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Incommunicability of Attributes and God's Sovereignty Transcendence

The incommunicability of God's attributes refers to those characteristics of God that are unique to the divine nature and cannot be shared with creation, distinguishing them from communicable attributes that find some reflection in humanity. These incommunicable attributes underscore God's transcendence and sovereignty [8, 10].

One such incommunicable attribute is God's eternality. God is described as "King eternal" [11], existing without beginning or end [8]. This contrasts with creation, which has a temporal origin and finite existence. Similarly, God's infinity is an incommunicable attribute; his knowledge is infinite, and his wisdom is unsearchable and beyond human comprehension [2, 5, 6, 10]. The prophet Isaiah speaks of God's wisdom as "unsearchable" and his ways as "untraceable" [6].

God's sovereignty is closely linked to his incommunicable attributes. His counsels and purposes are described as immutable, sovereign, and eternal, and none can annul them [7]. This sovereignty is demonstrated in his ability to perform all his will [7]. Daniel 4:3 states, "How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation" [9]. This highlights God's absolute rule over all creation and history. The suffering and death of Christ, for instance, are presented as being according to God's predetermined counsel [7].

Another incommunicable attribute is God's incomparable holiness [4]. Exodus 15:11 asks, "Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" [4]. This holiness is exhibited in God's character, name, words, and works [4]. It is a purity and moral perfection that sets him apart from all created beings. This attribute demands holy service and inspires reverential fear [4].

God's justice is also an incommunicable attribute, described as incomparable, incorruptible, impartial, unfailing, and undeviating [1]. It is the "habitation of his throne" [1]. This justice is not subject to human standards or limitations. His truth is likewise an attribute that is great, plenteous, abundant, and inviolable, enduring through all generations [3]. It is always before his face and he keeps it forever [3].

The wisdom of God is perfect, mighty, universal, infinite, unsearchable, wonderful, and incomparable [5]. It is also underived, meaning it does not come from any external source [5]. While humans can gain wisdom, it is always derived from God [5]. This divine wisdom is seen in his works and is the source of all human wisdom [5]. Proverbs 8:22, in a poetic commendation of wisdom, suggests that God's attributes are part of Himself, and in order of time, all His attributes are coincident and eternal as Himself [12].

