God Character Analysis in Leviathan

According to Hobbes, God is the spiritual sovereign who has dominion over all of humankind. While Hobbes argues that God’s power is absolute, Hobbes ultimately maintains that the subjects of a common-wealth must obey their earthly sovereign before God. As God is the spiritual sovereign, his dominion does not begin until Christ’s second coming, at which time God’s Kingdome will be created and the saved will enter it through a covenant. Until Christ’s second coming and Judgement Day, Hobbes contends, the subject of a common-wealth is obligated to obey their civil, earthly sovereign, even if that sovereign’s will is against God’s law. Christ’s Apostles ordered new converts to obey their earthly sovereigns in all things; thus, Hobbes considers it God’s personal rule that one’s sovereign power is obeyed on Earth. Upon Christ’s second coming, he will become the sovereign power of God’s Kingdome; however, Christ’s power will be second to God’s. In Hobbes’s opinion, God is the creator of all things and people, even of those who don’t believe in God’s existence. While Hobbes considers many religious practices and Holy Doctrine to be absurd—an opinion which earned him a reputation of an atheist during his time—he clearly believes in the existence and power of God, which he maintains is infinite and cannot be fully comprehended by humankind.

God Quotes in Leviathan

The Leviathan quotes below are all either spoken by God or refer to God. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Nature, War, and Civil Society Theme Icon

To describe the Nature of the Artificiall man, I will consider

First, the Matter thereof, and the Artificer; both
which is Man.
Secondly, How, and by what Covenants it is
made; what are the Rights and just Power or
Authority of a Soveraigne; and what it is that
preserveth and dissolveth it.
Thirdly, what is a Christian Common-wealth.
Lastly, what is the Kingdome of Darkness.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Related Symbols: Leviathan

Page Number and Citation: 82

Explanation and Analysis:

Whatsoever we imagine, is Finite. Therefore there is no Idea, or conception of anything we call Infinite. No man can have in his mind in Image of infinite magnitude; nor conceive infinite swiftness, infinite time, or infinite force, or infinite power. When we say any thing is infinite, we signifie onely, that we are not able to conceive the ends, and bounds of the thing named; having no Conception of the thing, but of our own inability. And therefore the Name of God is used, not to make us conceive him; (for he is Incomprehensible; and his greatnesse, and power are unconceivable;) but that we many honour him. Also because whatsoever (as I said before,) we conceive, has been perceived first by sense, either all at once, or by parts; a man can have no thought, representing any thing, not subject to sense.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 99

Explanation and Analysis:

Another, when men make a name of two Names, whose significations are contradictory and inconsistent; as this name, an incorporeall body, or (which is all one) an incorporeall substance, and a great number more. For whensoever any affirmation is false, the two names of which it is composed, put together and made one, signifie nothing at all.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), Aristotle, God

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 108

Explanation and Analysis:

But by Beleeving in, as it is in the Creed, is meant, not trust in the Person; but Confession and acknowledgement of the Doctrine. For not onely Christians, but all manner of men do so believe in God, as to hold all for truth they heare him say, whether they understand it, or not; which is all the Faith and trust can possibly be had in any person whatsoever: But they do not all believe the Doctrine of the Creed.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 133

Explanation and Analysis:

And therefore the voluntary actions, and inclinations of all men, tend, not only to the procuring, but also to the assuring of a contented life; and differ onely in the way: which ariseth partly from the diversity of passions, in divers men; and partly from the difference of the knowledge, or opinion each one has of the causes, which produce the effect desired.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 161

Explanation and Analysis:

And in these foure things, Opinion of Ghosts, Ignorance of second cause, Devotion towards what men fear, and Taking of things Casuall for Prognostiques, consisteth the Naturall seed of Religion; which by reason of the different Fancies, Judgements, and Passions of severall men, hath grown up into ceremonies so different, that those which are used by one man, are for the most part ridiculous to another.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 172-173

Explanation and Analysis:

