Attributes of God Introduction to the creed

Points of Study A. How do we study the characters of God B. How to classify God’s Characters

A. How do we Study the Characters of God Through: 1. Apagoge 2. Epagoge: a. Affirmation b. Eminence c. Negation

A. How do we Study the Characters of God 1. Apagoge: starting from the general assumption and moving toward the specific example: God is self existent (general) =He is the source of existence =He is unchangeable =He is everlasting =simple, unlimited etc.

A. How do we Study the Characters of God 2.Epagoge:(most commonly used) starting from the visible creation to reach perfections of god. this method can be applied in three lines: a. via Affirmation: (causalities) means what is needed for existence of everything. When causality is absent, existence cease.

A. How do we Study the Characters of God 2.Epagoge: b. via Eminence: this line is complementary to Affirmation. It takes the attribute of the visible creation and brings it to the perfection of God. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” Romans 1:20

A. How do we Study the Characters of God 2.Epagoge: c.via Negation: to use negative terms. negation is additional. We need affirmation first. example: Incomprehensible, limitless etc.

B. How to classify God’s Characters There is no division in God’s Characters. God is simple spirit without complexity. These classifications are for the purpose of studying.

B. How to classify God’s Characters 4 common ways: 1.Positive and negative 2.Can or can not be given 3.Attributes of Nature (Absolute), and those of Action (Relative) 4.Absolute or Relative (another way to name the attributes of nature and those of Action)

B. How to classify God’s Characters 1.Positive: powerful, righteous, living… negative: without blame, limitless… 2.Can be given to humans: holiness, righteousness, truth… Can not be given to humans: simplicity, self sufficiency…

B. How to classify God’s Characters 3-The study of the Attributes of Nature is called (theology) -The study of the attributes of Action is called (economy) Both lead to each other; studying someone’s nature leads to understand his action. Studying the actions leads to understand the person.

B. How to classify God’s Characters Note: Under the absolute Characters, are the Hypostatic Characters.. To be studied under the dogma of The Trinity.

The Attributes of God’s Nature= AbsoluteAction=Relative 1 LimitlessAll knowing 2 Self existingPerfect wisdom 3 Self sustainingPerfect freedom 4 Eternal-everlastingPantocrator 5 UnchangeableAll Holy 6 All presentRighteous, Just 7 Invisible, incomprehensibleLove 8 BlessedTruth, faithfulness

Attributes of Nature 1.Limitless:Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable Psalms 145:3

Attributes of Nature 2.Self existing( Autosia) And God said unto Moses, I AM Who I AM Exodus 3:14 from the Septuagint and Church tradition this was understood as –God is the fullness of being and the self existing. All creation is to receive their being from Him.

Attributes of Nature 3.Self sufficient: “Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things”;Acts 17:25 “ you have no need of my servitude, but I have a need of your Lordship” St Gregory of Nazianzen Liturgy

Attributes of Nature 4.Eternal-Everlasting; “And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God". Genesis 21:33 Eternity-everlasting is not a very long time. We cannot compare it to time. It is outside time, it is God’s essence according to st. Augustine “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” John 17;3 To God; every thing exist now, no past, present or future. 1 tim 1:17, Rev. 10:6

Attributes of Nature 5.Unchangeable: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning". James 1:17 “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed”. Malachi 3:6 -This Character is directly related to everlasting -The works of creation does not change Him. -ascribing human emotions to god, is the way we can understand His attributes: Anger = hating sin = holiness He is like sun rays to healthy and sick eyes.

Attributes of Nature 6.Omnipresence (ubiquity): God both: a. Present everywhere(relative) ”Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD "Jeremiah 23:23 –24 b. Can not be contained in a place: (absolute) “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?”Isaiah 66:1

Attributes of Nature 6.Omnipresence (ubiquity): -The three hypostases should not be thought of as filling the void of one-another, but as in one- another. -How does God exist everywhere? 1. Through his power & care 2. Through His Knowledge, He sees everything 3. Through His Actual presence: this should not be confused with pantheism, nor do we mean that God is made of particles; distributed everywhere.

Attributes of Nature 6.Omnipresence (ubiquity): -We can think of God’s presence as the presence of the soul in the body (relative). Except that god is not limited to the created world (absolute) -To say that God lives in heaven, is to be understood metaphorically as transcendent. According to St Athanasius

Attributes of Nature 7.Invisible –Incomprehensible: ”Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen”. 1 Timothy 1:17 ”No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” John 1:18 ”And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live”. Exodus 33:20

Attributes of Nature 8.Blessed: = Joy & Peace “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11 “Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:15,16