Resource: Attributes of God - a Scripture Study

Photo from The Brick Testament

God is...

Personal

God is a self-conscious Being capable of thought, will, and interaction with others.

OT: Gen 1:1-31; Exod 20:1-17; Job 12:13; Ps 2:4; Prov 3:19f; Isa 55:8f.

NT: Matt 6:1-15; 2Cor 1:3f; 1Thes 4:3,7.

Creator

The whole of creation came into existence through the will and power of God.

OT: Gen 1:1-31; Neh 9:5f; Job 38:1-41; Ps 19:1; 24:1f; 33:6-9; 89:11f; 95:6f; 102:25-27; Isa 44:24; 45:18; Zech 12:1.

NT: Acts 14:15; Rom 1:20; Heb 11:3; Rev 4:11

Life Giver

All of life was created by and is dependent on God.

OT: Gen 2: 7; Ps 36:9; Job 12:10; 33:3; Dan 5:23.

NT: Acts 17:25; 1Tim 6:13; Rev 22:1.

Spirit/Invisible

God's existence can be immaterial, non-physical, and is distinct from His creation.

OT: Exod 20:4; Dt 4:11; Job 9:11; 23:8f; 35:14.

NT: John 1:18; 4:24 (cp. Luke 24:39); 6:46; Col 1:15; 1Tim 1:17; 6:16; Heb 11:27; 1John 4:12.

Omnipresent

God is present in all places at all times.

OT: 1Sam 2: 3; 1Ki 8:27; Ps 73:23-28; 139: 7f; Jer 23:23f.

NT: John 4:20-24; Acts 7:48-50; 17:26-28; Eph 4:6; Heb 13:5f.

Omniscient

God knows all things.

OT: 1Ki 8:37-39; Job 34:21f; 37:16; 38:1-3; Ps 10:11-15; 33:13-15; 59:5-9; 94:4-11; 139:1-6,11f,15-18; 147:4f; Prov 15:3; Eccl 12:13f; Isa 29:15f; 40:12-14,25-28; Jer 16:17; 32:19; Zech 4:10.

NT: Matt 6: 7f; 10:30; Acts 15:18; Rom 11:33; Col 2:3; Heb 4:13; 1John 3:20.

Knows the Future

God's omniscience includes knowledge of all that will come to pass before it occurs.

OT: Gen 15:13f; Exod 3;19; Deut 31:15-21; 1Ki 13:1f (see 2Ki 23:15f); 1Ki 14:12f,17f; Josh 6:2 (see 1Ki 16:34); Ps 139:4, 16; Isa 40:12-14,27-31; 41:21-24; 44:6-8; 48:3-5; 65:24; Jer 1:5; 32:3-5 (cp. Ezek 12:13; 2Ki 25:5-7); Dan 2:28.

NT: Matt 2:4-6; Eph 1:3f; Acts 3:18; 15:16-18; 1Cor 15:3f; Rev 13:8; 17:8.

Omnipotent

God can do all things capable of being done with an unlimited amount of power.

OT: Gen 17:1; 18:14; Deut 32:39; 2Chr 20:6; Ps 33:6-11; 115:3; 135:6; Isa 14:24-27; 40:28; 43:13; Jer 32:17,27.

NT: Matt 19:26; Luke 1:37; 18:27; Rom 8:31; Rev 19:6.

Sovereign

God is absolute Lord over His creation and all that occurs therein.

OT: 1Sam 2:6-10; Lam 3:37-39; Job 9:12 (cp. 23:1-7); 34:24-30; 36:22f; 37:20; 38:1-4; 40:1-8; 42:1-6; Ps 2:1-12; 33:10f; 37:12f; 103:19; 135:6f; Isa 40:12-17,22f; 45:9f; 64:8: Dan 4:35.

NT: Matt 10:29; Acts 5:38f; 17:24-26; 18:9f; Rom 9:20; Jam 4:13-15.

Incomprehensible

God cannot be fully known.

OT: Job 9:10; 11: 7-9; 36:26; Ps 139:6; 145:3; Isa 40:28; 55:8f.

NT: Rom 11:33-36; 1Cor 2:11,16; Eph 3:9; Phil 4: 7.

But God can be known truly: Jer 9:23f; Dan 11:32; John 17:3; 1Cor 13:9-12; Eph 1:9; 1John 5:20.

Eternal

God had no beginning and will have no end.

OT: Gen 1:1; 21:33; Exod 3:14; Deut 32:40; 33:27; Job 36:26; Ps 10:16; 41:13; 90:2; 93:2; 102:27; 106:48; 117:1f; Isa 40:28; 43:13; 44:6; 57:15; Hab 1:12.

NT: Acts 15;18; Rom 1:20; 16:25f; 1Tim 1:17; 6:16; Heb 4:3; 11:3; Rev 1:4; 11:17; 21:6.