But where God himselfe, by supernaturall Revelation, planted Religion; there he also made to himself a peculiar Kindgome; and gave Lawes, not only of behavior towards himself; but also towards one another; and thereby in the Kingdome of God, the Policy, and lawes Civill, are a part of Religion; and therefore the distinction of Temporall, and Spirituall Domination, hath there no place. It is true, that God is King of all the Earth; Yet may he be King of a peculiar, and chosen Nation.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 178

Explanation and Analysis:

The Passions that encline men to Peace, are Feare of Death; Desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living; and a Hope by their Industry to obtain them. And Reason suggesteth convenient Articles of Peace, upon which men may be drawn to agreement. These Articles, are they, which otherwise are called the Lawes of Nature: whereof I shall speak of more particularly, in the two following chapters.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 188

Explanation and Analysis:

To the contrary, I find the Kingdome of God, to signifie in most places of Scripture, a Kingdome properly so named, constituted by the Votes of the People of Israel in peculiar manner; wherein they chose God for their King by Covenant made with him, upon Gods promising them the possession of the land of Canaan; and but seldom metaphorically; and then it is taken for Dominion over sinne; (and only in the New Testament;) because such a Dominion as that, every Subject shall have in the Kingdome of God, and without prejudice to the Soveraign.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 442

Explanation and Analysis:

This considered, the Kingdome of Darknesse, as it is set forth in these, and other places of the Scripture, is nothing else but a Confederacy of Deceivers, that to obtain dominion over men in this present world, endeavor by dark, and erroneous Doctrines, to extinguish in them the Light, both of Nature, and of the Gospell; and so to dis-prepare them for the Kingdome of God to come.

Related Characters: Thomas Hobbes (speaker), God

Page Number and Citation: 627-628

Explanation and Analysis:

God Character Timeline in Leviathan

The timeline below shows where the character God appears in Leviathan. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

There is no doubt, Hobbes argues, that God has the power to make an apparition appear, but to assume that God has done... (full context)

...infinite. No human being can conceive an idea of “infinite magnitude” or claim “infinite power.” God, of course, has infinite power, but God’s power is inconceivable to humankind. Any thought, concept,... (full context)

The purpose of speech is to transfer thoughts into something verbal. God first used speech to talk to and instruct Adam, and there are four ways in... (full context)

...It is not only Christians, Hobbes says, but all sorts of people who believe in God. These people have belief and faith, too, they just don’t believe in the doctrine. (full context)

Power, Common-wealths, and Monarchies Theme Icon

...by natural power or by fortune, such as wealth, friends, or “the secret working of God, which men call Good Luck.” The greatest power is the compounded power of several people... (full context)

...Lasting good fortune is also considered honorable and is thought to be a sign of God’s favor. (full context)

...the cause of events, they attribute the cause to “some Power, or Agent Invisible,” like God. The substance or matter making up the invisible agent is the same as “the Soule... (full context)

...those who obey religion of their own accord, and those who obey religion based on God’s commandment. The initial purpose of religion was to make others more inclined to obedience and... (full context)

...of gods and religion because such laws were easily understood by the people. Through religion, God himself gives laws not only concerning his own worship, but the treatment of people and... (full context)

...understanding of speech and language. Nor is it possible to enter into a contract with God, as it is impossible to know if the terms are accepted. (full context)

...society, the only way a contract can be ensured is to swear an oath to God, but who or what one considers a god varies. An oath sworn where there is... (full context)

...great LEVIATHAN,” Hobbes says, under which everyone owes their peace and defense to the “Immortall God.” (full context)

...said to Moses: “Speak thou to us, and we will heare thee; but let not God speak to us, lest we dye.” The children of Israel were completely obedient to Moses,... (full context)

...power of the common-wealth, which he has compared to Leviathan from the Book of Job. God, having made the “great power of Leviathan,” named him “King of the Proud” and said:... (full context)

...to the sovereign in all ways, provided that obedience does not violate the “Lawes of God.” Thus, it is necessary to also know the laws of God, so one does not... (full context)

