# Who God is Some of God's qualities are explicitly defined in [the Bible](bible.md), and can only be true, without room for philosophical [speculation](imagination.md). - That doesn't mean we can't take guesses at many other components of God, but it does mean there are certain constants. Even without [the Bible](bible.md), we can still [logically](logic.md) conclude God's existence through induction. - Kalam argument: Everything started with something, so God is that something that started everything. - Liebniz argument: Everything has an explanation for it, so God explains the universe's existence. - Fine-Tuning argument: The universe is highly ordered and necessary for [life](science-life.md) to exist, so something must have fine-tuned it, and it's absurd to presume it came from pure randomness. - Moral argument: [morality](morality.md) requires God to exist, and morals do exist, so God exists (which happens to also nullify the Evil God Challenge). - Ontological argument: There's something that's the "greatest" to compare everything to, and that's God. ## God is a mystery God is unlike any other being in our experience: - [Psalm 113:5-6](https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/113.htm) - [Isaiah 55:8-9](https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/55.htm) - [Isaiah 57:15](https://biblehub.com/isaiah/57-15.htm) - [John 8:23](https://biblehub.com/john/8-23.htm) We [understand](understanding.md) God through theology (i.e., "knowledge of God"). - God has an eternal and infinite nature, so we need a decent capacity for [philosophy](philosophy.md) to [understand His viewpoint](https://theologos.site/god-sight/). - To be clear, though, we do *not* need to understand his view to [have a relationship with Him](jesus-gospel.md) ([Matthew 11:25](https://biblehub.com/matthew/11-25.htm)) - We can partially [understand](understanding.md) God, but won't be able to fully understand Him in this life ([1 Corinthians 13:9-12](https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_corinthians/13.htm)). - Thankfully, there are no intellectual barriers to [loving people](church-serve.md), meaning everyone can act in awareness of God. ## God is forever the same God has a few frequently used names: - Elohim - "El" means "strength" or "strong one", and "ohim" comes from "Alah", meaning to bind oneself by an [oath](people-contracts.md). - Altogether, it most clearly relates to "reverence". - YHWH or Yahweh - The Jews felt God's name was too sacred to pronounce with vowels, so we don't know how it would sound (e.g., "Yehwah", "Ayohuweho"). - Adonai, which means "lord, master, or husband". God is self-existing: - [Exodus 3:14](https://biblehub.com/exodus/3-14.htm) - [Psalm 90:2](https://biblehub.com/psalms/90-2.htm) - [John 1:1-5](https://biblehub.com/bsb/john/1.htm) - [John 5:26](https://biblehub.com/john/5-26.htm) - [Colossians 1:15-17](https://biblehub.com/bsb/colossians/1.htm) God is eternal: - [Psalm 102:12](https://biblehub.com/psalms/102-12.htm) -[Hebrews 13:8](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/13-8.htm) - While we can understand infinity as a concept of time, eternity is entirely removed from time. God doesn't change, even from outside influences: - [Malachi 3:6](https://biblehub.com/malachi/3-6.htm) - [James 1:17](https://biblehub.com/james/1-17.htm) - God's unchanging nature, however, is a tricky discussion with respect to the person of Jesus (see below). ## God is love God's attributes literally *define* love: - [Deuteronomy 7:7-8](https://biblehub.com/bsb/deuteronomy/7.htm) - [John 14:31](https://biblehub.com/john/14-31.htm) - [Romans 5:5-8](https://biblehub.com/bsb/romans/5.htm) - [Romans 8:35-39](https://biblehub.com/bsb/romans/8.htm) - [1 John 4:8-16](https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_john/4.htm) God is good: - [Exodus 34:6-7](https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/34.htm) - [Psalm 25:8](https://biblehub.com/psalms/25-8.htm) - [James 1:17](https://biblehub.com/james/1-17.htm) God is gracious: - [Psalm 145:17](https://www.bible.com/bible/206/psa.145.17) - [Romans 3:24](https://biblehub.com/romans/3-24.htm) - [Romans 5:15](https://biblehub.com/romans/5-15.htm) - [Romans 5:20](https://biblehub.com/romans/5-20.htm) - [Ephesians 4:7](https://biblehub.com/ephesians/4-7.htm) - [Hebrews 4:16](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/4-16.htm) God