What are The Attributes of God

by Mihran Kulhanjian

The attributes of God are qualities or characteristics that describe who God is. God’s number one attribute is love. But few understand that another attribute which many do not want to hear is that God has another attribute which is wrath.

Listed in this section are a few, but not all, of God’s attributes and the attributes of the Son, Jesus Christ.

Attributes of God the Father / the divine nature

Attributes of Jesus Christ, including both His divine and human nature

God is the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit: one God in manifested in three persons. This is called the Trinity. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share the same divine essence. This means the attributes of God also belong to Jesus in His divinity. If we have seen Jesus, we have seen the Father. For every work and word from the mouth of Jesus is from the Father. He did the Father’s will. And He was completely sinless.

Attributes of God

1. Omnipotence — All-Powerful

God has unlimited power and authority over creation.

God can accomplish His will completely.
Nothing is impossible for Him except acting against His own nature (for example: He cannot lie. He is faithful. He cannot do evil. He is holy).

Example:

Creating the universe
Performing miracles
Sustaining all existence

2. Omniscience — All-Knowing

God knows everything:

Past, present, and future
Every thought and intention
All possibilities and outcomes

This includes perfect wisdom and understanding.

3. Omnipresence — Present Everywhere

God is not limited by space.

He is fully present everywhere at all times.
No place is outside His awareness or authority.

This does not mean God is the universe; Christianity generally rejects pantheism.

4. Eternality — Without Beginning or End

God is eternal.

He was never created.
He exists outside time while also acting within history.

5. Immutability — Unchanging

God’s character and nature do not change.

His goodness, truth, and promises remain constant.
He does not evolve morally or become more perfect.

6. Holiness — Perfect Purity

God is completely pure and morally perfect.

Separate from evil and sin
Worthy of worship
The standard of righteousness

7. Love

One of the central Christian descriptions of God is love.

Compassion
Mercy
Self-giving care
Desire for relationship

Christianity especially emphasizes sacrificial love shown through Jesus Christ.

8. Justice

God is perfectly just.

He judges rightly.
Evil and wrongdoing matter morally.
Justice is balanced with mercy.

9. Mercy

God shows compassion toward sinners and the suffering.

Forgiveness
Patience
Grace despite human failure

10. Grace

Grace is God’s undeserved favor.

Salvation is viewed as a gift, not something earned.
Grace empowers spiritual transformation.

11. Truthfulness

God cannot lie or deceive.

Completely trustworthy
Source of truth
Faithful to promises

12. Wisdom

God always knows the best purposes and outcomes.

Perfect judgment
Perfect timing
Complete understanding

13. Sovereignty

God reigns supreme over all creation.

Ultimate authority
Nothing happens outside His permission or knowledge

God can do what He wants, when He wants. However, man has free-will to obey God’s commandments or not.

14. Goodness

Everything God does is ultimately good according to His nature.

Benevolence
Generosity
Care for creation

15. Faithfulness

God keeps His promises.

Reliable
Covenant-keeping
Constant in commitment

16. Self-Existence

God depends on nothing else for existence.

He is the uncaused cause.
All created things depend on Him.

17. Transcendence

God is above and beyond creation.

Greater than the universe
Not limited by matter or natural law

18. Immanence

Though transcendent, God is also near and active in the world.

Involved in human life
Present in history
Accessible in prayer

19. Righteousness

God always acts morally rightly.

Perfect ethical purity
Perfect moral judgment

20. Unity

God is one.

One God in three persons:

Father
Son
Holy Spirit

What Are the Attributes of Jesus Christ?

“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him”. –John 1:18

Jesus possesses:

A fully divine nature. He is 100 percent God.
A fully human nature. And He was 100% human.

Divine Attributes of Jesus Christ

1. Divinity

He is truly God.

Attributes shared with God include:

Eternality
Authority
Holiness
Power
Wisdom

2. Eternity

Jesus is understood as existing before His earthly birth. He was with God in the beginning.

3. Omnipotence

The New Testament portrays Jesus exercising divine power:

Miracles
Authority over nature
Resurrection power

4. Omniscience

Jesus is depicted as knowing hearts, thoughts, and future events.

5. Authority to Forgive Sins

As God, Jesus had the authority to forgive sin.

6. Sinlessness

Jesus was without sin.

7. Lordship

Jesus is the Lord of lords and the King of kings.

Supreme authority
Ruler over creation
Judge of humanity

8. Savior

Jesus is believed to bring salvation and reconciliation between God and humanity.

Human Attributes of Jesus Christ

1. Humanity

Jesus experienced genuine human life.

Birth
Growth
Fatigue
Hunger
Emotion
Death

2. Compassion

Jesus repeatedly shows mercy toward:

The sick
The poor
The grieving
Social outcasts

3. Obedience

Jesus is portrayed as perfectly obedient to the Father.

4. Humility

Jesus modeled servant leadership and self-sacrifice.

5. Love

A defining attribute of Jesus’ ministry.

