What are the characteristics of God?

I. Eternal and Self-Existent

God’s eternal and self-existent nature appears throughout Scripture as the foundation of all existence. According to Psalm 90:2, “Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.” He precedes time, space, and matter, needing nothing else for His being. This concept of self-existence is also reflected in Exodus 3:14, where He identifies Himself as “I AM WHO I AM,” signifying that His power and essence originate within Himself.

Ancient writings and archaeological findings underscore the Bible’s reliability on this subject. Discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls (found in the mid-20th century near Qumran) confirm the textual consistency of passages like Isaiah 40:28 and Psalm 90:2, both asserting God’s eternality. This archaeological evidence supports that the biblical depiction of God’s eternal character has been transmitted accurately over centuries.

II. Creator and Sustainer of All Things

Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Scripture portrays God as the deliberate designer of life. Passages such as Colossians 1:16–17 emphasize His sustaining power: “All things were created through Him and for Him… in Him all things hold together.” Numerous scientific observations can also align with the idea of an “intelligent design.” For instance, the abrupt appearance of complex life forms in the Cambrian period (often called the “Cambrian Explosion”) challenges a purely gradual, undirected origin of life. Such phenomena point to sudden creativity rather than slow progression, matching a biblical framework in which God authors life.

From a geological standpoint, discussions of a young earth timeline reference genealogies in Scripture (e.g., Genesis 5 and 11) that systematically trace lineage back to Adam and suggest a more recent origin for humanity. While interpretations differ, many point toward evidence such as soft tissue discoveries in dinosaur fossils indicating possible shorter timelines for life on earth. These findings, though debated, are consistent with the view of a deliberate and recent creation, echoing Scripture’s claim of God as the Source of all.

III. Omnipotent (All-Powerful)

God’s omnipotence refers to His limitless power over creation. In Jeremiah 32:17, we read: “Ah, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!” The parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), the miracles recorded in the Gospels, and the miraculous acts still reported by many today are seen as signposts of this power.

Modern anecdotal records and documented cases of miraculous healings around the world continue to be studied. While such occurrences can be subject to skepticism, numerous physicians have attested to sudden, otherwise unexplainable recoveries. These contemporary examples speak to the possibility of a divine hand at work, consistent with the biblical portrayal of a God whose power knows no bounds.

IV. Omniscient (All-Knowing)

Scripture portrays God’s knowledge as complete and all-encompassing. Psalm 139:1–2 states, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.” His omniscience sets Him apart as the One who knows past, present, and future perfectly. Passages like Isaiah 46:9–10 undergird His ability to declare the end from the beginning, assuring believers that nothing escapes His awareness.

The remarkable consistency of prophecy recorded throughout Scripture, validated by preserved manuscripts (e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls’ detailed alignment with modern Hebrew Bibles), lends credibility to claims of divine foreknowledge. Prophecies concerning historical events—such as Babylon’s fall (Isaiah 13) or the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 53)—demonstrate the Bible’s claim that God sees and directs outcomes across history.

V. Omnipresent (Present Everywhere)

Psalm 139:7–8 affirms God’s omnipresence: “Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.” The biblical witness is that God, being Spirit (John 4:24), transcends physical constraints, making Him present in all realms simultaneously.

This characteristic comforts believers and challenges nonbelievers, as the concept of a God who is everywhere confronts human limitations. Throughout church history, personal testimonies of individuals in remote regions encountering divine workings attest to a God who is not confined to one geographic place.

VI. Holy and Righteous

God’s holiness signifies absolute moral purity. Isaiah 6:3 cries, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory!” This repetition reinforces the unmatched moral perfection of God. Righteousness flows from His holiness, meaning that all of His judgments and actions align with perfect justice.

Archaeological confirmations of biblical accounts—such as the discovery of the Tel Dan Stele referencing King David, or the Pilate Stone that affirms Pontius Pilate’s historical existence—indirectly substantiate the contexts in which God’s holiness and righteous standards are revealed. Many ancient legal codes reflect a sense of moral law, but the biblical portrayal goes further by showing a God who not only institutes moral law but embodies it perfectly.

