Attributes and Divine Nature in Biblical Theology

The divine nature of God is understood through various attributes revealed in scripture, which describe God's character and being. The Bible takes the existence of God for granted, rather than offering arguments for it ^[1]. The Hebrew terms for God, such as El, Eloah, and Elohim, convey strength and are used throughout the Old Testament ^[1]. Another significant Hebrew term, Jehovah, is consistently rendered as "LORD" in English translations ^[1].

God's attributes are considered an intrinsic part of God's self, eternal and coincident with God's being ^[8]. However, for the purpose of understanding and communication, these attributes are often discussed as distinct aspects. For instance, wisdom is presented as having a precedence in the divine order, devising products of benevolence and power ^[8].

Key attributes and aspects of the divine nature include:

Omnipotence and Creation God's power is evident in creation. The book of Genesis describes God creating animals, and this act demonstrates God's power ^[3]. All of creation, including animals, is made for the praise and glory of God ^[3]. This creative power extends to the formation of humanity, where God's image was initially bestowed ^[11].

Righteousness and Judgment God's righteousness is depicted as immense and unchangeable, like "the mountains of God," and God's judgments are profound, like "a great deep" ^[5]. God is also described as preserving both humanity and animals ^[5].

Glory and Excellency The glory and excellency of God are frequently highlighted in scripture. Passages like Isaiah 35:2 connect the beauty and fertility of creation (e.g., Lebanon, Carmel, Sharon) to the glory and excellency that belong to the Lord ^[10]. This indicates that the splendor of the natural world points to the greater glory of its Creator ^[10].

Mediatorial Office and the Human Nature of Christ The divine nature is also understood in relation to the person of Jesus Christ. The human nature of Christ was essential for his mediatorial office, as stated in 1 Timothy 2:5 and Hebrews 2:17 ^[2]. This human nature is evidenced by his conception in the Virgin's womb, his birth, his partaking of flesh and blood, and his human experiences such as weeping, hungering, thirsting, and sleeping ^[2]. The exaltation of Christ's human nature to a state of glory illustrates many attributes of the divine nature, magnifying the divine law and providing eternal glory for humanity ^[6].

Preciousness of Christ Christ is described as precious to God and to those who follow him ^[4]. His preciousness to God is affirmed in Matthew 3:17 and 1 Peter 2:4 ^[4]. To followers, Christ is precious due to his goodness, beauty, excellence, grace, and his name ^[4]. His atonement, words, and promises are also sources of his preciousness ^[4]. He is seen as the cornerstone of the Church and the source of all grace ^[4].

Sharing in the Divine Nature The concept of sharing in the divine nature is mentioned in 2 Peter 1:4. This does not imply a merging of human souls with God, but rather that individuals can share in God's qualities, such as holiness and righteousness ^[7]. This idea aligns with Old Testament calls to holiness (Leviticus 11:44) and New Testament exhortations to embody God's character (Matthew 5:43-48; Ephesians 4:24; 5:2) ^[7]. The restoration of the image of God in humanity, which was marred by the fall, is achieved through spiritual regeneration, which Paul describes as being transformed into the image of God through the gospel, characterized by righteousness and true holiness ^[11].

