How Does The Bible Describe God? A Complete Overview
The Bible contains a wealth of descriptions about the nature and character of God. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals himself through his interactions with people, his laws, his promises, and his divine attributes.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The Bible describes God as eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, unchanging, loving, just, merciful, gracious, and sovereign over all creation.
In this comprehensive article, we will examine key passages throughout the Old and New Testaments that provide insight into who God is and how he relates to humankind.
God’s Pre-eminence and Divine Nature
The Eternal, Self-Existing God
The Bible establishes that God has no beginning or end, but rather has always existed from eternity past to eternity future (Psalm 90:2). As the eternal, self-existing God, He relies on nothing else for life, but simply exists of His own accord.
This eternality and self-existence set God apart from all of creation, affirming His pre-eminence as the uncreated Creator who depends on nothing outside of Himself.
Passages like Exodus 3:14 refer to God as “I AM WHO I AM,” reinforcing the self-sustaining eternal nature of His being. God also proclaims in Revelation 1:8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” This affirms His eternality spanning all of time.
God as Creator of the Universe
The Bible uniformly presents God as the divine Creator who made all things. Genesis 1:1 introduces this truth, saying, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Humanity explores a universe today that scientific research continues to show bears the hallmarks of having been exquisitely designed and formed by a higher power.
As the Creator of all, God exercises supreme authority over all He has made. Colossians 1:16 expresses this beautifully, teaching that “by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth…all things were created through Him and for Him.”
Recognizing the magnificence, complexity, and precision evident in creation should lead humanity to stand amazed at the power and skill of the One who designed it.
The All-Powerful God
The Bible presents God as all-powerful, meaning He holds supreme authority and ability to accomplish anything aligned with His divine character and promises (Jeremiah 32:17). Jesus teaches that “with God all things are possible,” underscoring this incredible divine power (Matthew 19:26).
Yet God’s omnipotence does not mean He can do absurd or contradictory things that violate His holy nature. James 1:13 explains that God “cannot be tempted with evil.” But within the confines of His righteousness, nothing thwarts His sovereign plans.
As Isaiah 14:27 says, “The Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?”
God’s Character Traits and Attributes
God’s Omniscience
God’s omniscience refers to His quality of all-knowing. As stated in 1 John 3:20, God knows everything. This includes the past, present, and future. His knowledge encompasses all things that exist in heaven and earth (Colossians 2:3).
As the creator of all things, nothing escapes His notice or awareness.
God’s Omnipresence
In addition to His infinite knowledge, God is also ever-present everywhere. This quality is called omnipresence. Through His Spirit, God is actively involved in every moment across all creation (Psalm 139:7-12). Simultaneously, He hears every prayer lifted up to Him from his children.
Though God may seem far away at times, believers can take heart that He is closer than they realize, always by their side.
God’s Immutability
A third key attribute of God is His unchanging nature, or immutability. Despite a world of instability and flux, the character and promises of God do not vary (Malachi 3:6). For this reason, His followers can fully rely on His guidance and care despite what circumstances they face.
While human friends may fail or change, God remains steadfast forever.
God’s Holiness
The holiness of God distinguishes Him from all created things. To be holy is to be morally perfect, stainless, and set apart from all sinfulness (Isaiah 6:3). Every thought, action, and motivation of God flows out of His flawless virtue.
This also makes Him uncompromising in righteousness and justice when dealing with evil and wickedness.
God’s Righteousness and Justice
As mentioned, God’s holiness directly ties to His perfect sense of justice and righteousness. He treats all human beings through an ethical standard according to truth and equity (Psalm 89:14). When punishment is due, God dispenses it without partiality or favoritism.
Yet thankfully, God tempers justice with mercy as well (see next section).
God’s Love, Grace, and Mercy
Despite God’s overwhelming holiness compared to humanity’s sinfulness, He demonstrates incredible love and grace. His foremost display of sacrificial love was by making salvation possible through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Additionally, He is inclined to show mercy, withholding punishment from those who sincerely seek forgiveness and repentance (Titus 3:4-5). His kindness leads sinners toward redemption.
