Theologies - Clover

C. Nature of God
1. Essence and attributes :
a. God is one Being (essence)
The essence of God is "the full nature of what God is"
(Erickson, Dictionary, 65).
"As incomprehensible as God's makeup is, it seems to consist of
three personhoods with a single, divine nature" (Barackman, 46).
b. But God has many attributes (perfections)
"God cannot be reduced to one or more of His attributes. On the
other hand, they are not separate from His essence, and are
indeed a manifestation of it" (Cook, 1:57).
"The characteristics or qualities of God which constitute Him for
what He is ... They should not be thought of as something attributed
to or predicated of Him, as if something could be added to His
nature. Rather, they are inseparable from His being"
(Erickson, CDCT, 16).
2. Classification of attributes :
a. Incommunicable attributes
Attributes or perfections of God for which there are no
corresponding characteristics in human nature.
(examples follow, pages 69, 71, 73)
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