Understanding the Attributes of God is foundational to Christian theology and spirituality. These attributes describe God’s inherent characteristics and nature, as revealed in the Bible. The study of God’s attributes helps believers gain a deeper understanding of who God is and how He relates to the world and humanity. This exploration includes both communicable attributes (those that humans can reflect to some degree) and incommunicable attributes (those that belong to God alone).

Biblical and Theological Foundations

Incommunicable Attributes

Incommunicable attributes are those characteristics that are unique to God and cannot be shared with or reflected in human beings.

1. Aseity (Self-Existence)

God is self-existent, meaning He has no origin and is independent of anything else for His existence.

• Exodus 3:14: “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.'” This name, “I AM,” signifies God’s self-existence and eternal nature.
• John 5:26: “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.”

2. Eternality (Timelessness)

God exists outside of time and is not subject to temporal limitations.

• Psalm 90:2: “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
• Revelation 1:8: “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'”

3. Immutability (Unchangeableness)

God is unchanging in His being, perfections, purposes, and promises.

• Malachi 3:6: “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”
• James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

4. Omnipresence (Everywhere Present)

God is present everywhere at all times.

• Psalm 139:7-10: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
• Jeremiah 23:23-24: “‘Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord.”

5. Omnipotence (All-Powerful)

God is all-powerful and can accomplish anything that is in accordance with His nature.

• Jeremiah 32:17: “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”
• Matthew 19:26: “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”

6. Omniscience (All-Knowing)

God knows everything, including past, present, and future events.

• Psalm 147:5: “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”
• Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Communicable Attributes

Communicable attributes are those characteristics that God shares with human beings to some degree, though always in an imperfect and finite manner compared to His infinite perfection.

1. Holiness

God is absolutely pure, morally perfect, and separate from all sin.

• Isaiah 6:3: “And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.'”
• 1 Peter 1:15-16: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'”

2. Love

God is love, and His nature is to seek the highest good of His creation.

• 1 John 4:8: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
• John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

3. Mercy

God is compassionate and kind, showing mercy and forgiveness to those in distress.

• Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
• Ephesians 2:4-5: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

4. Grace

God’s grace is His unmerited favor toward humanity, providing salvation and blessings that are not deserved.

• Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
• Titus 2:11: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”

5. Justice

God is just and righteous in all His ways, ensuring that good is rewarded and evil is punished.

• Deuteronomy 32:4: “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”
• Psalm 9:7-8: “The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.”

6. Faithfulness

God is utterly reliable and faithful to His promises.

• Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:24: “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”

7. Goodness

God is infinitely good and the source of all good things.

• Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
• James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

8. Wisdom

God’s wisdom is perfect and manifests in His ability to devise the best possible plans and means to achieve His purposes.

• Romans 11:33: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”
• Proverbs 3:19: “By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place.”

Protestant Views

Protestant theology has often emphasized the authority of Scripture as the primary means of knowing and understanding the attributes of God, critiquing views that place additional sources of authority on par with Scripture.

• Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone): This principle asserts that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice. Protestants argue that Scripture provides the clearest and most reliable revelation of God’s attributes.
  • 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This verse underscores the sufficiency of Scripture in providing the knowledge of God necessary for faith and life.

Historical Development of the Doctrine of God’s Attributes

Early Church and Patristic Thought

The early church fathers developed foundational understandings of God’s attributes based on biblical revelation.

• Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD): Augustine’s writings, such as Confessions and The City of God, explored God’s attributes, emphasizing His immutability, omniscience, and omnipotence. Augustine argued that God’s attributes are not separate parts but rather different aspects of His simple and unified nature.

Medieval Scholasticism

Medieval theologians like Thomas Aquinas further articulated the attributes of God, drawing on both Scripture and philosophical reasoning.

• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): In his Summa Theologica, Aquinas systematically discussed God’s attributes, emphasizing the use of analogy to understand God’s nature. He argued that while human language can describe God, it does so analogically, as God’s essence transcends human comprehension.

Reformation and Post-Reformation Theology

Reformation theologians, particularly within the Protestant tradition, focused on the authority of Scripture in defining God’s attributes.

• John Calvin (1509-1564): Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion emphasized God’s sovereignty, immutability, and omniscience. Calvin strongly asserted that God’s attributes are fully revealed in Scripture, and he rejected speculative theology that departs from biblical revelation.

Modern Perspectives

In the modern era, theologians have continued to explore and expand the understanding of God’s attributes, often in response to contemporary challenges and philosophical developments.

• Karl Barth (1886-1968): Barth emphasized God’s transcendence and otherness, arguing that God is known primarily through His self-revelation in Christ. Barth critiqued natural theology and insisted that God’s attributes should be understood through the lens of the incarnation.

Practical Implications of Understanding God’s Attributes

Worship and Devotion

The attributes of God are central to Christian worship and devotion, shaping how believers relate to and adore God.

• Psalm 95:6: “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” Understanding God’s attributes leads to deeper reverence and adoration, as believers recognize His greatness and worthiness of worship.
• John 4:24: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The knowledge of God’s attributes informs true worship, guiding believers to worship God as He has revealed Himself.

Ethical and Moral Conduct

God’s communicable attributes, such as holiness, love, and justice, serve as a model for Christian ethical and moral conduct.

• 1 Peter 1:15-16: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'” The call to reflect God’s holiness in life is a direct response to understanding His nature.
• Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The attributes of God guide believers in living out justice, mercy, and humility.

Trust and Assurance

God’s incommunicable attributes, such as omniscience, omnipotence, and faithfulness, provide a foundation for trust and assurance in His promises and providence.

• Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Believers can trust in God’s sovereign control over all circumstances, knowing that His omniscience and omnipotence ensure the fulfillment of His good purposes.
• Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” God’s faithfulness provides the basis for assurance and hope, even in the midst of trials.

Evangelism and Mission

Understanding God’s attributes is essential for effectively communicating the Christian message in evangelism and mission.

• Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The knowledge of God’s attributes, such as His love, justice, and omnipresence, underpins the Great Commission and motivates believers to share the gospel.

Conclusion

From a Christian worldview, the Attributes of God are essential for understanding who God is and how He relates to the world. These attributes, revealed in Scripture, provide a comprehensive picture of God’s nature and character, both in terms of His incommunicable attributes (such as omniscience, omnipotence, and immutability) and His communicable attributes (such as love, holiness, and justice).

The study of God’s attributes has been central to Christian theology throughout history, from the early church fathers to medieval scholastics, Reformation theologians, and modern thinkers. Each generation has sought to articulate and understand these attributes in light of biblical revelation, while also responding to the philosophical and cultural challenges of their time.

The practical implications of God’s attributes are vast, impacting worship, ethics, trust in God, and the mission of the church. By understanding God’s attributes, believers are better equipped to live faithfully, worship truly, and engage the world with the message of the gospel.