What Are the Attributes of God According to Scripture?

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The attributes of God are the perfections inherent in His being—essential characteristics that describe who He is in His nature, essence, and actions. These attributes are not abstract ideas imposed upon God but are self-revealed in Scripture, each in perfect harmony with the others. God’s attributes are eternal, immutable, and indivisible; He does not possess these traits in part, but in full, simultaneously and completely. They are not “qualities” God grows into, but intrinsic to His being (ousia, οὐσία), as revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.

A faithful understanding of God’s attributes must begin with Scripture itself, avoiding philosophical speculation or modern reinterpretations. The attributes of God are not merely theological concepts; they shape our worship, guide our understanding of salvation, and serve as the foundation for all doctrine. As Jehovah declares, “I am Jehovah; that is my name; my glory I give to no other” (Isaiah 42:8), so our pursuit of His attributes must be rooted in what He has revealed, not human imagination.

Incommunicable and Communicable Attributes

God’s attributes are often categorized into two broad groups: incommunicable attributes, which belong to God alone and cannot be shared with creatures, and communicable attributes, which God displays in ways that humans can reflect in finite measure. This distinction is pedagogical, not absolute, but helps clarify the Creator-creature distinction.

Incommunicable Attributes of God

1. Aseity (Self-Existence)

God is independent and self-existent, needing nothing outside Himself. As Jehovah revealed to Moses, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14) [Or, based on grammar and context, an alternative reading could be, “I will be what I will be.”], indicating He is uncaused and self-sufficient. Paul affirms, “He is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything” (Acts 17:25). This attribute distinguishes God from all contingent beings, including angels and humans, who derive existence from Him.

2. Immutability (Unchangeableness)

God does not change in His nature, purposes, or promises. “For I, Jehovah, do not change” (Malachi 3:6). His immutability ensures His faithfulness and reliability. Unlike man who changes under pressure or time, “the Father of lights… with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17) remains forever the same.

3. Eternity (Timelessness)

God is without beginning or end, not bound by time. “Before the mountains were brought forth… from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:2). God sees all events—past, present, future—in one eternal “now.” Time is a created dimension; God exists above and beyond it (Isaiah 57:15).

4. Omnipresence (Everywhere Present)

God is fully present in all places at all times. “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7). He is not spatially limited. Though He manifests His presence in specific ways (e.g., in the temple or in Christ), His essence pervades all creation (Jeremiah 23:24).

5. Omnipotence (All-Powerful)

God can do all things consistent with His nature. “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). His power is seen in creation (Genesis 1:1), judgment (Exodus 14:21-31), and resurrection (Romans 1:4). His omnipotence does not mean He can do the logically contradictory (e.g., create a square circle) or violate His own nature.

6. Omniscience (All-Knowing)

God has perfect and exhaustive knowledge of all things—actual and possible. “His understanding is beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5). He knows the hearts of all people (Jeremiah 17:10) and “declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). God’s knowledge is not learned but inherent and infinite, incorporating both present realities and middle knowledge (Molinism).

7. Sovereignty

God reigns over all creation with absolute authority. “Jehovah has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). Nothing occurs apart from His decree or permission. While He does not cause evil, He permits it within His sovereign plan (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28), ensuring that His purposes prevail.

Communicable Attributes of God

1. Holiness

God is morally pure, utterly set apart from sin. “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3). His holiness defines all His other attributes. It is seen in His law (Leviticus 11:44) and demanded of His people: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness reflects not only purity but transcendence.

2. Righteousness and Justice

God always acts in perfect moral rectitude. “Jehovah is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works” (Psalm 145:17). His justice ensures that sin will be punished (Romans 2:5-6), either in the sinner or through the atonement provided in Christ (Romans 3:25-26). God’s righteousness is the standard of judgment.

3. Truthfulness and Faithfulness

God is the God of truth; He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Jesus declared, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). All God reveals is trustworthy. His faithfulness assures that He keeps His promises without fail (Lamentations 3:22-23).

4. Love

God’s love is self-giving, unconditional, and sacrificial. “God is love” (1 John 4:8). He demonstrates this in the giving of His Son (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Divine love is not emotional indulgence but covenantal commitment to the good of others. It does not nullify His justice but fulfills it in Christ’s substitutionary atonement.

5. Mercy and Grace

Mercy is God’s compassion toward the miserable; grace is His favor toward the undeserving. “Jehovah is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 103:8). Mercy withholds punishment; grace bestows blessing. Salvation is “by grace… through faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

6. Patience (Longsuffering)

God is slow to anger, allowing time for repentance. “Do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience…? God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4). Yet His patience is not eternal; judgment will come (2 Peter 3:9-10).

7. Goodness

God is intrinsically good. “You are good and do good” (Psalm 119:68). His goodness is seen in creation, providence, and redemption. He gives every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). There is no evil or darkness in Him (1 John 1:5).

8. Wisdom

God always chooses the best means to accomplish the highest ends. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). His wisdom is revealed in creation, providence, and the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:24). Unlike human wisdom, which is limited and often flawed, divine wisdom is perfect.

Unity and Simplicity of God

All God’s attributes exist in perfect harmony. God is not divisible into parts—He is not more love than justice, or more mercy than holiness. His simplicity means that He is not made up of components. Each attribute is fully present in all His works. For example, in the cross of Christ, God’s justice and love meet: “so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).

Why God’s Attributes Matter

A right view of God shapes everything: worship, prayer, theology, ethics, and hope. Idolatry begins when God’s attributes are misunderstood or neglected. When people emphasize one attribute over others—such as love over holiness—they create a god in their own image. The psalmist warns, “You thought that I was one like yourself” (Psalm 50:21). True knowledge of God must arise from Scripture, not speculation or sentiment.

Studying God’s attributes also cultivates humility and reverence. As Job declared, “Behold, these are but the outskirts of His ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of Him!” (Job 26:14). Worship that is ignorant of God’s true nature lacks weight and substance. Theology that does not begin with God’s character inevitably ends in error.

The Greatest Revelation: Jesus Christ

All the attributes of God are most clearly revealed in Jesus Christ, “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), in whom “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:19). He is the radiance of God’s glory and “the exact imprint of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3). In Christ, the unknowable God is made known (John 1:18).

Conclusion

The attributes of God form the bedrock of biblical theology and Christian living. They are not speculative doctrines but divine realities, essential for knowing who God is, what He requires, and how He relates to His creation. As finite creatures, we cannot grasp God exhaustively, but we can know Him truly as He has revealed Himself in His Word.

As Jeremiah declares: “Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am Jehovah who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth” (Jeremiah 9:24). Rightly understanding God’s attributes is not an academic pursuit but the highest privilege of the redeemed.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).