The attributes of God are not merely abstract concepts but are revealed through God's actions in history, particularly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The high priesthood of Christ, his pre-eminence, qualifications, and order are central to understanding God's redemptive plan ^[9]. The praise of Jesus Christ is seen as edifying because the glory belongs to him, not to humanity ^[12].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Human Nature of Christ, The — Was necessary to his mediatorial office -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 2:17; Ga 4:4,5; 1Co 15:21; Ro 6:15,19. Is proved by his Conception in the Virgin's womb. -- Mt 1:18; Lu 1:31. Birth. -- Mt 1:16,25; 2:2; Lu 2:7,11. Partaking of flesh and blood. -- Joh 1:14; Heb 2:14. Having a human soul. -- Mt 26:38; Lu 23:46; Ac 2:31. Circumcision. -- Lu 2:21. Increase in wisdom and stature. -- Lu 2:52. Weeping. -- Lu 19:41; Joh 11:35. Hungering. -- Mt 4:2; 21:18. Thirsting. -- Joh 4:7; 19:28. Sleeping. -- Mt 8:24; Mr 4:38. Being subject to weariness. -- Joh 4:6. ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: B — Created by God -- Ge 1:24,25; 2:19. Creation of, exhibits God's power -- Jer 27:5. Made for the praise and glory of God -- Ps 148:10. Differ in flesh from birds and fishes -- 1Co 15:39. Herb of the field given to, for food -- Ge 1:30. Power over, given to man -- Ge 1:26,28; Ps 8:7. Instinctively fear man -- Ge 9:2. Received their names from Adam -- Ge 2:19,20. Given to man for food after the flood -- Ge 9:3. Not to be eaten alive or with blood -- Ge 9:4; De 12:16,23. That died naturally or were torn, not to be eaten -- Ex 22:31; Le 17:15; 22:8. Supply clothing to”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Preciousness of Christ — To God -- Mt 3:17; 1Pe 2:4. To Saints -- Song 5:10; Php 3:8; 1Pe 2:7. On account of his Goodness and beauty. -- Zec 9:17. Excellence and grace. -- Ps 45:2. Name. -- Song 1:3; Heb 1:4. Atonement. -- 1Pe 1:19; Heb 12:24. Words. -- Joh 6:68. Promises. -- 2Pe 1:4. Care and tenderness. -- Isa 40:11. As the corner-stone of the Church -- Isa 28:16; 1Pe 2:6. As the source of all grace -- Joh 1:14; Col 1:19. Unsearchable -- Eph 3:8. Illustrated -- Song 2:3; 5:10-16; Mt 13:44-46.”
Psalms “Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like a great deep. Yahweh, you preserve man and animal. -- Psalms 36:6”
Philippians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Philippians 2:11: And that every tongue should confess - That all those before mentioned should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, or absolute governor, and thus glorify God the Father, who has exalted this human nature to this state of ineffable glory, in virtue of its passion, death, resurrection, and the atonement which it has made, by which so many attributes of the Divine nature have become illustrated, the Divine law magnified and made honorable, and an eternal glory provided for man. Others by things in heaven understand the holy angels; by things on earth, human bein”
2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 1:4: 1:4 enable you to share his divine nature: Peter probably did not mean that our souls are merged with God but that believers share God’s qualities (cp. Lev 11:44; Matt 5:43-48; Eph 4:24; 5:1).”
Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 8:22: Strictly, God's attributes are part of Himself. Yet, to the poetical structure of the whole passage, this commendation of wisdom is entirely consonant. In order of time all His attributes are coincident and eternal as Himself. But to set forth the importance of wisdom as devising the products of benevolence and power, it is here assigned a precedence. As it has such in divine, so should it be desired in human, affairs (compare Pro 3:19). possessed--or, "created"; in either sense, the idea of precedence. in the beginning--or simply, "beginning," i”
Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 5 (introduction): The nature of the high priesthood of Christ; his pre-eminence, qualifications, and order, Heb 5:1-10. Imperfect state of the believing Hebrews, and the necessity of spiritual improvement, Heb 5:11-14.”
Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 35:2: glory of Lebanon--its ornament, namely, its cedars (Isa 10:34). excellency of Carmel--namely, its beauty. Sharon--famed for its fertility. see . . . glory of the Lord . . . excellency-- (Isa 40:5, Isa 40:9). While the wilderness which had neither "glory" nor "excellency" shall have both "given to it," the Lord shall have all the "glory" and "excellency" ascribed to Him, not to the transformed wilderness (Mat 5:16).”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 5.32: of the image of God. Since the image of God had been destroyed in us by the fall, we may judge from its restoration what it originally had been. Paul says that we are transformed into the image of God by the gospel. And, according to him, spiritual regeneration is nothing else than the restoration of the same image. ( Colossians 3:10 , and Ephesians 4:23 .) That he made this image to consist in righteousness and true holiness, is by the figure synecdochee ; 88 88 Synecdoche is the figure which puts a part for the whole, or the who”
Song of Solomon (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Song of Solomon 4 (introduction): Contrast with the bride's state by nature (Isa 1:6) her state by grace (Sol 4:1-7), "perfect through His comeliness put upon her" (Eze 16:14; Joh 15:3). The praise of Jesus Christ, unlike that of the world, hurts not, but edifies; as His, not ours, is the glory (Joh 5:44; Rev 4:10-11). Seven features of beauty are specified (Sol 4:1-5) ("lips" and "speech" are but one feature, Sol 4:3), the number for perfection. To each of these is attached a comparison from nature: the resemblances consist not so much in outward likeness, as in t”

Ask Your Own Question