Attributes of God

Question four of the Shorter Catechism of Westminster asks, "What is God?" We looked up the following verses in small groups:

[a]. Deut. 4:15-19; Luke 24:39; John 1:18; 4:24; Acts 17:29
[b]. IKings 8:27; Ps. 139:7-10; 145:3; 147:5; Jer. 23:24; Rom. 11:33-36
[c]. Deut. 33:27; Ps. 90:2; 102:12, 24-27; Rev. 1:4,8
[d]. Ps. 33:11; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 1:12; 6:17-18; 13:8; Jas. 1:17
[e]. Ex. 3:14; Ps. 115:2-3; I Tim. 1:17; 6:15-16
[f]. Ps. 104:24; Rom. 11:33-34; Heb. 4:13; I John 3:20
[g]. Gen. 17:1; Ps. 62:11; Jer. 32:17; Mat. 19:26; Rev. 1:8
[h]. Heb. 1:13; I Pet. 1:15-16; I John 3:3, 5; Rev. 15:4
[i]. Gen. 18:25; Ex. 34:6-7; Deut. 32:4; Ps. 96:13; Rom. 3:5, 26
[j]. Ps. 103:5; 107:8; Matt. 19:17; Rom. 2:4
[k]. Ex. 34:6; Deut. 32:4; Ps. 86:15; 117:2; Heb. 6:18

They helped build the answer, "God is a Spirit [a], infinite [b], eternal [c], and unchangeable [d] in his being [e], wisdom [f], power [g], holiness [h], justice [i], goodness [j], and truth [k]." (Of minor note [e] is obviously hard to derive from the verses; [k] is easiest in KJV.)

We looked at the definition and meaning of each. For example, "eternal" or "timeless" is beyond our experience and relates directly to "unchangeable". Does God change His mind? From our time-limited perspective, maybe; but from an eternal perspective, God's purposes are unchanging.

We quickly observed that the above list is incomplete. God can be examined in so many different ways. Like our opening icebreaker, a seemingly simple, familiar concept, water, has many attributes and many surprises. God is even more complex and surprising. Each attribute can be studied in depth for quite some time.

God's attributes may also be categorized in different ways to help us better appreciate them. "Incommunicable" attributes can only be possessed by God: omniscience, etc. "Communicable" attributes are ones that people, made in God's image, can and should possess. (Communicable attributes are also sometimes called "moral" attributes because human morality ultimately derives from God. But that means "incommunicable" attributes are "non-moral". While logically consistent and semantically correct, God having "non-moral" attributes is too confusing. FYI, just in case you come across these terms.)

The communicable attributes of God are important in that God provides the ultimate example of these attributes. Christian studies of wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, etc must ultimately look at God's demonstration of these attributes.

Another categorization are "immanent" attributes inherent to God independent of creation (e.g. infinity) versus "emanent" attributes which only appear in the context of creation (e.g. omnipresence, mercy). Again the importance of this distinction is understanding of creation attributes that are shared with God can only be properly understood in the context of God's attributes in those areas.