Self-Existent

God has life within Himself; His existence is not dependent on any other.

OT: Gen 1:1; Exod 3:14.

NT: John 5:26; Acts 17:24f; 1Tim 1:17; 6:16.

Immutable

God cannot change in his nature, character, or dependability.

OT: Gen 8:22; 9:8-13; Numb 23:19; 1Sam 15:29; Lam 3:22f; Ps 33:1; 89:34; 102:24-27; Isa 40:28; Mal 3:6.

NT: Rom 11:29; 2Tim 2:11-13; Titus 1:1-3; Heb 6:13-20; 10:19-23; Jam 1:17.

Perfect

God is flawless and complete; He does not lack anything or have any moral imperfection.

OT: Gen 18:14; Deut 3:3f; 2Sam 22:31-33; Job 21:22; Ps 19: 7.

NT: Matt 5:48; Rom 12:2; 1John 3:3.

Incomparable

God is superior over all in His essence, character, and actions and is worthy of all praise.

OT: Exod 15:11; Deut 33:26; 2Sam 7:22; Ps 35:10; 50:21; 71:19; 86:8-10; 97:9; 113:4-6; Isa 40:25; Jer 10:6-16.

NT: 1Tim 1:17; 6:15f; Jude 25; Rev 4:8-11.

Good

The moral character of God

OT: Exod 34:6; 1Chr 16:34; Ps 25:8; 34:8-10; 135:3; Lam 3:25; Nah 1: 7.

NT: Matt 7:11; Acts 14:17; Rom 2:4; 2Thes 1:11.

Holy

God is separate from all else, especially from all evil.

OT: Exod 3:5; 19:10-21: 20:18-21; 33:18-23; Lev 19:2; Deut 5:23-27; 1Sam 2:2; 6:20; Ps 22:3; Isa 6:1-5; 57:15; Jer 5:22; Hab 2:20.

NT: Jam 1:13; 1Pet 1:15f; Rev 3: 7; 4:8-10; 15:3f.

Righteous and Just

God's nature and actions are always morally right.

OT: Gen 18:25; Exod 9:27; Ps 11: 7; 19:8f; 33:4f; 89:14; 97:2-6; 111:3; 119:142,160,172; 129:4.

NT: Matt 6:33; Acts 17:30f; Rom 1:16f; 3:21-26; 3:21-26; 7:12; Jam 1:13; 1John 1:5,9; 3: 7; Rev 15:3; 16:4-7; 19:2.

Judge

God is the final determiner of what is morally right or wrong; all people are answerable to Him and His standards.

OT: Gen 18:25; Deut 32:34-43; 1Sam 2:3,10; 1Chr 16:33; Ps 7:11; 9: 7f; 10:8-18; 10:8-18; 50:1-6; 58:10f; 82:8; 94:2; 96:13; 98:9; Isa 66:14-17.

NT: Rom 1:32; 2:2-5; 10:16; Heb 10:30; 12:23; 13:4; Rev 20:11-15.

Wrath

God's moral character leads Him to judge and punish all unrighteousness.

OT: Exod 15: 7-10; 22:22-24; Deut 4:24; 7:10; 32:21f; Isa 13:11-13; Jer 10:10.

NT: Matt 3: 7; Luke 12:2-5; John 3:36; Rom 1:18; 2:5; 5:9; Eph 2:3; Col 3:6; 5:6; 1Thes 1:10; Heb 10:26-31; 12:29; Rev 11:16-19; 15:1,7f; 16:1.

Immediate judgments: Gen 38: 7-10; Lev 10:1-3 (cp. 16:13); Numb 16:1-49; 21:4-9; 2Sam 6:1-13; Ezek 18:4; Luke 13:1-5; Acts 5:1-11; 12:20-23 (cp. Gen 2:16f; 3:1-6; 5:5).

Grace, Mercy and Love

God's dealings with His people are based on His goodness, generosity, concern, and compassion; instead of on what we deserve.

OT: Deut 7: 7-9; 10:15-18; 33:12; 1Chr 16:34; Neh 9:17; Ps 63:3; 86:15; 100:5; 103:8; 119:64; 145:8f; Isa 63: 7-9; Jer 31:3; Lam 3:22-26; Dan 9:9; Jonah 3:10-4:2.

NT: John 3:16; Rom 5:8-11; Eph 1:6f; 2:4-10; Titus 3:3-7; 1John 4:9f; 5:11-13; Rev 21:4.

Inspiration

Detail of Michaelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam' in the Sistine Chapel

For some reason the word 'inspire' has been on my mind for a few days this week. I felt prompted to investigate it further, particularly with regards to my faith and understanding of Scripture. As a creative person, inspiration is important to me. I hope, also, that I am able to inspire others at times.

