The Bible reveals God’s nature through a rich tapestry of attributes—both incommunicable (unique to God alone) and communicable (shared in limited ways with humanity). These are not abstract ideas but expressions of who God truly is, consistently demonstrated throughout Scripture.
- Incommunicable Attributes (God’s uniqueness)
- Eternal: God exists outside of time—without beginning or end (Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 57:15).
- Immutable: He never changes in essence, character, or promise (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).
- Omnipresent: He is everywhere fully present at all times (Psalm 139:7–10; Jeremiah 23:24).
- Omniscient: He knows all things—past, present, future, and potential (Psalm 147:5; Hebrews 4:13).
- Omnipotent: He is all-powerful, able to do anything consistent with His nature (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26).
Communicable Attributes (reflected partially in humans)
- Holy: Utterly separate from sin, morally perfect and pure (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15–16).
- Righteous & Just: Always acts in accordance with what is right; judges fairly (Psalm 11:7; Deuteronomy 32:4).
- Loving: Love is intrinsic to His being (1 John 4:8); shown supremely in Christ (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
- Merciful & Gracious: Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and forgiveness (Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 103:8–14).
- Faithful: Always true to His promises and covenant (Deuteronomy 7:9; Lamentations 3:22–23).
- Good: All He does flows from perfect goodness (Psalm 100:5; Mark 10:18).
- Sovereign: Rules over all creation with ultimate authority and purpose (Daniel 4:35; Ephesians 1:11).
These attributes are perfectly harmonized in God’s character—His justice never compromises His mercy, and His holiness never diminishes His love. In Jesus Christ, “the fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9), revealing God’s heart most clearly: full of grace, truth, and redemptive purpose.
Attributes of human being
The Bible presents human beings as uniquely crafted by God, bearing profound dignity and purpose. While humans are finite and fallen, they reflect divine intentionality and carry capacities that distinguish them from the rest of creation. Human attributes can be understood in three key dimensions: ontological (what we are), relational (how we connect), and functional (what we do).
1. Made in the Image of God (Imago Dei)
This foundational truth (Genesis 1:26–27) implies several interwoven attributes:
- Rationality: Capacity for reason, abstract thought, and discernment.
- Morality: Innate sense of right and wrong, conscience, and accountability (Romans 2:14–15).
- Creativity: Ability to imagine, innovate, and steward creation artistically and practically.
- Spirituality: Designed for relationship with God—capable of worship, prayer, and spiritual awareness.
- Relationality: Created for community (“It is not good for man to be alone,” Genesis 2:18); wired for love, empathy, and covenant bonds.
2. Embodied Souls (Unity of Physical and Spiritual)
Humans are not merely souls in bodies but integrated beings:
- Physicality: The body is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) and declared “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
- Emotions: Scripture affirms a full range—joy, sorrow, anger, compassion—as part of our design (e.g., Jesus wept in John 11:35).
- Volition: Genuine freedom to choose, love, obey, or rebel (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15).
3. Fallen Yet Redeemable
After the Fall (Genesis 3), human nature became marred—but not erased:
- Sinful Inclination: All are born with a bent toward self-rule and separation from God (Romans 3:23; Psalm 51:5).
- Conscience & Longing: Even in brokenness, humans retain moral intuition and a hunger for meaning, justice, and transcendence (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
- Capacity for Renewal: Through Christ, believers are being restored to true humanity—“created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).
4. Purpose-Driven Design
Humans are wired for mission:
- Stewardship: To cultivate and care for creation (Genesis 1:28; 2:15).
- Worship: Our chief end is to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7; 1 Corinthians 10:31).
- Love: To love God and neighbor as the fulfillment of our design (Matthew 22:37–39).
In Christ, what it means to be truly human is both revealed and restored. Jesus—the perfect image-bearer (Colossians 1:15)—shows us humanity as it was meant to be: dependent, loving, just, creative, and whole. Through Him, our fractured attributes are healed, and our purpose is reclaimed.