Attributes of God II Introduction to the creed. Points of Study A.How do we study the characters of God B.How to classify God’s Characters

Attributes of God II

Introduction to the creed

Points of Study

A. How do we study the characters of God

B. How to classify God’s Characters

A. How do we Study the Characters of God

• Through: 1. Apagoge

2. Epagoge:

a. Affirmation

b. Eminence

c. Negation


1. Apagoge: starting from the general assumption and moving toward the specific example: God is self existent (general)

= He is the source of existence= He is unchangeable= He is everlasting= simple, unlimited etc.


2. Epagoge: (most commonly used)

starting from the visible creation to reach perfections of god.

this method can be applied in three lines:

a. via Affirmation: (causalities)

means what is needed for existence of everything. When causality is absent, existence cease.


2. Epagoge:

b. via Eminence: this line is complementary to Affirmation. It takes the attribute of the visible creation and brings it to the perfection of God.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” Romans 1:20


2. Epagoge:

c. via Negation: to use negative terms.

negation is additional. We need affirmation first.

example: Incomprehensible, limitless etc.


There is no division in God’s Characters. God is simple spirit

without complexity. These classifications are for the

purpose of studying.


• 4 common ways:1. Positive and negative

2. Can or can not be given

3. Attributes of Nature (Absolute) , and those of Action (Relative)

4. Absolute or Relative (another way to name the attributes of nature and those of Action)


1.1. PositivePositive : powerful, righteous, living…

negativenegative: without blame, limitless…

2.2. Can be given to humansCan be given to humans: holiness, righteousness, truth…

Can not be given to humansCan not be given to humans: simplicity, self sufficiency…


3 -The study of the Attributes of Nature is called (theology)

-The study of the attributes of Action is called (economy)Both lead to each other; studying someone’s nature leads to understand his action. Studying the actions leads to understand the person.


• Note: Under the absolute Characters, are the Hypostatic Characters.. To be studied under the dogma of The Trinity.

• This is not an exhaustive study. • Some relative attributes can be absolute

characters (Love, Knowledge..).

The Attributes of God’s Nature= Absolute Action=Relative

1.Limitless 1. All knowing

2.Self existing 2. Perfect wisdom

3.Self sustaining 3. Perfect freedom

4.Eternal-everlasting 4. Pantocrator

5.Unchangeable 5. All holy

6. All present 6. Righteous, Just

7. Invisible, incomprehensible

7. Love

8. Blessed 8. Truth, faithfulness

2. Attributes of Action – Relative (Economy)

A.A. Attributes of the Attributes of the MindMind: 1. All knowing2. Perfect wisdom

B.B. Attributes of the Attributes of the WillWill::3. Pantocrator 4. Holy 5. Righteous 6. Goodness7. Love 8. Truth

Attributes of Action- Attributes of Action- MindMind:: 1- Omniscience

• Total perfect knowledge:1. God knows Himself :

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any

man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Matthew 11:27


2. God knows all creation:

“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his

sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

Heb 4:13

3. There is no change in God’s knowledge:

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning

of the world.” Acts 15:18

• God’s “foreknowledge” does not interfere with human free will.

• The “ foreknowledge” of God is not a correct term, since it implies that God is under time.

• God’s “foreknowledge” is not equal to His will.

• The actions of the humans are the reason for God’s “foreknowledge”


• Wisdom is connected to God’s perfect knowledge.

• Wisdom is God’s knowledge in relation to His goals and purpose, and the means He use to achieve these goals.

• God’s wisdom is the practical and moral aspects of His knowledge

• Pantheism denies the purpose of Divine work and denies God self Knowledge.

Attributes of Action- Attributes of Action- MindMind:: 2- Perfect Wisdom

• ”O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all.” Psalms 104:24

• ”To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” Romans 16:27

• ”Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17

• ”If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5

Attributes of Action- Attributes of Action- MindMind:: 2- Perfect Wisdom

• Whatever God does He does in perfect freedom= not moved by emotionsemotions

not moved by instinctsinstinctsnot restricted by any lawlaw

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” Ephesians 1:11

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, andwhom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

Romans 9:18,19

Attributes of ACTION-WILL: 3. God’s freedom

• Speaking of God’s will, we can make some classification:

1. Natural (Essential ) or Free will:

a- Natural will: God wills Himself as the absolute goodness. No choice

(the eternal birth of the Son belongs to Natural will, who is born not by free will but by absolute will)

b- free will: God wills everything other than Himself by free will; i.e. by choice


2. Previous or Latent will: (Described by church fathers). God’s previous will that all men be saved. His Latent will that evil people be punished.

3. Absolute or Relative Will: can also be described as active or passive will:

Absolute (Active): as with Inanimate and instinctual creation. When God remove obstacles from His creation to do His will.

