Introduction
God is the supreme being, possessor of all power, all knowledge, and exists outside of time. As the creator and sustainer of the universe and all life, God demonstrates certain characteristics or attributes that reveal His divine nature and give us insight into who He is. Though we can never fully comprehend God, Scripture provides rich revelation of His attributes. Let’s explore some of the primary attributes of God found in the Bible.
God Is All-Powerful
The attribute of omnipotence refers to God being all-powerful or almighty. Many verses attest to this aspect of His character:
- “I am the Almighty God.” (Genesis 17:1) This verse declares God’s absolute power and complete might, identifying Him as the source of all strength and ability. As the “Almighty,” He has supremacy over all things. There are no limitations or constraints on His power. He possesses exhaustive capabilities exceeding anything humans can fully grasp. Declaring Himself as “Almighty God” underscores that the fullness of might finds its fountainhead in Him alone.
- “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) God Himself poses the rhetorical question highlighting that no feat or task exceeds His capabilities. His power knows no limits in scale or scope. This declaration conveys a sense of wonder at God’s unlimited power. By pointing to His lordship over humanity, it suggests that the one who finely crafted mankind can accomplish absolutely anything. There is no gradation to His power and might.
- “Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm!” (Jeremiah 32:17) The prophet exalts God’s exhaustive power required to create the entire universe. It testifies to the limitless magnitudes of His might. Creating worlds demands incomprehensible energy. The verse attributes this to God’s “great power,” underscoring the superlative degree of His strength. It is so immense that no human language can adequately capture its extremes.
- “The LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron.” (Judges 1:19) While absolute, God’s exercise of power voluntary rather than by compulsion. He ordains human will and works within human decisions rather than overriding them, though never losing control. This episode showcases God limiting His intervention to allow for the meaningful consequences of human choices. Yet His sovereign oversight persists above it all.
As these verses demonstrate, God has supreme power and lordship over all creation. Nothing is too difficult for Him. At the same time, He allows human free will rather than fully expressing His omnipotence at all times. But His overall sovereignty remains intact.
God Is All-Knowing
The theological term for God’s all-encompassing knowledge is omniscience. Scripture testifies to God’s absolute wisdom and understanding:
- “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” (Psalm 147:5) This psalm extols God’s knowledge and discernment as exceeding all quantifiable dimensions, highlighting how He surpasses all constraints. No unit of measurement can capture the immensity of His comprehension. He possesses native understanding rather than acquired knowledge. Therefore nothing lies beyond the grasp of what He inherently knows in Himself.
- “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” (Isaiah 46:9-10) God alone knows the future with certainty, proving His knowledge transcends time and finite limitations. He combines perfect foresight with absolute power, ensuring the flawless achievement of His intentions across the ages. This verifies that He has no need to “learn” in order to react correctly. Omniscience guarantees strategic optimization across the canvas of history.
- “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33) This doxology conveys the marvels of God’s wisdom, while admitting its unfathomable mysteries to humans. The verse emphasizes the “depth” and extensiveness of His understanding. Simultaneously, it acknowledges limitations in accessing the full dimensions. A degree of incomprehensibility persists because God’s thoughts remain higher than people can reach.
From beginning to end, past, present, and future, God sees and knows everything. His vast understanding guides His actions and plans.
God Is All-Present
Along with omnipotence and omniscience, God’s omnipresence means He is everywhere at once throughout all creation. Some verses that speak to this quality include:
- “Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:23-24) This declaration makes explicit that no location or dimension exists detached from God’s presence. No human can escape Him. He fills the totality of creation, from greatest to least. No boundary can circumscribe Him.
- “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27) Solomon marvels that despite God’s intimate nearness and involvement on earth, the cosmic realms still cannot encapsulate the fullness of His being. Even the highest heavens cannot restrict access because He transcends all categories of location.
As expressed in these verses, God transcends space and distance. No one can escape His presence since He fills the earth.
Other Primary Attributes of God in Scripture
Beyond omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, here are some other key attributes of God found in the Bible:
- Sovereignty – “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)
This verse beautifully articulates the concept of God’s sovereignty, signifying His supreme rule and authority over the entire universe. The language used, such as “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory,” reflects a profound acknowledgment of God’s majesty. The verse not only attributes the heavens and the earth to God but also declares His kingdom, positioning Him as exalted above all. This portrayal of sovereignty serves as a foundational understanding of God’s rulership, emphasizing His unmatched power and authority.
- Righteousness and Justice – “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)
In Deuteronomy 32:4, God’s righteousness and justice are depicted as integral to His character. The metaphorical reference to God as “The Rock” signifies a solid foundation of perfection. The statement that “all his ways are justice” underscores the consistency of God’s just dealings with His creation. Describing God as “faithful and without iniquity, just and upright” reinforces the idea that His actions are morally flawless. This verse offers a glimpse into the ethical nature of God, portraying Him as a just and upright deity.
- Love – “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)
The passage from 1 John 4:7-8 delves into the profound nature of God’s love. It encourages believers to engage in mutual love, attributing this capacity to being born of God and knowing Him. The statement “God is love” is a profound declaration that encapsulates the essence of the divine nature. The verse implies that the ability to love is a reflection of one’s connection with God, while the absence of love indicates a lack of knowledge of God. This portrayal emphasizes the centrality of love in understanding and experiencing God’s character.
- Immutability – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
Hebrews 13:8 underscores the unchanging nature of God, stating that Jesus Christ remains constant throughout time. The affirmation that He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” conveys a sense of permanence and consistency in God’s essence. This attribute of immutability provides believers with a source of assurance and stability, assuring them that God’s character and promises remain unwavering. In a world marked by change, this verse highlights the enduring nature of God, offering solace and confidence to those who place their trust in Him.
Conclusion
This exploration provides just a brief survey of God’s attributes found in the Bible. His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence along with other qualities like sovereignty, righteousness, love, and immutability offer profound revelation of His divine nature and character as the Supreme Being. As we relate to and worship God, meditating on His attributes fuels reverence, trust, obedience, and praise.