So what is God’s mind like?
Overall, the Bible describes the characteristics of the divine mind in the Godhead with 3 terms:
First, dianoi: A “spiritually quickened mind” is God’s mind.
Mark 12:30 In this verse, though speaking of mind in the human, Jesus is nevertheless referring to the spiritual mind that is of the type of mind evidenced by the Godhead.
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind (dianoia), and with all your strength. This is the first commandment".
By using the Greek dianoia for mind in this sentence, Jesus links the human mind with the mind of the spiritual beings of the Godhead—a mind that demonstrates vibrant, positive thinking, a spiritually quickened mind.
Word Wealth in the Spirit Filled Life Bible (NKJV), p.1494, defines mind, dianoia, Strong’s #1271: “Literally, ‘a thinking through.’ Dianoia combines nous, ‘mind,’ and dia, ‘through.’ The word suggests understanding, insight, meditation, reflection, perception, the gift of apprehension, the faculty of thought. When this faculty is renewed by the Holy Spirit, the whole mindset changes from the fearful negativism of the carnal mind to the vibrant, positive thinking of the quickened spiritual mind (of God).”
Second, sophroneo: Right Mind is God’s mind.
Mark 5:15 In this verse, the well mind (a mind that parallels the Godhead mind) is called right mind. Therefore, we can derive that mind in the Godhead is right mind, and further right mind is health and wholesomeness of mind.
"Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting clothed and in his right mind (sophroneo) . . ."
Word Wealth in the Spirit Filled Life Bible, p.1477, defines right mind, sophroneo, Strong’s #4993: “To be of sound mind, sane, self-controlled, serious, moderate, sober-minded, restrained, disciplined, able to reason. From sozo, ‘to save,’ and phren, ‘the mind.’ The word describes our behavior and attitude as we approach the ending of the age (and become more and more conformed to the image of Christ). (1 Peter 4:7)”
By implication, if man is called to have right mind, then the Godhead is calling for mind the Godhead endorses, mind the Godhead finds desirable for God or human, a mind such as their own. Obviously, the behavior and attitude of the Godhead as described in the scriptures represents right mind.
Third, sophronismos: Sound Mind is God’s mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 In this verse, the desirable mindset is described as sound mind, meaning disciplined thought patterns.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (sophronismos)."
This verse directly implies that sound mind is the approved mindset of both human and Godhead—that meaning, that the Godhead has sound mind to give because it is in the Godhead to give it.
Word Wealth in the Spirit Filled Life Bible, p.1853, defines sound mind, sophronismos, Strong’s #4995 as “A combination of sos, ‘safe,’ and phren, ‘the mind’ hence, safe thinking. The word denotes good judgment, disciplined thought patterns and the ability to understand and make right decisions. It includes the qualities of self-control and self-discipline.”
So you see, dear reader, we most certainly can peruse the supra-normal goings on of the divine mind. God makes Himself, in many ways if not exhaustively, both knowable and known in both the Old Testament and New. Again and again, the Godhead gives us leadings, descriptions and explanations of the Godhead, both direct and indirect. Implications and suggestions abound of the grand experiences crafted in and by the Godhead by the whip of the Godhead mind.
This is our God.
This and more.
And, rest assured kind reader, mind in the Godhead (ruled by God's will and eternal committment to the values of pure goodness) has and always will (by the work of Jesus Christ) expertly and easily manage (to our enduring benefit) all things, even the excesses of chaos.
So now let us move on to other subjects . . . but first, one more picture.
To be continued . . .
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