Topical Encyclopedia The attributes of God are the inherent characteristics and qualities that define the nature and essence of God as revealed in the Bible. These attributes are foundational to understanding who God is and how He interacts with His creation. The Bible provides a comprehensive picture of God's attributes, which can be categorized into communicable and incommunicable attributes.Incommunicable Attributes 1. Aseity: God's self-existence and independence from His creation. He is the uncaused cause, existing eternally without dependence on anything outside Himself. "Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God" (Psalm 90:2). 2. Immutability: God's unchanging nature. He is constant and does not change in His essence, character, or promises. "I, the LORD, do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed" (Malachi 3:6). 3. Eternity: God's existence beyond time. He has no beginning or end and transcends temporal limitations. "But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations" (Psalm 102:12). 4. Omnipresence: God's presence in all places at all times. He is not confined by spatial limitations. "Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?" (Psalm 139:7). 5. Omniscience: God's complete and perfect knowledge. He knows all things, past, present, and future, including the thoughts and intentions of the heart. "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit" (Psalm 147:5). 6. Omnipotence: God's all-powerful nature. He is able to accomplish His will without any limitations. "For nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). Communicable Attributes 1. Holiness: God's absolute purity and moral perfection. He is set apart from sin and is the standard of righteousness. "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth" (Isaiah 6:3). 2. Love: God's self-giving and sacrificial nature. His love is unconditional and is demonstrated supremely in the sending of His Son. "God is love" (1 John 4:8). 3. Mercy: God's compassion and kindness towards those in distress. He is patient and forgiving, withholding the punishment deserved. "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion" (Psalm 103:8). 4. Justice: God's commitment to righteousness and fairness. He upholds His moral law and ensures that justice is executed. "For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face" (Psalm 11:7). 5. Truthfulness: God's faithfulness and reliability. He is the source of all truth and cannot lie. "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind" (Numbers 23:19). 6. Wisdom: God's perfect application of knowledge. He knows the best means to achieve the best ends. "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!" (Romans 11:33). These attributes, while distinct, are perfectly unified in the being of God. They provide a framework for understanding His actions and character as revealed in Scripture. Each attribute reflects the divine nature and is essential for a comprehensive understanding of who God is. |