The concept of "transcends" in the Bible refers to the idea of God being above and beyond all creation, surpassing human understanding and limitations. This attribute of God highlights His infinite nature, sovereignty, and the distinction between the Creator and the created order.

Divine Transcendence

God's transcendence is a fundamental aspect of His nature, emphasizing His supremacy and the fact that He is not bound by the physical universe or human comprehension. Isaiah 55:8-9 captures this idea: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." This passage illustrates the vast difference between God's ways and human ways, underscoring His transcendence.

God's Sovereignty and Authority

The transcendence of God is closely linked to His sovereignty and authority over all creation. Psalm 97:9 states, "For You, O LORD, are Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods." This verse affirms that God is exalted above all, ruling with supreme authority. His transcendence ensures that He is not limited by the constraints of the world He created.

Incomprehensibility of God

While God reveals Himself to humanity, His full essence remains beyond human understanding. Job 11:7-9 poses the rhetorical question: "Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?" This passage highlights the incomprehensibility of God's nature, reinforcing the idea that He transcends human knowledge.

God's Eternal Nature

God's transcendence is also reflected in His eternal nature. Psalm 90:2 declares, "Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God." This verse emphasizes that God exists beyond time, having neither beginning nor end, further illustrating His transcendence over temporal limitations.

Transcendence and Immanence

While God is transcendent, He is also immanent, meaning He is present and active within His creation. This duality is a mystery of the divine nature. Jeremiah 23:23-24 expresses this balance: "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away? Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD. Here, God's transcendence is affirmed alongside His intimate involvement with the world.

Implications for Worship and Faith

The transcendence of God calls believers to a posture of reverence and awe in worship. Hebrews 12:28-29 encourages this response: "Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire." Recognizing God's transcendence leads to a deeper appreciation of His majesty and a humble acknowledgment of human limitations.

In summary, the concept of "transcends" in the Bible underscores God's supreme authority, incomprehensible nature, and eternal existence, inviting believers to worship Him with reverence and awe while acknowledging His immanence in the world.

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity Gospel Transcends Law.
... Twelfth Sunday After Trinity GOSPEL TRANSCENDS LAW. Text: 2 Corinthians 3, 4-11.
4 And such confidence ... in glory. GOSPEL TRANSCENDS LAW. 1. This ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twelfth sunday after trinity gospel.htm

Of the Grace of God; to the Effect that it Transcends the Narrow ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XVI. Of the grace of God; to the
effect that it transcends the narrow limits of human faith. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xvi of the grace.htm

Concerning "Wisdom," "Mind," "Reason," "Truth," "Faith. "
... Not only is God so overflowing with wisdom that there is no limit to His understanding,
but He even transcends all Reason, Intelligence, and Wisdom. ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter vii concerning wisdom mind.htm

That He who is the Pre-Eminent Cause of Everything Intelligibly ...
... or negations to those orders of being that come next to It, we apply not unto It
either affirmation or negation, inasmuch as It transcends all affirmation by ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter v that he who.htm

Concerning "Existence" and Also Concerning "Exemplars. "
... 3. Now, some one may say: "How is it, since Existence transcends Life, and Life
transcends Wisdom, that living things are higher than things which merely exist ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter v concerning existence and.htm

'A Greater than Solomon'
... contrast. The completeness of Christ's Humanity transcends all other men,
even the most various, and transcends all gathered together. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/a greater than solomon.htm

Of Temperance and Sobriety
... which are forbidden. The incomprehensible and most high Nature of God
transcends all creatures in heaven and on earth. For all that ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xxi of temperance and.htm

Whether a Man in Grace Can Merit Eternal Life Condignly
... For eternal life transcends our knowledge and our desire, and even the charity
and love of the wayfarer, just as it transcends nature. ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article three whether a man 2.htm

Transcendentalists.
... to their etymology, (from transcendere,) they signify that which goes beyond a certain
limit; in philosophy, that which goes beyond, or transcends, the circle ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/transcendentalists.htm

He Discusses the Incomprehensibility of the Divine Essence, and ...
... Accordingly, since the Deity is too excellent and lofty to be expressed in words,
we have learnt to honour in silence what transcends speech and thought: and ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 5 he discusses the.htm

Transcends (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Transcends (2 Occurrences). ... And now I will point
out to you a way of life which transcends all others. (WEY). ...
/t/transcends.htm - 7k

Know (8133 Occurrences)
... The highest knowledge possible to man is the knowledge of God, and while there is
that in God's infinity which transcends man's power of comprehension (Job 11:7 ...
/k/know.htm - 12k

Knowledge
... The highest knowledge possible to man is the knowledge of God, and while there is
that in God's infinity which transcends man's power of comprehension (Job 11:7 ...
/k/knowledge.htm - 12k

Union (24 Occurrences)
... Philippians 4:7 And then the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought,
will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in union with Christ ...
/u/union.htm - 15k

Garrison (15 Occurrences)
... Philippians 4:7 And then the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought,
will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in union with Christ ...
/g/garrison.htm - 13k

Transcendent (3 Occurrences)

/t/transcendent.htm - 7k

Transcribed (1 Occurrence)

/t/transcribed.htm - 6k

Commandment (209 Occurrences)
... a principle, a motive, a joyous harmony of man's will with the will of God; and
in becoming internal, it becomes universal and transcends all distinctions of ...
/c/commandment.htm - 47k

Eunuch (20 Occurrences)
... There is no question with Jesus as to the law of Nature: the married life is the
norm of man's condition, and the union thereby effected transcends every other ...
/e/eunuch.htm - 22k

Powers (43 Occurrences)
... Philippians 4:7 And then the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought,
will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in union with Christ ...
/p/powers.htm - 20k

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