The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
Week 5: Chapter 5 — The Self-Existence of God
Read Chapter 5: The Self-Existence of God of The Knowledge of the Holy. Key passage: Exodus 3:14.
Previewing Week 5 of The Knowledge of the Holy
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 24-week guide when you’re ready.
God told Moses His name was "I AM" — a name that speaks not of what God does but of what God simply and eternally *is*. Tozer unfolds why this is the foundation of everything.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Tozer explains the concept of aseity — that God is self-existent, deriving His being from nothing outside Himself. How does this differ from everything else that exists, including angels, the universe, and human beings?
2.He writes that God said "I AM" — not "I was" or "I will be" — suggesting that God exists in an eternal present. What are the implications of this for how we think about God's relationship to time, change, and circumstance?
3.Tozer argues that because God is self-existent, He has no needs — He cannot be made richer or poorer by anything creatures do. How does this challenge common assumptions in Christian culture, such as the idea that God "needs" our praise or that He is somehow diminished when we sin?