All people are subjects of “Divine Power,” even if they deny the existence of God. “[M]en may shake off their Ease,” Hobbes says, “but not their Yoke.” For scripture says:... (full context)

Laws must be sufficiently made known to subjects, and God’s laws are no different. God declares his laws in three ways: through “Naturall Reason,” by... (full context)

God gathers his sovereign power from his omnipotence, or “Irresistible Power.” Punishment is generally understood to... (full context)

...a higher power or the goodness of another, and it is the duty of all God’s subjects to honor God, which means they must hold the highest possible opinion of him.... (full context)

Subjects of God are to honor God’s existence, as it is impossible to honor that which does not... (full context)

Refusing to swear by God is likewise a sign of honor, and so is speaking of God with consideration. Prayers... (full context)

...common-wealth, which is a common-wealth that depends on the “Supernaturall Revelations of the Will of God.” Believing in the supernatural power of God does not mean to abandon one’s senses or... (full context)

For one to say God spoke to them in a dream is only to say that they dreamed God spoke—it... (full context)

For those who have never heard the voice of God, either through visions, dreams, or voice, can turn to Holy Scripture to know what they... (full context)

...Christian ruler must follow, but scripture does indicate those laws that should not be followed. God is the “Soveraign [Sovereign] of all Soveraigns” and therefore should be obeyed; however, a subject... (full context)

...the “same Spirit” and work to the same end: to set forth the laws of God. The question of where Holy Scripture gets its authority is much disputed by different branches... (full context)

...indicate the wisdom or madness of a person. Spirit can also indicate the “Spirit of God,” but Hobbes argues that such a spirit is beyond human understanding. The “Spirit of God”... (full context)

God’s spirit is also described in Holy Scripture as living inside others, as Joseph says in... (full context)

God’s spirit is also said to give life in scripture. “God made man of the dust... (full context)

An angel is generally a “Messenger,” and most often is a “Messenger of God,” who usually manifests in a dream or a vision. While it is not stated in... (full context)

...of cloud” and a “pillar of fire.” The angel is no less a sign of God if it appears as a cloud or a person. Thus, it is an angel’s use,... (full context)

...“INSPRIRATION” requires some explanation as well, since it says in the Book of Genesis that “God inspired into man the breath of life,” but this is surely meant as a metaphor... (full context)

Most writings about the Kingdome of God, especially sermons and other homilies, assume that the Kingdome of God is one of eternal... (full context)

Beginning with creation, God has reigned “naturally,” which is to say “by his might,” or by command through his... (full context)

...in the Book of Exodus with Moses at the Foot of Mount Sinai, in which God commands Moses to say to the people of Israel: “If you will obey my voice... (full context)

God as King is reflected in many places in Holy Scripture. In the Book of Samuel,... (full context)

For Hobbes, God’s Kingdome is a “Civill Kingdome” that is based on a covenant between God and the... (full context)

Any word that is spoken by God or about God is considered to be the “Word of God” in scripture. In this... (full context)

The “Word of God,” then, can be understood as either metaphorical or proper. Proper words are those that are... (full context)

God’s words are also used for their attention to reason and equity; however, such words need... (full context)

A prophet is someone who speaks God’s words, like Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, and Elijah. The Prophets made certain predictions as the name... (full context)

It is reasonable to ask exactly how God spoke to his Prophets. If it is assumed that God spoke using “voice and language,”... (full context)

...follows down a subordinate line. As the supreme, Moses is the prophet who spoke to God most directly, and Hobbes finds no evidence that proves God spoke supernaturally to subordinate prophets.... (full context)

Everyone should consider the probability of any given prophet, which is exactly what God expects and what happens in the Old Testament. Everyone has the ability to use reason... (full context)

A miracle, also called a wonder, is some action prompted by God that causes admiration in others. The general purpose of miracles is to signify God’s commandment,... (full context)

...of the natural causes of eclipses. While a solar eclipse is decidedly not a miracle, God’s works in Egypt done by Moses’s hand “were properly Miracles.” By definition, a miracle “is... (full context)