is nearby and actively involved: - [Jeremiah 23:23-24](https://biblehub.com/bsb/jeremiah/23.htm) - [Acts 17:27-28](https://biblehub.com/bsb/acts/17.htm) - [Haggai 2:5](https://biblehub.com/haggai/2-5.htm) ## Only God has the right and ability to deliver judgment God is holy, which means perfectly pure: - [Exodus 3:5-6](https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/3.htm) - [1 Samuel 2:2](https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_samuel/2.htm) - [Psalm 99:2-3](https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/99.htm) - [Isaiah 6:3](https://biblehub.com/isaiah/6-3.htm) - [Revelation 4:8](https://biblehub.com/revelation/4-8.htm) God is righteous, which is holiness applied to [action](results.md): - [Genesis 18:25](https://biblehub.com/genesis/18-25.htm) - [Psalm 19:7-9](https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/19.htm) - [Psalm 145:17](https://biblehub.com/psalms/145-17.htm) - [Jeremiah 9:24](https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/9-24.htm) God [knows](understanding.md) everything: - [Ezekiel 11:5](https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/11-5.htm) - [Psalm 147:5](https://biblehub.com/psalms/147-5.htm) - [Acts 15:18](https://biblehub.com/acts/15-18.htm) - [Romans 2:6](https://biblehub.com/romans/2-6.htm) - [Romans 11:33](https://biblehub.com/romans/11-33.htm) - [Hebrews 4:13](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/4-13.htm) - [1 John 3:20](https://biblehub.com/1_john/3-20.htm) God is fair and [just](morality-justice.md): - [Genesis 18:25](https://biblehub.com/genesis/18-25.htm) [Exodus 34:6-7](https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/34.htm) - [Nehemiah 9:32-33](https://biblehub.com/bsb/nehemiah/9.htm) - [Psalm 99:4](https://biblehub.com/psalms/99-4.htm) - [Romans 1:32](https://biblehub.com/romans/1-32.htm) - [Romans 9:14-33](https://biblehub.com/bsb/romans/9.htm) - [1 Peter 1:17](https://biblehub.com/1_peter/1-17.htm) God is merciful: - [Psalm 6:4](https://biblehub.com/psalms/6-4.htm) - [Romans 9:23-24](https://biblehub.com/bsb/romans/9.htm) - [Ephesians 2:4](https://biblehub.com/ephesians/2-4.htm) - [Titus 3:5](https://biblehub.com/titus/3-5.htm) - [Hebrews 4:16](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/4-16.htm) - [1 Peter 1:3](https://biblehub.com/1_peter/1-3.htm) God is [all-powerful](power.md): - [Psalm 115:3](https://biblehub.com/psalms/115-3.htm) - [Jeremiah 32:17](https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/32-17.htm) - [Matthew 19:26](https://biblehub.com/matthew/19-26.htm) - [Mark 14:36](https://biblehub.com/mark/14-36.htm) - [Romans 11:36](https://biblehub.com/romans/11-36.htm) - [Ephesians 1:11](https://biblehub.com/ephesians/1-11.htm) - [Hebrews 1:3](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/1-3.htm) God is all-present: - [1 Kings 8:27](https://biblehub.com/1_kings/8-27.htm) - [Job 11:7-9](https://biblehub.com/bsb/job/11.htm) - [Psalm 90:1-2](https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/90.htm) - [Psalm 139:7-10](https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/139.htm) - [Jeremiah 23:23-24](https://biblehub.com/bsb/jeremiah/23.htm) - God isn't necessarily *in* everything, but He certainly can be anywhere He wants. ## God's characteristics and actions are *not* the same God can certainly be wrathful, but only as a response to [evil](morality-evil.md). Relative to us, He has many roles: - King of kings and Lord of lords - [Deuteronomy 10:17](https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/10-17.htm) - [1 Timothy 6:15](https://biblehub.com/1_timothy/6-15.htm) - [Revelation 19:16](https://biblehub.com/revelation/19-16.htm) - The Great Physician - [Psalm 103:3](https://biblehub.com/psalms/103-3.htm) - [Matthew 14:14](https://biblehub.com/matthew/14-14.htm) - [James 5:16](https://biblehub.com/james/5-16.htm) - The Great Lawyer - [Isaiah 40:8](https://biblehub.com/isaiah/40-8.htm) - [Matthew 5:18](https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-18.htm) - [Luke 16:17](https://biblehub.com/luke/16-17.htm) - The Great Teacher - [Job 35:11](https://biblehub.com/job/35-11.htm) - [1 Corinthians 1:27](https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/1-27.htm) - The Great Artist - [Job 37:14-16](https://biblehub.com/bsb/job/37.htm) - [Psalm 