God is Relationship

The concept relationship is defined as “the way in which two or more people or
things are connected, or the state of being connected.”1 It also refers to both emotional and
sexual connections between people. In this study, we will direct our attention toward the
relationships between rational beings and not between objects or even animals. It is also
important to mention that this would not be an exhaustive study of the concept of
relationship. Thus, not all the aspects of relationship will be approached as this topic is
very complex. Not least, in order to understand the concept of relationship and how this
concept relates to God, both relationships between the Persons of the Trinity and the
relationships between Creator and creature will be approached.

There are mainly three types of relationships that appear throughout the both Old
Testament and the New Testament. As Jesus summarizes the Ten Commandments in the
Gospels (Matthew 22:36-40), relationship can occur within Godhead and between God
and created beings, all of this happening under the shadow of altruist love. The verb “to
love” is a term that requires at least two individuals in order to have a kind of love
relationship. Thus, on the basis of love, relationships can occur between the three Persons
of the Godhead, between Creator and creature, and between creatures. Therefore, these
three big categories of relationship will be analyzed throughout the Bible in order to
perceive and understand the concept of relationship.

Firstly, I have to mention that the word relationship doesn’t appear specifically in
the Bible. It occurs though implicitly through other terms as covenant, friend, brother,
father, and many more that will be observed in this study.

The first category that will be approached is about the inner relationship of Trinity.
A first-term that would give us insights into the inner relationship of Trinity is that of
unity. Though the Old Testament is not very specific on particular characteristics of the
relationship between the three persons of Godhead, it does affirm that God is the „only”
God. In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, the author used the term echad (only) as in Genesis 2:24 in
regarding the relationship of Adam and Eve. If the author would have wanted to say that

1
Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 2004).
God is a solitary God, then he should have used the term yachid who specifically expresses
the idea of solitude. Therefore, God is unity just as Adam and Eve were in a relationship of
being one. The idea of unity between the Father and the Son is expressed in other parts of
the Scripture (John 10:30, 38; 12:44-45; 13:20; Mark 9:37; Luke 9:48; 10:16). What we
can observe is that the idea of unity has the power to display the concept of relationship
both as it occurs in the Trinity and between people (Adam and Eve).

The concept relationship brings with it elements of relating between two

individuals as communicating through words, prayer, singing, praising, body language, and
more. In this sense, the relationship between the Father and the Son is observed as Jesus
speaks or addresses directly to the Father (Matthew 11:25-26; 26:39;27:46; Mark 14:36;
15:34; Luke 10:21; 22:42; John 11:41-42; 17:1), and the Father speaks and answers
directly to the Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5 Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35; John 12:27-28).
Not least, The Holy Spirit addresses to the Father on behalf of His people (Romans 8:26-
27). To be mentioned is that all these elements vital to the concept of relationship are to be
subjected to love for God is love (1 John 4:8). Therefore, because love is the power that
rules each aspect of a relationship, elements like “joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) would also portray
the relationship between the three Persons of the Godhead. Therefore, the concept of unity
is filled with all these features that spring from altruist love. Unity, for relationship,
means to be one in love, kindness, respect… with one another.

An important aspect to point is that relationship implies a genuine capacity to

choose freely, free will. Without it, relationship would not be much possible for
genuine love would not be possible.

Another term that can give insights into the concept of relationship is covenant.
This term comes from Hebrew which means “agreement” or “arrangement”. 2 It even refers
to a contract between two people or two parties. The correspondent of this term in the New
Testament is diatheke, as LXX designates.

In the Old Testament, the term covenant occurs many times displaying manifold
nuances of relationship as we will observe. In Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, types of
covenants are depicted. In 1 Samuel 18:3-4 the term covenant refers to a friendship
covenant (David and Jonathan). In 1 Kings 2:42-46, a covenant between King Solomon

2
Allen C. Myers, The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1987), 240.
and a servant is made. In 2 Kings 11:14, a covenant between a guard of the King and the
high priest is made. This term also refers to the covenants between two kingdoms where
one must pay tribute to the other (1 Kings 4:21).3 What we must mention is that the idea of
covenant also implies a legal element. Each individual that took part in a covenant, had to
“sign” and subject to various requirements.

Covenants are also made between God and people. God makes a covenant with
Noah (Genesis 9:8-17), with Abraham (Genesis 15), and with the people that came out of
Egypt (Exodus 19-24). In summary, the covenant between God and people requires
fulfilment of each of the requirements on which the contract was made. A covenant
between people and God has soteriological implications as by respecting the requirements
of the covenant, an eternal relationship between God and people would be possible. In the
New Testament, a covenant of forgiveness is made through Jesus: “For this is my blood of
the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)

What I can observe in the Bible, is that almost all types of relationships, rather is
friendship, marriage, king and servant, God and people, are made in the context of a
covenant.

Another idea that would give some insights into the concept of relationship is that
of kinship (father, mother, brother, uncle…). What I know is that kinship is a type of
relationship that implies blood or any social ties. 4 In supporting this idea we can think of
the web of genealogies. One kinship relationship that is most prominent in the Hebrew
society is that between father and son (Genesis 27:1-4). This relationship has many
implications as it is also used in regard to God (Jesus, the Son, and the Father). God often
uses the kinship terminology, where He is portrayed as a Father and the people as His
children, in order to show the type relationship He has with us. A relationship in which He
loves us like a Father.

Another kinship relationship is that of marriage. In Malachi 2:14-15: “You ask,

“Why?” It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your
youth because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your
marriage covenant. Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit, they are his. And

3
Allen C. Myers, The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1987), 241.
4
David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B. Beck, Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
(Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 772.
why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do
not break faith with the wife of your youth.” The marriage is probably the most profound
relationship in the entire Bible. No wonder that God uses the concept of marriage between
Him and us. In Isaiah 54:5 He says: “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is
his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he
be called.” We can also think of the book of Hosea.

In conclusion, there are few ideas that can enrich our perspective about God being
relationship. The idea of unity is vital because it shows in what manner a relationship
should manifest. The idea of covenant where almost all types of relationships are
manifested, which implies obligations for each side. The idea of kinship that, though it is
observed at humans, God uses this terminology in order to show us the true colors of how
He has a relationship with us.