Understanding the Nature and Attributes of God

The nature and attributes of God are foundational concepts in biblical theology, though the Bible itself takes God's existence for granted rather than arguing for it ^[1]. The Hebrew terms for God, El, Eloah, and the plural Elohim, convey the idea of strength ^[1]. Another significant Hebrew name for the Supreme Being is Jehovah, often rendered "LORD" in English translations ^[1].

One of the primary attributes of God is His incomprehensibility. As Zophar states in Job 11:7, "Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?" ^[4]. Matthew Henry interprets this verse as highlighting God's infinite and immense nature, whose perfections and counsels are beyond human understanding ^[8]. John Gill concurs, noting that while the existence of God can be inferred from creation, His nature, being, and perfections cannot be fully discovered through human search alone ^[9]. The apostle Paul similarly exclaims, "O the depth of the aboundant wysdome and knowledge of God: how vnserchable are his iudgementes and his wayes past findyng out" (Romans 11:33, Tyndale) ^[2]. This unsearchable wisdom is described as perfect, mighty, universal, infinite, and beyond human comprehension ^[5].

Despite God's incomprehensibility, certain aspects of His nature can be known. Romans 1:19 indicates that "that which may be known of God" is evident to humanity ^[10]. This includes His eternal power and divine nature, which are perceived through creation ^[10]. However, some truths about God, such as the Trinity or the specific doctrines of the Gospel, require divine revelation and cannot be known solely through natural light ^[10].

God is consistently described as a Spirit ^[11]. This attribute means that God is not limited by physical form or location. Jesus taught that "God is a spirit," and therefore those who worship Him must do so "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24) ^[11]. This spiritual nature applies to all persons of the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each being an object of worship ^[11].

Another crucial attribute is God's foreknowledge. This refers to His infinite knowledge of all things, past, present, and future ^[3]. Scriptural examples like Acts 2:23, Romans 8:29, and 1 Peter 1:2 point to God's foreknowledge ^[3]. This attribute is considered one of those "high attributes essentially appertaining to him the full import of which we cannot comprehend" ^[3]. God's knowledge is infinite and universal, as seen in passages like Psalm 147:5 and Daniel 2:22 ^[5].

God is also understood as the "one God and Father of all" (Ephesians 4:6). This oneness is a fundamental tenet, supported by both nature and revelation ^[12]. The concept of one God is derived from the fact that there can only be one eternal, infinite, omnipotent, and all-sufficient Being ^[12]. This stands in contrast to "nominal and figurative deities" ^[12].

The wisdom of God is frequently highlighted in scripture. It is described as perfect (Job 36:4), mighty (Job 36:5), universal (Daniel 2:22), infinite (Psalm 147:5), and unsearchable (Isaiah 40:28) ^[5]. This wisdom is exhibited in His works and is the source of all human wisdom ^[5].

The relationship between God and humanity is often characterized by the concept of "godly fear," which is not merely terror but a reverential awe and hatred of evil ^[6]. This fear is commanded in scripture (Deuteronomy 13:4, Ecclesiastes 12:13) and is motivated by God's holiness, greatness, goodness, and forgiveness ^[6]. Josephus, in Antiquities of the Jews, suggests that understanding the Divine nature and contemplating God's operations should inspire individuals to imitate the best of all patterns, striving for virtue ^[7].

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”
Romans “Romans 11:33 (Tyndale) — O the depnes of the aboundaunt wysdome and knowledge of God: how vnserchable are his iudgementes and his wayes past findyng out.”
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).”
Job “Job 11:7 (BSB) — Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?”
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. ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Godly — God is the object of -- Isa 8:13. God is the author of -- Jer 32:39,40. Searching the Scriptures gives the understanding of -- Pr 2:3-5. Described as Hatred of evil. -- Pr 8:13. Wisdom. -- Job 28:28; Ps 111:10. A treasure to saints. -- Pr 15:16; Isa 33:6. A fountain of life. -- Pr 14:27. Sanctifying. -- Ps 19:9. Filial and reverential. -- Heb 12:9,28. Commanded -- De 13:4; Ps 22:23; Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Motives to The holiness of God. -- Re 15:4. The greatness of God. -- De 10:12,17. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The forgiveness of God. -- Ps 130:4.”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 4: life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, a”
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”
Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 11:7: Canst thou by searching find out God?.... God is not to be found out by human search; that there is a God may be found out by inquiring into the book of nature, by considering the creatures that are made, who all proclaim some first cause or maker of them, who is God; but then it cannot be found out what God is, his nature, being, and perfections: an Heathen philosopher (i), being asked by a certain king what God was, required a day to give in his answer; when that was up he desired a second, and still went on asking more; and being demanded the reason of his dilatorines”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 1:19: Because that which may be known of God,.... There are some things which could not be known of God by the light of nature; as a trinity of persons in the Godhead; the knowledge of God in Christ as Mediator; the God-man and Mediator Jesus Christ; his incarnation, sufferings, death, and resurrection; the will of God to save sinners by a crucified Jesus; the several peculiar doctrines of the Gospel, particularly the resurrection of the dead, and the manner of worshipping of God with acceptance: but then there are some things which may be known of God, without a revelation”
John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 4:24: God is a spirit,.... Or "the Spirit is God"; a divine person, possessed of all divine perfections, as appears from his names, works, and worship ascribed unto him; See Gill on Joh 4:23; though the Arabic and Persic versions, and others, read as we do, "God is a spirit"; that is, God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: for taking the words in this light, not one of the persons is to be understood exclusive of the other; for this description, or definition, agrees with each of them, and they are all the object of worship, and to be worshipped in a true and spiritual manner. God”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:6: One God and Father of all,.... That there is but one God is the voice of nature and of revelation; and may be concluded from the perfections of deity, for there can be but one eternal, infinite, immense, omnipotent, all-sufficient, perfect, and independent Being; and from one first cause of all things, and the relations he stands in to his creatures: there is but one God, who is truly, and really, and properly God, in opposition to all nominal and figurative deities, and which are not gods by nature, and to the fictitious deities and idols of the nations; and there ”

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