VII. Loving and Merciful

Passages like 1 John 4:8 declare that “God is love.” He is portrayed as actively seeking relationship with humanity, culminating in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” This love extends to mercy, a willingness to withhold the punishment deserved and instead offer forgiveness (Psalm 103:8).

Historical corroborations of the events surrounding the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus reflect the depth of this divine love. Early documents preserved outside of strict religious circles (like certain references in Tacitus and Josephus) affirm that a real figure named Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. Combined with the wide number of ancient manuscript witnesses (thousands of Greek manuscripts along with early translations and quotations by the Church Fathers), these provide evidence that the biblical account of Christ’s sacrificial act is historically well-supported.

VIII. Just and Wrathful

God’s justice ensures that He will right all wrongs, while His wrath reflects a necessary response against sin. Romans 1:18 states: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men…” Though unpopular in many cultural settings, this aspect of God’s character underscores His holiness and sovereignty, affirming that He does not ignore evil.

Biblical narratives like the global Flood (Genesis 6–9) or the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) illustrate comprehensive responses to corruption and injustice. Many geological references (such as extensive sediment layers that some identify with rapid, catastrophic events) have been discussed in support of a historical flood. While interpretations vary, they highlight how Scripture frames God’s judgments against widespread evil.

IX. Unchanging (Immutable)

Malachi 3:6 reads, “Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.” Immutability means God remains the same in His character and promises. James 1:17 echoes this: “…the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.”

The steady consistency of God’s nature offers a foundation for trusting His Word. The ongoing survival and consistent transmission of biblical texts, seen in thousands of manuscript copies with remarkable agreement, also mirror the unchanging message about this immutable God.

X. Triune Nature

Scripture teaches that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinct persons yet one Being. Matthew 28:19 instructs, “…baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” highlighting three who share the same divine authority and essence.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus speaks of the Father’s will (John 6:38) and promises the Holy Spirit as Comforter (John 14:26). These references point to coexistent, co-eternal persons within the Godhead. Early church councils, reflecting on biblical testimony, articulated this triune mystery. As manuscripts verify consistent Trinitarian teaching in passages like John 1:1 and Philippians 2:6, the evidence underscores that this core doctrine was not a late invention but rooted in the oldest textual traditions.

XI. Faithful and True

Numbers 23:19 asserts, “God is not man, that He should lie…” His words reliably stand. This trait of faithfulness appears in multiple covenants: with Noah (Genesis 9:8–17), Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), and finally in the New Covenant through Christ (Luke 22:20). In each case, God’s commitment endures despite human failures.

Outside biblical texts, the concept of covenant loyalty is paralleled in various ancient Near Eastern treaties, providing context for how seriously covenants were taken historically. Yet the unconditional love and long-term faithfulness demonstrated in Scripture remain unique, exemplifying a God who keeps promises in every generation.

XII. The God Who Saves and Restores

A major characteristic of God is His role as Savior, highlighted in Isaiah 43:11: “I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no Savior but Me.” In the New Testament, this salvation is revealed through Christ’s death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Historical and archaeological evidence supporting a literal resurrection includes the empty tomb, attested by multiple accounts, and the explosive growth of early Christian communities in Jerusalem, the very place where the event was said to have occurred.

Scholars also reference the early creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3–7, widely dated to mere years after Jesus’s crucifixion. This points to a belief in the risen Christ that existed among the earliest believers—a strong indicator that the resurrection was not a later myth but a foundation of faith from the start. For countless individuals over the centuries, testimonies of transformation link their experience with the God who saves, reflecting tangible evidence of spiritual renewal.

XIII. Conclusion

Each characteristic displayed in Scripture—eternal, self-existent, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, loving, merciful, just, unchanging, and triune—converges to form a coherent biblical portrait. Supported by manifold manuscripts, corroborated by archaeological findings, and defended by logical considerations of design, these attributes illustrate a God who is transcendent, personal, and infinitely worthy of glory.

From inscriptions like the Pilate Stone to the Dead Sea Scrolls, from geological patterns suggesting rapid formative processes to historical evidence for Jesus’s resurrection, numerous lines of study reinforce the reliability and central claims of Scripture about God’s nature. As these attributes resonate not only in ancient writings but also in present-day experiences, they affirm that this God continues to sustain, redeem, and invite all into relationship with Him.