96:11-12](https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/96.htm) - [Ecclesiastes 3:11](https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-11.htm) - The Great Recordkeeper - [2 Samuel 14:11](https://biblehub.com/2_samuel/14-11.htm) - [Luke 21:28](https://biblehub.com/luke/21-28.htm) - A Consuming Fire - [Hebrews 12:29](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/12-29.htm) - [Deuteronomy 4:24](https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/4-24.htm) ## Jesus is God Jesus consistently claimed to be equal with God using an intentionally concealed tone: - [John 8:58](https://biblehub.com/john/8-58.htm) - [Mark 2:1-12](https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/2.htm) - [Mark 2:28](https://biblehub.com/mark/2-28.htm) - [Mark 14:60-64](https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/14.htm) Jesus is also, however, fully man: - [Matthew 16:3](https://biblehub.com/matthew/16-3.htm) - [Matthew 20:28](https://biblehub.com/matthew/20-28.htm) Like the Trinity, it's difficult for us to understand how Jesus is 100% man and 100% equal with God. - He couldn't have risen from the dead or done miracles if He didn't have God's power. - He couldn't have legitimately died if He wasn't a man. - *We're* obviously not God, so it requires more [philosophical](philosophy.md) [analysis](logic.md). [Jesus' *entire message*](jesus-gospel.md) requires people to take His divine humanity as a literal concept, so Christians in this life will always be stuck with a paradox of [understanding](understanding.md). There is no direct significance about the name "Jesus" or "Jesus Christ". - The modern styling would be "Josh the Savior". - Many Jewish people were called Jesus up to the second century AD, and it should more accurately be phrased "Yeshua", borrowed from "Joshua". - The word "Joshua" was contracted from "Jehoshua", which meant "Jehovah the Savior". - "Christ" simply means "Messiah" or "Savior", which describes His role. - Calling Him "Lord" is a far more pronounced reality, since the [power dynamic](power.md) is extremely discrepant. - He goes by *many* other names, and here are a few examples: - Branch ([Isaiah 11:1](https://biblehub.com/isaiah/11-1.htm)) - Banner for People ([Isaiah 11:10](https://biblehub.com/isaiah/11-10.htm)) - Desire of All Nations ([Haggai 2:7](https://biblehub.com/haggai/2-7.htm)) - Peacemaker (Shiloh) ([Genesis 49:10](https://biblehub.com/genesis/49-10.htm)) - Prophet ([Deuteronomy 18:15](https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/18-15.htm)) - Redeemer ([Psalm 19:14](https://biblehub.com/psalms/19-14.htm)) - Savior ([Acts 5:3](https://biblehub.com/acts/5-3.htm)) - Calling on His name has significance ([Romans 10:13](https://biblehub.com/romans/10-13.htm), [Joel 2:32](https://biblehub.com/joel/2-32.htm)) - However, the meaning *behind* calling on the name of Jesus is far more significant than the name itself. ## God is a Trinity of three persons God is a Father, a Son, and a Spirit - [Matthew 12:31](https://biblehub.com/matthew/12-31.htm) - [John 16:3](https://biblehub.com/john/16-3.htm) - [John 16:8](https://biblehub.com/john/16-8.htm) - [Acts 5:3](https://biblehub.com/acts/5-3.htm) - [Acts 7:51](https://biblehub.com/acts/7-51.htm) - [Acts 8:39](https://biblehub.com/acts/8-39.htm) - [Acts 10:19-20](https://biblehub.com/bsb/acts/10.htm) - [Romans 8:26-27](https://biblehub.com/bsb/romans/8.htm) - [1 Corinthians 2:10-11](https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_corinthians/2.htm) - [1 Corinthians 12:11](https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/12-11.htm) - [Ephesians 4:30](https://biblehub.com/ephesians/4-30.htm) - [Hebrews 10:29](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/10-29.htm) At least two persons of God (the Father and Son) are distinctly male. - Some metaphors express female attributes, but *very* rarely: - [Matthew 23:37](https://biblehub.com/matthew/23-37.htm) - [Luke 15](https://biblehub.com/bsb/luke/15.htm) God is One, but also three unique people who are all the same God - [Matthew 28:19](https://biblehub.com/matthew/28-19.htm) - [Luke 1:35](https://biblehub.com/luke/1-35.htm) - [John 14:16-17](https://biblehub.com/john/14.htm) - [John 14:23](https://biblehub.com/john/14-23.htm) The Trinity involves three highly interconnected relationships that closely resemble a [family](church-family.md), but more intimately