Google says nature is ‘the basic or inherent features, character, or qualities of something’. What do the scriptures say about ‘nature’? I found that in the scriptures the noun ‘nature’ is clearly associated with creation. The nature of a living being denotes its created ontology. The normal and everyday events and God’s intended purpose.
In this short study I review what the scriptures say about ‘nature’.
Contents
Distinguishes the creational order of beings (Acts 14.15; Gal 4.8; Rom 1.20; Heb 1.3; Jas 5.17)
What is nature? Well, when we normally think about nature we think of the world around us. Creation. This idea of nature is quite apparent in the NT. Paul says in Acts;
15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like NATURE with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. (Acts 14.15)
Paul compares human nature (his and his audiences) with God’s nature. This is a straight Creator – Creation distinction.
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by NATURE are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (Gal 4.8)
Paul says the Judaizers who are trying to win over the Galatians are not gods. They are only men. Perhaps they were trying to make themselves to be bigger than they were. Nonetheless, the gospel Paul preaches is not from man, it is from God (Gal 1.11-12).
Paul in Romans says;
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine NATURE, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Rom 1.20)
Paul refers to God’s divine nature and power which should be evident from his creation.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his NATURE, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Heb 1.3)
Jesus has the exact imprint of God’s nature. The author is virtually saying God and Jesus have the same nature and affirming the deity of Christ.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a NATURE like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. (Jas 5.17)
James’ audience might be inclined to think Elijah was a more elevated being than them because God listened to his prayers. James corrects this, they have the same nature. So he encourages his audience to pray.
Normal and everyday events in God’s creation (Num 19.16; Dt 14.21)
16 Whoever in the open field touches someone who was killed with a sword or who died NATURALLY, or touches a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. (Num 19.16)
21 “You shall not eat anything that has died NATURALLY. You may give it to the sojourner who is within your towns, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. (Dt 14.21)
Both passages use nature to refer to the normal worldly way of things. In the first case probably death through old age. In the second, he refers animals which have been killed in the wild or died of old age or have suicided.
God’s intended purpose and behaviour in His creation (Rom 1.26, 27; 1 Cor 11.14; Rom 2.14)
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged NATURAL relations for those that are contrary to NATURE; 27 and the men likewise gave up NATURAL relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Rom 1.26, 27)
Paul condemns same sex sexual intercourse. He says it is contrary to nature. That is the way God created sex between humans.
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not NATURE itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. (1 Cor 11.14)
I think men with long hair in the first century were assumed to be homosexuals. Paul uses a creational argument to state men should cut their hair short and women should cover their heads.
13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by NATURE do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. (Rom 2.14)
Paul says Gentiles have a moral centre which sometimes enables them to do things which are good and right. They don’t need the law of Moses to do this.
Highlights this world’s limitation and weakness (Rom 6.19; 1 Cor 2.14; 15.44, 46)
In these cases what is ‘natural’ is limited in some sense.
14 The NATURAL person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2.14)
Here Paul distinguishes between natural people and spiritual people. The natural people are those of this world, and they do not understand spiritual things. The spiritual people, by the Spirit within them are able to understand the mind of the LORD.
19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your NATURAL limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. (Rom 6.19)
Paul speaks about the limitations of what they can know and understand. Interestingly he himself implies by the statement he understands more. He lowers himself to speak in ‘human terms’ because of their ‘natural limitations’. Presumably there are levels of understanding. Simply human and natural limitations can be exceeded in some way. Presumably through God’s grace and work.
42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a NATURAL body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a NATURAL body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”;5 the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the NATURAL, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1 Cor 15.44, 46)
Paul is describing our perishable, weak and decaying bodies as natural bodies. He does this to compare them with the imperishable, strong and eternal bodies God’s people will receive when they are raised from the dead. He calls these bodies ‘spiritual bodies’.
Distinguishes God’s people with others (Rom 11.21, 24; Eph 2.3; 2 Pet 1.4)
19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the NATURAL branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by NATURE a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to NATURE, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the NATURAL branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (Rom 11.21,24)
Nature is used here to distinguish the Jews (God’s people) and the Gentiles. The olive tree represents the people of God. The Jews are the ‘natural’ branches. Those that are the same in essence as the whole tree. However they were disobedient, and like limbs of a tree they can be cut off.
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by NATURE children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2.3)
All unbelievers are by nature children of wrath. They keep on sinning. Paul says the Ephesians were once ‘by nature children of wrath’, but then ‘God being rich in mercy, made them alive in Christ. So believers are no longer by nature, children of wrath. They are saved from their death in sin by grace, now alive in Christ.
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine NATURE, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Pet 1.4)
Peter encourages his audience to godly living. God’s power is enabling them to live in better ways. The contexts suggest he has morality and ethics in mind when he speaks about divine nature. (Note; he doesn’t say ‘God’s nature’).
He says God’s promises include ‘becoming partakers of the divine nature’ and they have escaped from the corruption in the world resulting from sinful desire. Believers are distinct from this world, having escaped from its corruption, but they still have some way to go before they attain to the godliness typical of divine nature.
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