The concept of incommunicability emphasizes God's transcendence, meaning he is distinct from and superior to his creation. Adam Clarke, commenting on Job 36:26, states that God is "omnipotent" and "unsearchable," and "eternal," noting that these propositions are "too profound, comprehensive, and sublime" for simple paraphrase [8]. Matthew Henry similarly notes that God is an "incomprehensible Being, infinite and immense, whose nature and perfections our finite understandings cannot possibly form any adequate conceptions of" [10]. This transcendence means that while humans can know about God, they cannot fully comprehend his essence or the full import of his incommunicable attributes [2, 8, 10].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Justice of God, The — Is a part of his character -- De 32:4; Isa 45:21. Declared to be Plenteous. -- Job 37:23. Incomparable. -- Job 4:1. Incorruptible. -- De 10:17; 2Ch 19:7. Impartial. -- 2Ch 19:7; Jer 32:19. Unfailing. -- Zep 3:5. Undeviating. -- Job 8:3; 34:12. Without respect of persons. -- Ro 2:11; Col 3:25; 1Pe 1:17. The habitation of his throne. -- Ps 89:14. Not to be sinned against -- Jer 50:7. Denied by the ungodly -- Eze 33:17,20. Exhibited in Forgiving sins. -- 1Jo 1:9. Redemption. -- Ro 3:26. His government. -- Ps 9:4; Jer 9:24. His judgments. -- Ge 18:2”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Foreknowledge of God — Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:29; 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:2), one of those high attributes essentially appertaining to him the full import of which we cannot comprehend. In the most absolute sense his knowledge is infinite (1 Sam. 23:9-13; Jer. 38:17-23; 42:9-22, Matt. 11:21, 23; Acts 15:18).”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Truth of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- De 32:4; Isa 65:16. Always goes before his face -- Ps 89:14. He keeps, for ever -- Ps 146:6. Described as Great. -- Ps 57:10. Plenteous. -- Ps 86:15. Abundant. -- Ex 34:6. Inviolable. -- Nu 23:19; Tit 1:2. Reaching to the clouds. -- Ps 57:10. Enduring to all generations. -- Ps 100:5. United with mercy in redemption -- Ps 85:10. Exhibited in his Counsels of old. -- Isa 25:1. Ways. -- Re 15:3. Works. -- Ps 33:4; 11:7; Da 4:37. Judicial statutes. -- Ps 19:9. Administration of justice. -- Ps 96:13. Word. -- Ps 119:160; Joh ”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness of God, The — Is incomparable -- Ex 15:11; 1Sa 2:2. Exhibited in his Character. -- Ps 22:3; Joh 17:11. Name. -- Isa 57:15; Lu 1:49. Words. -- Ps 60:6; Jer 23:9. Works. -- Ps 145:17. Kingdom. -- Ps 47:8; Mt 13:41; Re 21:27; 1Co 6:9,10. Is pledged for the fulfilment of His promises. -- Ps 89:35. His judgments. -- Am 4:2. Saints are commanded to imitate -- Le 11:44; 1Pe 1:15,16. Saints should praise -- Ps 30:4. Should produce reverential fear -- Re 15:4. Requires holy service -- Jos 24:19; Ps 93:5. Heavenly hosts adore -- Isa 6:3; Re 4:8. Should be magnified --”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Wisdom of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- 1Sa 2:3; Job 9:4. Described as Perfect. -- Job 36:4; 37:16. Mighty. -- Job 36:5. Universal. -- Job 28:24; Da 2:22; Ac 15:18. Infinite. -- Ps 147:5; Ro 11:33. Unsearchable. -- Isa 40:28; Ro 11:33. Wonderful. -- Ps 139:6. Beyond human comprehension. -- Ps 139:6. Incomparable. -- Isa 44:7; Jer 10:7. Underived. -- Job 21:22; Isa 40:14. The gospel contains treasures of -- 1Co 2:7. Wisdom of saints is derived from -- Ezr 7:25. All human wisdom derived from -- Da 2:1. Saints ascribe to him -- Da 2:20. Exhibited in His works. ”
  6. Romans “Romans 11:33 (Rotherham) — Oh! the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments! and untraceable his ways!”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Counsels and Purposes of God, The — Are great -- Jer 32:19. Are wonderful -- Isa 28:29. Are immutable -- Ps 33:11; Pr 19:21; Jer 4:28; Ro 9:11; Heb 6:17. Are sovereign -- Isa 40:13,14; Da 4:35. Are eternal -- Eph 3:11. Are faithfulness and truth -- Isa 25:1. None can disannul -- Isa 14:27. Shall be performed -- Isa 14:24; 46:11. The sufferings and death of Christ were according to -- Ac 2:23; 4:28. Saints called and save according to -- Ro 8:28; 2Ti 1:9. The union of all saints in Christ, is according to -- Eph 1:9,10. The works of God according to -- Eph 1:11. Shoul”
  8. Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 36:26: God is great - He is omnipotent. We know him not - He is unsearchable. Neither can the number of his years be searched out - He is eternal. These three propositions are an ample foundation for endless disquisition. As to paraphrase and comment, they need none in this place; they are too profound, comprehensive, and sublime.”
  9. Daniel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Daniel 4:3: How great are his signs! - There are no preternatural signs like his! His wonders - miraculous interferences, are mighty - they surpass all human power. He is the Sovereign of all kings, and his dominion is everlasting; and every generation is a proof of his all-governing influence. These are very fine sentiments, and show how deeply his mind was impressed with the majesty of God.”
  10. Job (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Job 11:7: Zophar here speaks very good things concerning God and his greatness and glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly: these two compared together, and duly considered, will have a powerful influence upon our submission to all the dispensations of the divine Providence. I. See here what God is, and let him be adored. 1. He is an incomprehensible Being, infinite and immense, whose nature and perfections our finite understandings cannot possibly form any adequate conceptions of, and whose counsels and actings we cannot therefore, without the greatest presumption, pas”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 7.5: he would obtain pardon, provided that he approached to Christ by faith. And, indeed, the distrust entertained by all of us is counteracted, when we thus behold in Paul a visible model of that grace which we desire to see. 17 Now to the King eternal His amazing vehemence at length breaks out into this exclamation; because he could not find words to express his gratitude; for those sudden bursts occur chiefly when we are constrained to break off the discourse, in consequence of being overpowered by the vastness of the subject. And ”
  12. 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”
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