than we're capable of imagining. - [Love](people-love.md) always requires a giver and receiver, and the Trinity makes Him the only being that can love as both essence *and* action. ### One of our most difficult challenges is understanding the Trinity The Bible clearly shows separate divine relationships. Jesus is distinctly different from God: - ([John 1:1](https://biblehub.com/john/1-1.htm) - [John 1:14](https://biblehub.com/john/1-14.htm) - [John 4:25-26](https://biblehub.com/bsb/john/4.htm) - [John 8:24](https://biblehub.com/john/8-24.htm) - [John 10:30](https://biblehub.com/john/10-30.htm) - [1 John 5:7](https://biblehub.com/1_john/5-7.htm)). At the same time, Jesus is the same as God: - [Isaiah 7:14](https://biblehub.com/isaiah/7-14.htm) - [Luke 2:21](https://biblehub.com/luke/2-21.htm) - [Colossians 2:9-10](https://biblehub.com/bsb/colossians/2.htm) - [Hebrews 1:8](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/1-14.htm) - [1 Timothy 3:16](https://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-16.htm) Jesus and the Holy Spirit are distinctly different: - ([Matthew 1:20](https://biblehub.com/matthew/1-20.htm) - [Romans 8:9](https://biblehub.com/romans/8-9.htm) The Father and the Holy Spirit are distinctly different: - [John 14:26](https://biblehub.com/john/14-26.htm) - [John 15:26](https://biblehub.com/john/15-26.htm) - [1 Corinthians 2:10](https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/2-10.htm)) In short: - The Father isn't the Son or Holy Spirit. - The Son isn't the Father or the Holy Spirit. - The Holy Spirit isn't the Father or the Son. - But, all three are irreducibly God. We don't have any decent comparisons to the Trinity: - Water (solid, liquid, and gas) or light (primary colors that add to make white) fail in their analogy because external conditions define their form. - Our [body, soul, and spirit](people-spiritual.md) can somewhat compare, but our essence is still all contained entirely within the same being. With God being a Trinity, by [deduction](logic.md) each Person will have a different [perspective](image.md), each with at least a slightly different [understanding](understanding.md) of something: - [Matthew 24:36](https://biblehub.com/matthew/24-36.htm) - [John 6:38](https://biblehub.com/john/6-38.htm) The presence of a Trinity is the only logical way many things can happen within Christianity. - Jesus can't pray to the Father in any meaningful way without having some degree of difference from the Father. - We can't live to be like Jesus if Jesus isn't human. - The Father can't deliver judgment fairly if He's a finite human. - The arguments for the existence of God can prove the Father's existence, but they don't necessarily prove anything about Jesus. - Without the Son possessing at least some scarcity of information while also being God, then God wouldn't need to respond to human changes. - Without changes, there is effectively no [free will](people-decisions.md) because God is simply acting out a predetermined script. - There is no [legitimate relationship with God whatsoever](identity-christian.md) without a God who can respond to us in some capacity. - Jesus has been described as the firstborn of all creation ([Colossians 1:15](https://biblehub.com/colossians/1-15.htm)), and the Trinity makes it possible for God to always exist while also deciding to change for the sake of His creation. ## We can't know everything about God God created us in His [image](image.md), but we aren't God: - [Genesis 1:27](https://www.bible.com/bible/206/gen.1.27) Our finite nature means we can't fully understand Him: - [Psalm 103:15--16](https://www.bible.com/bible/206/psa.103) ## We can also know what God *can't* be God isn't "tame" or weak. God isn't [self-contradicting](logic.md), petty, or fickle. God isn't [conventional](habits.md) or [predictable](imagination.md). God isn't simply a cosmic energy or "in all of us". ## Further Reading God's Names - [The Names of Jesus - Elmer Towns](https://ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The_Names_Of_Jesus%5BETowns%5D.pdf) - [The Names of the Holy Spirit - Elmer Towns](https://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The_Names_Of_The_HolySpirit[ETowns].pdf) In-depth - [On the Holy Trinity; Doctrinal Treatises; Moral Treatises - Compilation](https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf103.html)