Hatred of God
Jump to: Nave'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Hatred of God is a profound and grievous sin that is addressed throughout the Scriptures. It is characterized by a willful rejection of God's authority, commandments, and love. This enmity towards God is not merely an emotional response but a deliberate stance of opposition against the Creator and His divine will.

Biblical References

The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings regarding the hatred of God. In the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly warned against turning away from God and embracing idolatry, which is seen as a form of hatred towards Him. In Deuteronomy 5:9, God warns, "You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me."

The Psalms also speak to the reality of those who harbor hatred towards God. Psalm 81:15 states, "Those who hate the LORD would pretend submission to Him, and their doom would last forever." This verse highlights the futility and ultimate consequence of feigned allegiance to God while harboring hatred in one's heart.

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul addresses the natural state of humanity as being in enmity with God due to sin. Romans 8:7 declares, "The mind of the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so." This hostility is a manifestation of the sinful nature that opposes God's righteousness and truth.

Theological Implications

Hatred of God is intrinsically linked to the sinful nature of humanity. It is a reflection of the rebellion that began with the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. This enmity is not only a personal rejection of God but also a rejection of His moral order and divine authority. The Bible teaches that this hatred is rooted in pride and self-exaltation, as seen in the example of Satan's rebellion against God.

The Scriptures affirm that those who persist in their hatred of God will face judgment. In John 3:36, it is written, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him." This verse underscores the seriousness of rejecting God's offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, which is the ultimate expression of divine love.

Contrast with Love for God

The Bible contrasts hatred of God with the love that believers are called to have for Him. Jesus emphasized the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37-38: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment." Love for God is demonstrated through obedience, worship, and a life that seeks to honor Him in all things.

Redemption and Reconciliation

Despite the reality of hatred towards God, the Bible offers hope for redemption and reconciliation. Through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, those who were once enemies of God can be reconciled to Him. Romans 5:10 states, "For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!"

The transformative power of the Gospel enables individuals to move from a state of enmity to one of peace with God. This reconciliation is a testament to God's grace and mercy, offering a new identity and purpose to those who turn from hatred to love and faith in Him.
Nave's Topical Index
Psalm 5:5
The foolish shall not stand in your sight: you hate all workers of iniquity.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 45:7
You love righteousness, and hate wickedness: therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
Nave's Topical Index

Malachi 2:16
For the LORD, the God of Israel, said that he hates putting away: for one covers violence with his garment, said the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that you deal not treacherously.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Whether Hatred of God is the Greatest of Sins?
... OF HATRED (SIX ARTICLES) Whether hatred of God is the greatest of sins? Objection
1: It would seem that hatred of God is not the greatest of sins. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether hatred of god is.htm

Argument. --If we Regard the Anger, and Indignation, and Hatred of ...
... Chapter V. Argument."If We Regard the Anger, and Indignation, and Hatred of God
Described in the Sacred Pages, We Must Remember that They are Not to Be ...
/.../chapter v argument if we regard.htm

Article I: of God.
... serious faults of human nature, to wit, ignorance of God, contempt for God, being
destitute of fear and confidence in God, hatred of God's judgment, flight ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 1 article i of.htm

The Hope of the Salvation of Men Consists in the Knowledge of the ...
... Chap. LII."The Hope of the Salvation of Men Consists in the Knowledge of the True
God, and of the Hatred of the Heathens Against the Christians. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap lii the hope of the.htm

Letter xvi. --Hatred of Sin.
... SIXTH BOOK: ON THE CONTINUATION OF TRIALS, AND FEAR OF THE ANGER OF GOD. Letter
XVI."Hatred of Sin. On the same subject. Different fears. My dear Sister,. ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter xvi hatred of sin.htm

On the Attributes of God which Come to be Considered under his ...
... V. Hatred is an affection of separation in God, whose many object is injustice or
unrighteousness; and the secondary, the misery of the creature. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xx on the attributes.htm

Man's Passions and God's Purpose
... It is a hideous story of vulgar hatred and cruelty. God's name is never mentioned
in it; and he is as far from the actors' thoughts as from the writer's words. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/mans passions and gods purpose.htm

The Church and the World.
... This gratuitous hatred, this hatred of Christ by men because they hate God, this
hatred of God because he has manifested himself and proved himself to be love ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the church and the world.htm

"Because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God, for it is not ...
... who will openly and expressly denounce war against heaven, it is not so
incident,(184) that any man should have explicit plain thoughts of hatred against ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xx because the carnal.htm

What are the Sins Forbidden in the First Commandment?
... misapprehensions, false opinions, unworthy and wicked thoughts of him; bold and
curious searching into his secrets; all profaneness, hatred of God; self-love ...
/.../anonymous/the westminster larger catechism/question 105 0 0 what are the.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about misanthropy? | GotQuestions.org

