Abstract
In Christian theology, the concept of holiness is foundational, reflecting the nature of God and serving as a standard for Christian ethics. Traditionally, many theologians have understood holiness in terms of separateness, emphasizing God’s transcendence and distinction from creation. However, defining holiness merely as separateness can inadvertently diminish the doctrine of God’s immanence, a core aspect of His relational engagement with creation. This article argues for an alternative definition of holiness as qualitative otherness, a term that captures God’s uniqueness in essence and moral perfection without negating His presence within creation. By exploring biblical and theological support, this study demonstrates that “qualitative otherness” is a more comprehensive and theologically sound framework that preserves both the transcendence and immanence of God.
Introduction
Holiness is a central attribute of God, underscoring His distinctiveness and purity. Holiness (from the Hebrew qadosh and Greek hagios) is often understood to mean “set apart” or “separate.” While this definition emphasizes God’s transcendence, it risks limiting our understanding of His relational proximity to creation. An alternative term, qualitative otherness, better reflects God’s unique ontology and moral perfection, capturing both His distinctiveness and His engagement with creation. This article explores the implications of defining holiness as qualitative otherness, arguing that it provides a richer theological framework that integrates God’s transcendence with His immanence.
Holiness as “Separateness”: An Incomplete Definition
The term holiness is frequently associated with the idea of separateness. In biblical contexts, God’s holiness sets Him apart from creation and distinguishes Him from anything profane or morally corrupt. Leviticus 11:44-45 commands, “Be holy, for I am holy,” underscoring a fundamental distinction between God and humanity. This separation emphasizes God’s transcendence — His existence above and beyond the created order.
However, defining holiness exclusively as separateness has theological limitations:
- Overemphasis on Transcendence: If holiness is understood solely as separateness, it may suggest a radical distance between God and His creation, which could inadvertently suggest deism — the view that God is distant and uninvolved with the world. Such a definition risks neglecting God’s intimate presence and the relational dynamic He maintains with His creation.
- Challenges to Immanence: Separateness can create an unintended barrier to understanding God’s immanence, a doctrine central to Christian theology. Scriptures such as Psalm 139:7-10 and Acts 17:27 speak of God’s nearness to creation. Through His Spirit, God is present with and within His people, dwelling in believers and guiding them.
- Inadequate Moral and Ontological Distinction: Separateness alone does not fully capture God’s unique nature or moral purity. God’s holiness is not just about being separate from creation but also about being qualitatively different in His very being. He is not just one among others but is uniquely other, as the uncreated Creator and the absolute moral standard.
These limitations highlight the need for a more robust definition of holiness, one that embraces God’s qualitative difference and moral uniqueness without negating His immanence.
Defining Holiness as “Qualitative Otherness”
“Qualitative otherness” serves as a more precise definition of holiness, capturing God’s unique, incomparable nature and moral purity. This approach aligns with biblical descriptions of God and preserves both His transcendence and His relational proximity to creation.
1. Qualitative Otherness in Scripture
The Bible presents God as wholly distinct in both His nature and moral attributes. This distinction goes beyond mere separation; it speaks to the inherent uniqueness of God as the uncreated Creator.
- Isaiah 6:3: In Isaiah’s vision of God’s holiness, the seraphim cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Here, God’s holiness is not defined solely by separation but by His glory and moral purity. The tripling of “holy” in the Hebrew signifies an intensification of His otherness, suggesting that God’s holiness is of a different quality entirely.
- Revelation 15:4: “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy.” The phrase “you alone” signifies that God’s holiness is unique and exclusive, underscoring a qualitative difference rather than a mere spatial or existential separation.
This qualitative distinctiveness implies that God is utterly other in His being and moral perfection. Unlike separateness, which could imply isolation, qualitative otherness maintains that God is ontologically and morally unique while remaining actively engaged with creation.
2. Preserving God’s Immanence
Qualitative otherness as a concept allows for a more nuanced view of God’s relationship with creation. While God is fundamentally different from His creation, He is not distant from it. The doctrine of immanence reveals that God, in His holiness, is fully present within the created order, sustaining and redeeming it.
- John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The incarnation of Christ is a profound example of God’s immanence. In Jesus, God’s qualitative otherness is present in human form, demonstrating that God’s holiness does not imply distance but rather an intimate and transforming presence within creation.
- 1 Corinthians 3:16: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” This indwelling presence of God’s Spirit in believers is another instance where God’s holiness is evident not in separation but in the sanctifying presence within individuals.
These examples affirm that God’s qualitative otherness does not preclude His nearness. Rather, His unique nature makes His presence in creation all the more transformative and profound.
3. Qualitative Otherness and Moral Purity
Another critical aspect of holiness is moral purity. Qualitative otherness underscores that God’s moral character is not merely distinct but serves as the absolute standard of goodness. His holiness represents a different quality of morality altogether, one that is unchanging and unblemished.
- Psalm 145:17: “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.” God’s actions flow from His inherent goodness and moral perfection, revealing that His holiness is both an ontological and ethical quality.
- Habakkuk 1:13: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.” Here, God’s holiness is portrayed as a purity that is incompatible with sin, emphasizing a moral dimension that transcends mere separation from evil and instead represents an absolute standard of moral purity.
This qualitative otherness in morality suggests that God’s holiness is not simply about being “set apart” from sin but about embodying the very essence of moral perfection.
Conclusion: A Holistic Understanding of Holiness
Defining holiness as qualitative otherness provides a fuller and richer understanding of God’s nature. While separateness emphasizes God’s transcendence, it can unintentionally downplay His immanence. Qualitative otherness, however, acknowledges God’s unique ontology as the uncreated Creator and His moral perfection, affirming His transcendence without undermining His relational presence within creation.
This holistic approach reflects the biblical witness to a God who is both high and lifted up and near to His people (Isaiah 57:15). Theologically, it allows us to maintain both God’s uniqueness and His intimate involvement with His creation, highlighting His absolute moral standard while affirming His commitment to redeem and dwell with humanity. By embracing qualitative otherness, we can better appreciate the profound mystery of God’s holiness — that He is the Wholly Other who is also the God who is with us.
