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Attribute

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An attribute is a quality or characteristic predicated of a subject. In theology, it commonly refers to the perfections Scripture reveals about God, such as holiness, love, wisdom, and justice.

At a Glance

A general term for a quality, property, or characteristic said of a subject; in Christian theology, it especially describes the perfections of God revealed in Scripture.

Key Points

Description

Attribute is a general term for a quality, property, or characteristic said of some subject. In philosophy, it may refer broadly to a feature belonging to a thing or person; in theology, it is used especially for the divine attributes, meaning the perfections God truly possesses and reveals in Scripture. A conservative Christian approach should ground discussion of God's attributes in the biblical text rather than in speculation, while also recognizing that theology often uses careful summary language to state the whole counsel of Scripture. Thus attributes such as God's holiness, love, righteousness, wisdom, truthfulness, goodness, and power are not separate parts of God but true ways Scripture teaches us to speak of the one living God.

Biblical Context

Scripture does not treat 'attribute' as a special technical word, but it repeatedly describes God's character and works in ways later theology summarizes under that term. The biblical presentation is covenantal and relational: God reveals who he is by his name, deeds, promises, judgments, mercy, holiness, and faithfulness.

Historical Context

Systematic theology adopted 'attributes' as a convenient way to organize biblical teaching about God. Classical Christian theology used the term to describe God's perfections, while insisting that doctrine must remain accountable to Scripture and avoid treating God as a collection of separate parts.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In the Hebrew Bible and Jewish reading of it, God's character is known through his name, covenant faithfulness, and mighty acts. Later Jewish and Christian reflection often summarized these revealed perfections in doctrinal language, but the biblical witness itself remains primary.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The Bible does not use a single technical noun equivalent to the theological term 'attribute' in the later systematic sense. The concept is expressed through descriptions of God's character and actions in Hebrew and Greek rather than through one controlling label.

Theological Significance

The term matters because it helps believers speak carefully and reverently about God as Scripture reveals him. It supports worship, doctrine, and apologetics by organizing biblical teaching about God's holiness, love, justice, wisdom, power, truth, and other perfections.

Philosophical Explanation

In philosophy, an attribute is a predicable feature or characteristic of a subject. Christian theology may borrow that language, but it must not let the category define reality apart from revelation. When applied to God, the term is analogical and must respect the Creator-creature distinction.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat divine attributes as if they were detachable parts of God or as if human language could exhaust divine being. Do not force philosophical systems to override Scripture's own emphasis, and do not reduce God's character to one attribute at the expense of the others.

Major Views

Christian theology broadly agrees that God's attributes are revealed in Scripture and must be understood holistically. Differences usually concern how to classify them—such as communicable and incommunicable attributes, or whether some are logically primary—rather than whether God truly has them.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Doctrinally, the term should stay within biblical revelation, the Creator-creature distinction, and historic Christian orthodoxy. The language of attributes must not be used to deny God's unity, simplicity, holiness, or personal character, nor to flatten him into an abstract philosophical absolute.

Practical Significance

This term helps readers connect biblical descriptions of God with worship, prayer, preaching, discipleship, and careful theology. A right understanding of God's attributes encourages reverence, trust, repentance, and confidence in his character.

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