...this definition, a miracle is not performed by way of the prophet’s virtue but by God through the prophet. It can also be assumed from this definition that a miracle cannot... (full context)

...to miracles and are likely to believe in “false Miracles.” Hobbes again points out what God says to Moses in Deuteronomy. Through Moses, God warns the people not to accept those... (full context)

...and Eternall torment a greater punishment than the death of Nature.” Adam was created by God in a similar state. In the Garden of Eden, Adam was to enjoy life everlasting—as... (full context)

...the Book of Revelations. “I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband.” Hobbes argues that after... (full context)

...down from Heaven, even the Son of man, that is in Heaven.” In short, only God and Jesus Christ have ascended into Heaven. Furthermore, St. Peter says that after God’s coming,... (full context)

After God’s coming, even nonbelievers and those thought to be enemies of God will have a place... (full context)

God’s enemies are also punished in scripture with eternal darkness. In Exodus 10:23, the Egyptians “saw... (full context)

...sin does not take the away sin. A sin can only be taken away by God upon payment of a penalty, which, in the Old Testament, is usually a form of... (full context)

Abraham was the first to make a covenant with God, and in this contract, Abraham agreed to obey God in all things. Hobbes argues there... (full context)

This same covenant with God was later renewed, first with Isaac and later with Jacob; however, the covenant was not... (full context)

According to Hobbes, the people were not required to take Moses as God’s Lieutenant. As God spoke to Moses, not the people, the people were not commanded by... (full context)

...no false prophets, as every prophet was authorized by Moses and had the “Spirit of God.” Numbers 11:25 explains, “God came down in a cloud, and took of the Spirit that... (full context)

...Israel say to Samuel, “make us a King to judge us,” Samuel is angry, but God says: “they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected mee, that I should not... (full context)

...belong to a common-wealth. After the Jews were freed, they entered into a covenant with God; however, that contract made no promise of obedience to any king. So, as far as... (full context)

...coming was to act as a counselor unto the people and convince them to follow God and renew the covenant. Up to this point, there was nothing unlawful in Christ’s plea... (full context)

...of his office, Christ is to be King, but his power will be second to God’s: “The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his Angels,... (full context)

According to popular Christian belief, the “Person of God” is born three times. St. John says: “There be three that bear witness in heaven,... (full context)

In short, ecclesiastical power is the power to teach God’s Word, and Hobbes uses Christ’s power as proof of his argument. As Christ’s Kingdome is... (full context)

...in any one thing is ineffective, Hobbes says, because one’s faith is a gift from God, and it cannot be taken by any one person or persons. (full context)

The Apostles, like Christ, were sent to preach God’s Word, which makes them similar to a herald, or a crier, or another such person... (full context)

Those accepting of God’s Word can be baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and... (full context)

...to give the “Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven” to another and allow entrance into God’s Kingdome. On the flipside, one with ecclesiastical power can deny the keys to one and... (full context)

...excommunication can only go as far as the power of Apostles, which is to teach God’s Word and to covert others to his way to ensure “Salvation in the world to... (full context)

The first piece of Holy Scripture to become law was the Ten Commandments, which God gave to Moses on tablets of stone. God delivered the Commandments to Moses, and Moses... (full context)

...sovereign has not endorsed, such “Rule” can only be counsel, not compulsion. In common-wealths where God’s Word goes against the established laws, God’s Word cannot be followed. Of course, Hobbes says,... (full context)

...things, according to Hobbes, are to repent, be baptized, follow the Commandments, and believe in God’s Word. (full context)

According to Numbers 18:20, God said to Aaron: “Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have... (full context)

...Civili.” The sovereign power, however, derives their own authority to teach and preach Christianity from God, which means a sovereign’s authority is “Jure Divino.” As every sovereign power is also the... (full context)

...Ephraim the younger, and his left Hand on Manasseh the first born.” In Leviticus 24:14, God orders all the blasphemers to “Lay their Hands on his head, and that all the... (full context)

...will not hearken unto the Priest, (that standeth to Minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the Judge,) even that man shall die, and thou shalt put away the... (full context)