God’s Relationship with Humankind
God as Covenant-Maker
In the Bible, God establishes covenants or sacred vows with key biblical figures like Abraham, Moses, David, and so on. These covenants represent a personal and profoundly loving relationship between God and humankind, where God promises to bless and protect His people and they agree to serve Him exclusively.
Some of the major covenants God makes include the Abrahamic covenant where God promises Abraham land and offspring, the Mosaic covenant where the 10 commandments and laws are established, and the Davidic covenant promising an eternal King would come from David’s line (https://www.gotquestions.org/covenants.html).
God as covenant-maker shows He is deeply invested in caring and guiding humanity.
God as Law-Giver
The Bible presents God as the ultimate divine Law-Giver, establishing ethical, ritual/ceremonial, and civil laws and commandments to instruct His people. Two central examples are:
- The 10 Commandments revealed to Moses, representing God’s moral law and standards for upright living
- The 613 mitzvot laws given to the Israelites governing all aspects of life from property laws to hygiene and more
As Law-Giver, God shows He is a God of order and principles who desires His followers to likewise live by His higher standards for their benefit (https://www.beththinking.org/bible/old-testament-law).
Trinitarian Nature of God
God the Father
The Bible presents God the Father as the creator and sustainer of all things. He is described as eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent (Jeremiah 32:17; Psalm 90:2). As Father, God exhibits parental attributes such as discipline, provision, and protection for His children (Hebrews 12:5-11; Matthew 6:25-34).
He is good, loving, merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 86:5). Yet He is also righteous and holy, hating and judging sin (Habakkuk 1:13; Romans 2:6-11).
Throughout Scripture, God is primarily referred to in masculine terms like king, father, husband, and warrior. Jesus taught His disciples to pray to God as “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9-13). He exhibited fatherly care and affection for His people (Psalm 103:13; Isaiah 49:15-16).
As Father, God deserves reverence and obedience from His children. Those who have faith in Christ are adopted into God’s family and granted intimate access to the Father (John 1:12-13; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).
Jesus Christ the Son
The New Testament presents Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God who took on human nature to accomplish salvation for mankind (Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 2:14-18). He is fully God and fully man in one person (Colossians 2:9).
As the Son of God, Jesus is coequal and coeternal with the Father and Holy Spirit (John 10:30). Though distinct persons, all three are the one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; John 1:1). The Son is the visible image of the invisible God, the exact imprint of His nature (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3).
In becoming human, the Son veiled His divine glory and became a servant on behalf of sinful humanity (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and willingly died an atoning death on the cross, shedding His blood for the forgiveness of sins (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:2).
He rose bodily from the grave, defeating sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). After ascending to the Father, He serves as the one mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). As high priest, He intercedes for those who draw near to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25).
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the active presence of God in the world and indwelling believers. He is described in the Bible as being eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent (Hebrews 9:14; Psalm 139:7-10). The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son as God (Acts 5:3-4; Matthew 28:19).
Though distinct in personhood, He is one in essence and nature with the other members of the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit carries out many vital operations, including conviction of sin (John 16:8), regeneration (Titus 3:5), sanctification (1 Peter 1:2), empowerment to live holy lives (Romans 8:13), assurance of salvation (Romans 8:16), and the distribution of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
He guides believers into truth, comforts in times of grief, and encourages through the Word (John 16:13; Acts 9:31). His indwelling presence is a seal and guarantee of future resurrection (Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:11).
Conclusion
The Bible contains a multifaceted portrait of who God is through poetic verses, historical accounts, prophetic revelations, and theological treatises. By examining the names, attributes, and actions of God throughout Scripture, we gain a fuller understanding of his divine nature and relationship with humanity.
In summary, the Bible describes God as the eternal, all-powerful Creator and Sovereign of the universe who actively engages with humankind. He has revealed himself to be an all-knowing, ever-present, and unchanging God who is characterized by holiness, justice, love, grace, and mercy.