What is misotheism? What is a misotheist? | GotQuestions.org

How should a Christian view misandry? | GotQuestions.org

Hatred: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Hatred

Hatred is Murder

Hatred of God

Hatred to Christ is on Account of his Testimony Against the World

Hatred to Christ is Without Cause

Hatred to Christ: Chief Priests

Hatred to Christ: Illustrated

Hatred to Christ: Involves: Hatred to his Father

Hatred to Christ: Involves: Hatred to his People

Hatred to Christ: Jews

Hatred to Christ: No Escape for Those Who Persevere In

Hatred to Christ: Punishment of

Hatred to Christ: Scribes

Hatred: A Work of the Flesh

Hatred: Against Iniquity, Justified

Hatred: Ahab

Hatred: Cain

Hatred: Chaldeans

Hatred: Christ Experienced

Hatred: Embitters Life

Hatred: Enemies of Daniel

Hatred: Enemies of the Jews

Hatred: Esau

Hatred: Forbidden

Hatred: Haman

Hatred: Herodias

Hatred: Inconsistent With: Liars Prone To

Hatred: Inconsistent With: The Knowledge of God

Hatred: Inconsistent With: The Love of God

Hatred: Joseph's Brethren

Hatred: Leads to Deceit

Hatred: Men of Gilead

Hatred: Often Cloaked by Deceit

Hatred: Punishment of

Hatred: Saints should Expect

Hatred: Saints should Give No Cause For

Hatred: Saints should not Marvel At

Hatred: Saints should not Rejoice in the Calamities of Those Who Exhibit

Hatred: Saints should Return Good For

Hatred: Saul

Hatred: Scriptures Relating To

Hatred: Stirs up Strife

Hatred: The Jews

Hatred: The Wicked Exhibit: Towards Each Other

Hatred: The Wicked Exhibit: Towards God

Hatred: The Wicked Exhibit: Towards Saints

Hatred: we should Exhibit Against: Backsliding

Hatred: we should Exhibit Against: Evil

Hatred: we should Exhibit Against: False Ways

Hatred: we should Exhibit Against: Hatred and Opposition to God

Hatred: we should Exhibit Against: Lying

Related Terms

Objects (30 Occurrences)

Universal (7 Occurrences)

Nazarene (19 Occurrences)

Intense (13 Occurrences)

Enmity (23 Occurrences)

Contentions (20 Occurrences)

Amnon (23 Occurrences)

Pontius (4 Occurrences)

Pilate (60 Occurrences)

Satan (50 Occurrences)

Samaritans (9 Occurrences)

Nicanor (1 Occurrence)

Covers (50 Occurrences)

Envy (56 Occurrences)

Hateth (38 Occurrences)

Covereth (61 Occurrences)

Strife (71 Occurrences)

Repentance (28 Occurrences)

Sadducees (14 Occurrences)

Mad (22 Occurrences)

Exceeding (101 Occurrences)

Fact (98 Occurrences)

Treat (53 Occurrences)

Taxing (3 Occurrences)

Iscariot (11 Occurrences)

Tax (43 Occurrences)

Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)

Herod (45 Occurrences)

Judas (42 Occurrences)

Hate (177 Occurrences)

Zealots

Zealot (4 Occurrences)

Uttereth (30 Occurrences)

Utters (26 Occurrences)

Utmost (21 Occurrences)

Odious (9 Occurrences)

Outbursts (5 Occurrences)

Object (76 Occurrences)

Jesus (10891 Occurrences)

Josephus

Jealousies (2 Occurrences)

Joseph (248 Occurrences)

Grudge (11 Occurrences)

Gentiles (150 Occurrences)

Gnash (12 Occurrences)

Investigate (11 Occurrences)

Intentionally (2 Occurrences)

Persecution (22 Occurrences)

Fattened (19 Occurrences)

Flavius

Firm (111 Occurrences)

Fiercely (8 Occurrences)

Fatted (17 Occurrences)

Foe (23 Occurrences)

Fixed (284 Occurrences)

Feud (1 Occurrence)

Fornications (14 Occurrences)

Fits (2 Occurrences)

Throws (8 Occurrences)

Tread (60 Occurrences)

Rivalries (1 Occurrence)

Revengefully (2 Occurrences)

Rage (43 Occurrences)

Repaid (16 Occurrences)

Rezon (3 Occurrences)

Envious (16 Occurrences)

Emulations (1 Occurrence)

Explore (13 Occurrences)

Encompassed (34 Occurrences)

Execration (9 Occurrences)

Esau (89 Occurrences)

Detestation (5 Occurrences)

Discord (7 Occurrences)

Divisions (92 Occurrences)

Dissimulation (3 Occurrences)

Decease (2 Occurrences)

Disclosed (18 Occurrences)

Deceit (160 Occurrences)

Drusilla (1 Occurrence)

Hatred of Falsehood
Top of Page
Top of Page