According to Hobbes, Christ gave the Apostles and his Disciples the power to preach God’s Word; however, Christ did not give them power to command the people. All ministers and... (full context)

...and war in Christian common-wealths arises from the difficulty that comes from trying to obey God and a sovereign power when their laws are contradictory to one another. Many people believe... (full context)

...have faith in to ensure their salvation. Moses and the other prophets had faith in God, and the Apostles and the Disciples had faith in Christ. Afterwards, people believed in the... (full context)

...but not everyone who is taught Holy Scripture believes. Again, Hobbes claims that faith is God’s gift, and God does not give it to everyone. Therefore, Hobbes argues, the only virtue... (full context)

...points out that it may also be reasonable for one to say that belief in God’s omnipotence and his role as creator is every bit as important to salvation as belief... (full context)

It is possible to reconcile one’s obedience to God with their obedience to their sovereign power, even if that sovereign is not a Christian.... (full context)

...the sovereign power is not a Christian, one can still obey the sovereign without offending God, even if that sovereign requires subjects to publicly renounce God. Faith is “internall, and invisible,”... (full context)

...both of Nature, and the Gospell; as so to dis-prepare them for the Kingdome of God to come.” (full context)

The “greatest, and main abuse” of Holy Scripture is the belief that the Kingdome of God is the Church, which Hobbes has already demonstrated is false. The Kingdome of God began... (full context)

The erroneous belief that the Church is God’s Kingdome leads to a belief there is a single person or persons through whom Christ... (full context)

From the mistaken belief that the Church is God’s Kingdome comes the distinction between civil laws and canonical laws. Civil law is the work... (full context)

...of Israel, consecrated his temple, he stood before the people of Israel, blessed them, thanked God, and then prayed unto the people that they might accept his temple. Never anywhere is... (full context)

...stops to revisit what he has already shown to be true. First, the Kingdome of God, or the Kingdome of Christ (which Christ rules by God’s order), will not begin until... (full context)

...come.” This passage goes a long way to proving Hobbes’s claim that the Kingdome of God is not of this world; however, it does not prove the existence of Purgatory or... (full context)

...teach that spirits are incorporeal in the first place. For instance, in Matthew 4:1, when God descends upon Christ as a Dove, Christ is “led up by the Spirit into the... (full context)

God did not expressly state “Immateriall Spirits” and possession of one’s body by another spiritual body... (full context)

...bows to the king and asks him for good weather, this is idolatry, as only God has the power to affect the weather. If a king forces a subject to worship... (full context)

...Aaron made the Golden Calf for religious use and presented it to the people without God or Moses’s authority, this, too, was idolatry. Gentiles throughout history have worshiped Jupiter and others... (full context)

...of Rome to this day. Hobbes maintains that Saints and relics are not included in God’s Word; thus, they are also a “humane institution.” Again, God never mentioned Cherubs or a... (full context)

...religious doctrine that plagues Christendom. He first considers the incorrect belief that the Church is God’s Kingdome on Earth. It is through this belief that the Pope became “Pontifex Maximus,” and... (full context)

...Rome” is still present England, since it is not only the Roman Church that believes God’s Kingdome is the Church. As long as this belief endures, it continues at the expense... (full context)

Hobbes has demonstrated that the Jews and God entered into a covenant in which God was made their sovereign power by contract. The... (full context)

In Chapter 36, Hobbes says it is not known in what manner God spoke to Moses. However, Hobbes does not mean to say that God did not speak... (full context)

...of. There is nothing in Hobbes’s entire book that he considers to be contrary to God’s Word, proper manners, or the public good. Thus, he believes his philosophy should be taught... (full context)

Leviathan

God Character Analysis

God Quotes in Leviathan

The Introduction Quotes

Chapter 3 Quotes

Chapter 4 Quotes

Chapter 7 Quotes

Chapter 11 Quotes

Chapter 12 Quotes

Chapter 13 Quotes

Chapter 35 Quotes

Chapter 44 Quotes

God Character Timeline in Leviathan