An Overview of The Topic of The Divine Attributes

Daniel J. Pulliam

you can listen to an AI generated deep dive discussion of this post HERE.

Attribute: n. 1. a characteristic quality. 2. An object traditionally associated with a

person or thing.1

When we speak about the attributes of God, we are generally referring to the

characteristics by which we would define God (God is omnipresent, God is omniscient,

etc.) or the characteristics by which God interacts with us (God is love, God is just, etc.).

Through this paper, we will look at how we determine what Divine attributes are, how

they are typically categorized for ease of discussion and understanding, and take a brief

look at a few that I would submit as foundational to understanding the larger list of

attributes. But before we get into the how and the what, we should begin with the “why”.

The importance of studying the Divine Attributes: A pursuit to better understand the

Divine attributes is not only a noble endeavor, but a vital one. For “It is not enough for

children to know simply that God exists. They must also know what sort of God he is.”2

The author of Hebrews ties our faith in God to our knowledge of Him by saying for he

that “cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder” (Hebrews 11:6

KJV). We would not come to God for mercy if we did not believe He would be merciful.

We do not run to Him for protection if we are convinced we will find His strength waning.

To know God is to know His attributes. A.A. Hodge reminds us, “They [divine attributes]

are not properties or states of the divine essence separable in tact or idea from the

divine essence… God’s knowledge is his essence knowing, and his love is his essence

loving, and his will is his essence willing…”3 “God is who He is in the act of His

revelation.”4

Methods for determining God’s attributes: Barth’s statement naturally leads us to the

second address of this paper. With a topic so vital and weighty as the Attributes of the

Almighty, how are we to know what attributes would comprise this list? It would stand to

reason that if to know God’s attributes is to know God then there is only one way we can

know God – His Self-Revelation. In my previous paper, I addressed the two primary

categories of God’s Self-Revelation (General & Special); this is foundational to build

upon as it is only ours to understand God in the ways He has chosen to make Himself

manifest to us. I believe Barth makes an important distinction when he stands opposed

to leaning heavily upon general revelation to know the attributes of God, arguing that no

human analogy can sufficiently bridge the gap between creature and Creator.5 It would

not take much imagination (fallen as we are) to see how one could look at the world

around them, depending on their environment, and come to false conclusions of Who

God is and how God is. A.W. Pink eloquently explains that a man happening upon a

watch in the sand could very well ascertain that there is a watchmaker, but would not be

able to conceive who the watchmaker is to the degree of proclaiming he knows the

watchmaker.6 Pink goes on to argue, if we cannot reason out a mere human, we certain

are unable to reason out an eternal, infinite God. However, God has not left us to our

own devices when it comes to knowing Him. He has given us the Scriptures and spoken

to us through His Only Begotten Son. It is through His Self-revelation that He has

provided authoritative denial or approval of who we perceive Him to be.7

Classifications/Categorization of God’s Attributes: As we speak of God’s attributes we

should always be reminding ourselves that when we speak of the attributes of God,

although we may speak of them as separate traits due to our finite comprehension;

each of what we would call an ‘attribute’ is in truth a different aspect of God’s indivisible

being. For our purposes, we do find it easier to categorize these aspects of God’s being.

Erickson list four common ways theologians typically think of categorizing God’s

attributes: 1. Communicable & Incommunicable, 2. Immanent and Emanant

(Intransitive and Transitive), 3 Absolute and Relative, 4. Natural and Moral.8 While

Erickson chooses to speak of God’s attributes in the 4th category (Natural and Moral), he

states that the initial category listed is utilized more prominently among Reformed

theologians. I find my default category to be that of communicable and

incommunicable attributes as it was the first I was exposed to and it seems just as easy

for me to relate the nuances of the other views under these two primary headings.

Regardless of which category one chooses the grouping intent is similar. While each

category tends to break down on some level as there are aspects of God’s being that

would span categories regardless of the classification, I do find it helpful to place the

aspects God has revealed about Himself as either particular to Him alone

(Incommunicable) or it’s counterpart discovered/required in some measure of His

created order (Communicable).

Key Attributes: Finally, I would like to suggest three attributes that I hold to be key as one

begins, or continues, in their journey of a better knowledge of the attributes of God.

Aseity. This is one of the two attributes this paper has already indirectly set forth as

foundational. The aseity of God is His self-existence. It is the declaration He gave in

response to Moses’ question of who he should tell Israel sent him to lead them from

Egypt, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Irael: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

(Exodus 3:14) I strongly agree with Van Till that aseity is first and foremost among the

attributes.9 This is to say it is first and foremost for us to hold as it serves as a guardrail

to keep us from the error of thinking God is God because of the attributes or qualities He

possesses. This is not to say it is a more important aspect of God than any other for this

is erroneous thinking, which leads us to our second key attribute.

Simplicity. God is not made up of parts, as a human is composed of various parts, but is

to be understood as a simple (non-complex) being.10 Louis Berkhof defines it as “the

condition of being free from division into parts, and therefore from compositeness”.11

This is also a foundational attribute for us to build upon and the second of the two

previously alluded to in this paper. It is vital that we understand “the attributes are not

mere names to which no reality corresponds, nor separate parts of a composite God,

but essential qualities in which the Being of God is revealed and with which it can be identified.”12 While Aseity reminds us that God is God because He is, not because of

any attribute possessed. Simplicity reminds us that attributes are not a thing God

possesses but is His very being. He does not add love to Himself, nor can love be

increased in Him – God IS Love.

Immutability. The last attribute I submit as key is the inability of change in the Triune

God. While this is found in Scripture (Malachi 3:6) it also is tied to Aseity and Simplicity

“God is self–existent. As he is caused by none, but causes all, so he can be changed by

none, but changes all.”13

In conclusion, a study of the attributes of God is a worthy, noble, and lifelong pursuit

that should be the aim of every believer; for as we come to better know and understand

the divine attributes we come to further know and understand The Divine. May the

longing of our hearts be that of Paul’s, “that I may know him and the power of his

resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any

means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil 3:10)

1 Waite, Maurice. “Oxford English Dictionary”. 7th edition. Oxford University Press, 2012.

2 Piper, John. "DG Topical Studies: The Attributes of God." Excerpt from Attributes of God Module.pdf.3 Hodge, A. A. “Outlines of Theology”. E-book. West Linn, OR: Monergism Books, 2018.

4 Barth, Karl. “Church Dogmatics. Volume II: The Doctrine of God, Part 1”. Edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley

and Thomas F. Torrance. Translated by T. H. L. Parker et al. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1957.

5 Barth, Karl. “Church Dogmatics. Volume II: The Doctrine of God, Part 1”. Edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley

and Thomas F. Torrance. Translated by T. H. L. Parker et al. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1957.

6 Pink, A. W. “The Attributes of God”. E-book. West Linn, OR: Monergism Books, 2011.7 Hodge, A. A. “Outlines of Theology”. E-book. West Linn, OR: Monergism Books, 2018.

8 Erickson, Millard J. “Christian Theology”, 3rd edition. Baker Academic, 1983.9 Van Till, Cornelius. “Introduction to Systematic Theology”. 2nd edition. P&R Publishing, 2007.

10 Sproul, R. C. “Everyone’s a Theologian”. 1st Edition. Ligonier Ministries, 2014.

11 Berkhof, Louis. “Systematic Theology”. 2nd edition. Banner of Truth Trust, 202112 Berkhof, Louis. “Systematic Theology”. 2nd edition. Banner of Truth Trust, 2021

13 Hodge, A. A. “Outlines of Theology”. E-book. West Linn, OR: Monergism Books, 2018.