The somewhat onomatopoeic word 'inspire' has a lovely breathy quality about it. All I know about the derivative of the word is that it is something to do with 'breath', based on the Latin. Now, I'm definitely no hardcore intellectual or theological scholar (and total kudos to those who are!) I do, however, have a love of words which extends to the joy of word-play. I also love learning about the original meanings of words (etymology), especially in relation to Bible texts, so I can build up a fuller picture of what is intended. I was fortunate (?!) to have studied Latin until I was 15, before dropping it at the first opportunity for History! While I disliked it intently at the time and couldn't see the point in being taught a 'dead language', it proved to be a useful tool when understanding word definitions in other areas - such as language and musical terms.

I decided to start with looking at the dictionary definition of 'inspire.'

Our English word 'inspire' comes from the Latin verb 'inspirare' – from 'spirare' (to breathe) – 'in' (in) and 'spiro' (breathe). Definitions of the verb include:

inspire [ɪnˈspaɪə]
1. to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon (a person); animate or invigorate
2. (tr; foll by with or to; may take an infinitive) to arouse (with a particular emotion or to a particular action); stir
3. (tr) to prompt or instigate; give rise to her beauty inspired his love
4. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) (tr; often passive) to guide or arouse by divine influence or inspiration
5. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) to take or draw (air, gas, etc.) into the lungs; inhale
6. (tr) Archaic
a.  to breathe into or upon
b.  to breathe life into
[C14 (in the sense: to breathe upon, blow into): from Latin inspīrāre, from spīrāre to breathe]

I then decided to also look up the word 'inspire' in the Bible and came across two different contexts.

A good use of the word as defined above is in the creation of Adam: dust or clay shaped by the Great Potter (yasar) lay as a lifeless body until the Giver of Life “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living breathing being” (Genesis 2:7). So Adam arrived 'by inspiration of God.' Beautiful.

Let's have a look at it:

"And the Lord God formed a man's body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And the man became a living person."

The Hebrew word for 'breathed' is 'naphach' (meaning to breathe, blow or be blown, sniff at, seethe, give up or lose, to cause to breathe out, express a harsher snorting sound). The Hebrew word for 'breath' is 'neshamah' (meaning, breath of God and man, the Spirit of God imparting life and wisdom to the spirit of man).

As a slight aside, there is something else I find of interest. Before they were given their new names by God, Sarah and Abraham were Sarai and Abram. At the time Sarai was barren and getting on a bit, and had exhausted her faith and Abram weakened also, causing them to devise their own scheme 'according to the flesh' (Galatians 4:23). In the Bible, name changes correspond to either character change or a major call from God. Abram's name is changed from 'Exalted Father' to Abraham 'Father of a Multitude'. Sarai's name is changed from 'Princess' to Sarah meaning 'The Princess' or 'Queen' linking her in co-rulership with her husband and including her in God's covenant promise. Why am I telling you this? Both names were expanded with the Hebrew letter H or 'Hey'. According to Jewish mystics, 'Hey' represents the breath of God and His creative power. Therefore, it can be said that God gave them new names and breathed life into their circumstances - and Sarah gave birth to Isaac despite her being 90 and Abraham being 101! I'll try and find out more about this.

'Inspire' is also used in the translation of the following verse (2 Timothy 3:16):

"All scripture is inspired and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

Here, the word 'inspired' comes from the Greek word 'theopneustos' that is, 'God-breathed' or 'breathed out by God.' The word is made up of two others - 'theo' meaning God, and 'pneustos' meaning to breathe or inspire and relates directly to God's Spirit (Gk pneuma) which can also be translated 'breath.' This word is only used once in the Greek New Testament, in the verse seen above and therefore the exact meaning is not known.

There seems to be some misunderstanding as to the interpreted meaning of the use of 'inspire' in this verse. While 'inspire' can have the meaning as shown in the Latin term that means 'to breathe into', this is not what Paul is talking about here. He is not saying that the Scriptures are human words into which God has 'breathed' something special, something beyond the norm. Neither is he saying that God did something special to the writers of Scripture, though this is a common usage of the term today as well. While the authors were of course 'inspired by God to write' (holy men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Spirit, 2 Pet. 1:21), this is not the meaning of the term here. By using theopneustos in this context, Paul tells us that the very Scriptures themselves are the creation of God, reflecting His very breath, His very speaking.

So, what have I learned from looking into this? A couple of things really. I've learned more about the contexts of the original words and there meanings, which makes the Scriptures come alive to me. I've been reminded of how awesome our God is - that He chose to create man 'in His image' and breathe life into him...as well as giving us the living Scriptures as a guide to help us draw closer to him while we are on earth.

Amazing and powerful stuff - just from one word! I truly am inspired!