Relative (passive): as with free willed creation (Angels and Humans). When God leave to the creation the choice of obstacle removal to do His will.


• It is the one attribute found in the Nicene creed

• “For with God nothing shall be impossible” Luke 1:37

“Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Genesis 18:14

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” Ephesians 3:20

I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Job 42:2

Attributes of ACTION-WILL: 4.Pantocrator

• God in Greek = “Theos” from the verb “tithenai” or “theein” which can mean;

1. Called “theos” for He “puts” everything in His keeping and trust (keeper of all)

2. “theein”: moves, initiates, works, feed, cares, rules, gives life to everything, takes charge of everything = Pantocrator.

Attributes of ACTION-WILL: : 4.Pantocrator

• Saying that God can do all things does not imply that He can lie or sin.

–As darkness is the absence of light (non existence of light), also

–Lies are the absence of the Truth.–Sin is the absence of Holiness.–If God lie or sin, He can not be perfect.


The Mystery of God’s apparent powerlessness:The Mystery of God’s apparent powerlessness:

• God sometimes seem to be absent and incapable of stopping evil. But in the most mysterious way God the Father has revealed his almighty power in the cross and resurrection of His Son.

“whom by weakness have shown forth what is more powerful than power” ‘o-monogenes from Great Friday


• Holy- Sanctus- Agios: in the Bible has two meanings:

1) Setting apart: (Negative) not used for unholy- common purpose

2) Practicing whatever Holy (positive)

God’s Holiness should not be viewed in the negative term, as He did not need to set Himself apart from anything. Nor should we view His Holiness in the positive term as if He is trying Hard to grow in holiness. But He is the source of holiness. It is God’s nature. We simply are invited to share in His holiness.

Attributes of ACTION-WILL: : 5- Holy

• And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:3

• ”Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man”

James 1:13

Attributes of ACTION-WILL: 5- Holy

• Certain verses seems to attributes evil to God: ”And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go”. Exodus 4:21

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:” 2 Thessalonians 2:10

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” Matthew 11:25


• Explanation: when a sinner insist on doing the sin, when all God’s trials to save the sinner fails, God forsake the sinner to multiply his sin. Written in the Bible as if God is “the source”

”For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:” Romans 1:26

”And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind”

Romans 1:28


• The problem of Romans 9:22“What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction”:

• If God was the one causing the sin, the word “forbore” would have not been written

• It is even clearer in 2 Tim 2:19-21 :

“And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”


• God’s Justice come from His Holiness and His love: He hates sin , shows no partiality.

• He is called Just Judge: ”Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” 2 Timothy 4:8

• The Gospel of Christ is to left from us the coming wrath.

• God’s wrath is seen in the Old Testament as pertaining to this life, while in the New Testament as pertaining to the next life.

Attributes of ACTION-WILL: 6- Righteousness, Justice

• God’s Judgment does not follow human measurement. His Judgment can not be seen from the limited view of Human

perception.

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

Rom:11:33

The Judgment of sin is eternal, because unrepented sins create a fixed state of corruption in the soul.

Attributes of ACTION-WILL: 6- Righteousness, Justice

• God’s Love is the binder of all divine attributes. -The power of God’s love-The wisdom of God’s love ”And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16

• God’s Love is absolute (the eternal love of the Trinity, hence the son is called “the son of His love”), and relative as it is extended to creation even the sinful and the evil ..”and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:35

• . In incarnation; the humanity of Christ was loved by the Father in time

Attributes of ACTION-WILL: 7- Love

• God’s Love is not mere emotion, but pure action (Actus purus).

• God’s Love is unique, nothing like it on earth. it is unconditional (Agape)

• God’s Love was perfectly revealed in the Cross of His Son

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

• In the Cross, both God’s Justice and His Love are forever united in perfect harmony.

Attributes of ACTION-WILL: 7- Love

• Truth: He that hath received his testimony hath set

to his seal that God is true. John 3:33 • No Lie: ”In hope of eternal life, which God, that

cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Titus 1:2

”If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. “ 2 Timothy 2:13

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

Numbers 23:19

Attributes of ACTION-WILL: 8- Truth and Faithfulness

• To reconcile apparent contradiction to God’s truthfulness;

“Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the

LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.”1 Kings 22:23

• God allowed King Ahab‘s deception, because the king insisted on following deception (the king gets what he really wants)

That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as

from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 2 Thessalonians 2: 2


• The beginning of sin and of man’s fall is when the tempter induced doubt in God’s faithfulness and kindness

• God is truthful when He reveals Himself.

• God’s words are true instructions. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

John17:17

• When He sends His Son into the world, it would be “to bear witness to the Truth”

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 1 John 5:20


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Attributes of God II Introduction to the creed. Points of Study A.How do we study the characters of God B.How to classify God’s Characters