order to overcome evil.
So while evil and suffering pose difficult questions, the cross and resurrection point to God’s ability to bring redemptive good out of terrible evils. They offer hope that the omnibenevolent God will one day eliminate all suffering and judge evil.
What does it mean that “God is love”?
“God is love” (1 John 4:8) means that God’s essential being is defined by perfect, sacrificial, others-centered love. Love originates from God’s own triune nature as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live in eternal loving relationship. To say love defines God indicates He did not have to learn or be taught how to love. Rather, He is the originating source of all true love.
God’s love is not based on superficial charm or fleeting emotion, but rather is an unchanging expression of His essence which is poured out on undeserving people. His love is not just one of His many attributes, but the underlying motivation for all of His actions towards humanity.
How can God be perfectly good and allow His wrath/judgment as described in the Old Testament?
God’s wrath in the Old Testament can seem at odds with His goodness. However, God’s anger always arises from His holy nature. Wrath is the right and loving response towards unrepentant evil, rebellion, and sin.
Though harsh at times, God’s judgment in the Old Testament aimed to purify Israel and stop the spread of wickedness. God takes no pleasure in unleashing wrath (Ezekiel 33:11), yet His justice demands He punish impenitent sin. Were He not good, He would not care about injustice.
Importantly, God’s mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13) and His anger is temporary while His love endures forever (Psalm 30:5). Jesus bore God’s wrath on our behalf at the cross, revealing God’s goodness even in judgment.
How can a loving God send people to hell?
Hell poses an emotional struggle for many. However, God’s perfect love and justice require that He separate unrepentant sinners from His holy presence. He desires all people experience salvation (2 Peter 3:9), yet He grants humans freewill which allows our choices to have consequences (Romans 6:23).
Hell is chosen when people reject God’s love and saving grace through Jesus (John 3:18). Without Christ’s sacrifice to atone for sin, all that remains is for people to pay for their own sin. So in one sense, God reluctantly honors the choice of those who reject His mercy and live apart from Him.
However, Scripture affirms that judgment is God’s “strange work” (Isaiah 28:21) that only occurs after patient pleading. God’s innate love motivates Him to warn of hell and offer salvation to all.
What the Bible Says About God’s Omnibenevolence
Old Testament
The Old Testament depicts God’s benevolence in His mercy and longsuffering towards Israel. After their idolatry regarding the golden calf, God relents from destroying them stating, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6). Despite their sin, God’s love moved Him to spare and restore them.
God also demonstrated benevolence by promising to abundantly bless His people if they obeyed Him. In Leviticus 26:3-13, God affirms He will bless Israel with prosperity, victory, and His presence dwelling among them if they walked in His ways. This showed God’s goodness in desiring their well-being.
Likewise, Psalm 145 depicts God’s compassion, grace, patience, and care. “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made…The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:9, 18). Even in wrath, He tempers justice with kindness (Habakkuk 3:2).
New Testament
The ultimate display of God’s benevolence is seen in Jesus Christ. By taking on human flesh and sacrificing Himself at the cross, Jesus perfectly revealed God’s love. “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world…” (1 John 4:9). In Christ, God took humanity’s place to offer forgiveness.
Jesus affirmed that He came to serve, to seek and save the lost, to lay down His life for His sheep, and to give life abundantly (Mark 10:45, Luke 19:10, John 10:10-11). God’s good purposes were fulfilled in Jesus’ life and ministry as He healed, fed crowds, and welcomed outcasts.
Furthermore, Scripture highlights God’s kindness and mercy in saving sinners (Titus 3:4-5), adopting us as His children (1 John 3:1), bearing with the weak (Romans 15:1), supplying our needs (2 Peter 1:3), and working all things for good (Romans 8:28). Even painful discipline stems from His love (Hebrews 12:5-11).
Overall, the New Testament underscored that the life and sacrifice of Jesus supremely manifested God’s unfathomable love and essential benevolence.
Practical Implications
The doctrine of God’s omnibenevolence has many practical ramifications for the Christian life when properly understood and applied.
It inspires worship. Realizing that God loves us sacrificially should humble us and spark great thanksgiving and praise towards Him. His goodness draws us into deeper relationship.
It brings security. God’s inexhaustible benevolence guarantees He will continue loving and caring for His children. He who “did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
It motivates ethics. Since we are the recipients of God’s generous love and grace, we are called to reflect His character by doing good works and loving others selflessly (Ephesians 5:1-2). Kindness should mark God’s people.
It fosters evangelism. God patiently delays judgment so more can come to salvation (2 Peter 3:9). Because God loves the whole world and wants none to perish, we must participate in His redemptive mission.
It brings comfort. No matter the circumstance, we can rely on God’s perfect Fatherly love to see us through. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
God’s omnibenevolence is not just an abstract concept but has real implications for all of life. We must respond accordingly with worship, obedience, gospel mission, and grateful hearts.
Conclusion
The omnibenevolence of God means He is completely good, loving, and generous towards His creation. This essential attribute flows from His Trinitarian nature and is the motivation for all His actions. God’s goodness is seen supremely in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
While questions remain about how God’s unconditional love coexists with the presence of evil and judgment, the cross remains God’s ultimate answer. There Christ bore the penalty for sin so that mercy might triumph over judgment for all who believe.
As recipients of God’s benevolence, Christians are called to become more Christlike by extending grace and generosity to others. We can take comfort knowing our Heavenly Father’s love will see us through every circumstance. His omnibenevolence inspires our worship and spurs us on in faith and ministry.