Forgiveness
Sacrifice
Care for enemies and sinners

6. Wisdom

Jesus taught with exceptional authority and insight.

7. Suffering

Jesus experienced:

Temptation
Rejection
Physical suffering
Death

Doctrines Connected to These Attributes

The Trinity

One God in three persons:

Father
Son
Holy Spirit

The Incarnation

God the Son became human in Jesus Christ.

The Hypostatic Union

Jesus is fully God and fully man simultaneously.

Scripture Affirming the Attributes of God

1. Omnipotence (All-Powerful)

Genesis 18:14 — “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”
Jeremiah 32:17 — “Nothing is too hard for You.
Matthew 19:26 — “With God all things are possible.”

2. Omniscience (All-Knowing)

Psalm 139:1–4 — God knows thoughts and words before they are spoken.
1 John 3:20 — “God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”
Hebrews 4:13 — Nothing is hidden from God.

3. Omnipresence (Present Everywhere)

Psalm 139:7–10 — “Where can I flee from Your presence?”

Jeremiah 23:23–24 — God fills heaven and earth.

4. Eternality

Psalm 90:2 — “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

Revelation 1:8 — “Who is and who was and who is to come.”

1 Timothy 1:17 — “The King eternal.”

5. Immutability (Unchanging)

Malachi 3:6 — “I the LORD do not change.”

James 1:17 — No variation or shadow of turning.

Hebrews 13:8 — “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

6. Holiness

Isaiah 6:3 — “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD.”

1 Peter 1:15–16 — “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Revelation 4:8 — Continuous worship of God’s holiness.

7. Love

1 John 4:8 — “God is love.”

John 3:16 — God loved the world and gave His Son.

Romans 5:8 — God demonstrates His love through Christ.

8. Justice

Deuteronomy 32:4 — “All His ways are justice.”

Psalm 89:14 — Justice and righteousness are God’s foundation.

9. Mercy

Ephesians 2:4–5 — “Rich in mercy.”

Lamentations 3:22–23 — God’s mercies never fail.

Psalm 103:8 — Compassionate and merciful.

10. Grace

Ephesians 2:8–9 — Saved by grace through faith.

2 Corinthians 12:9 — “My grace is sufficient for you.”

11. Truthfulness

Numbers 23:19 — God does not lie.

John 17:17 — “Your word is truth.”

Titus 1:2 — God cannot lie.

12. Wisdom

Romans 11:33 — Depth of God’s wisdom.

Proverbs 3:19 — God founded the earth by wisdom.

13. Sovereignty

Psalm 115:3 — God does whatever pleases Him.

Daniel 4:35 — None can restrain His hand.

Revelation 19:6 — “The Lord God omnipotent reigns.”

14. Goodness

Psalm 34:8 — “Taste and see that the LORD is good.”

Psalm 145:9 — The Lord is good to all.

15. Faithfulness

Deuteronomy 7:9 — God keeps covenant faithfully.

2 Timothy 2:13 — He remains faithful.

1 Corinthians 1:9 — “God is faithful.”

16. Self-Existence

Exodus 3:14 — “I AM WHO I AM.”

John 5:26 — The Father has life in Himself.

17. Transcendence

Isaiah 55:8–9 — God’s ways are higher than ours.

1 Kings 8:27 — Heaven cannot contain God.

18. Immanence

Acts 17:27–28 — God is not far from each one of us.

Psalm 145:18 — The Lord is near to all who call on Him.

19. Righteousness

Psalm 11:7 — The LORD is righteous.

Romans 3:26 — God is just and righteous.

20. Unity / Oneness

Deuteronomy 6:4 — “The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”

Mark 12:29 — Jesus repeats the Shema.

Scriptures for Affirming the Attributes of Jesus Christ

1. Divinity

John 1:1 — “The Word was God.”

Colossians 2:9 — Fullness of deity dwells in Christ.

Hebrews 1:8 — The Son addressed as God.

2. Eternity

John 8:58 — “Before Abraham was, I AM.”

Revelation 22:13 — “Alpha and Omega.”

3. Omnipotence

Matthew 28:18 — “All authority in heaven and earth.”

Colossians 1:16–17 — All things created through Him.

4. Omniscience

John 2:24–25 — Jesus knew what was in man.

John 16:30 — “You know all things.”

5. Authority to Forgive Sins

Mark 2:5–12 — Jesus forgives sins.

6. Sinlessness

2 Corinthians 5:21 — Jesus “knew no sin.”

1 Peter 2:22 — “He committed no sin.”

Hebrews 4:15 — Tempted yet without sin.

7. Lordship

Philippians 2:9–11 — Every knee will bow to Jesus.

Luke 2:11 — Christ the Lord.

8. Savior

Acts 4:12 — Salvation found in no one else.

John 14:6 — “I am the way.”

Human Attributes of Jesus Christ

1. Humanity

John 1:14 — “The Word became flesh.”

1 Timothy 2:5 — “The man Christ Jesus.”

2. Compassion

Matthew 9:36 — Jesus had compassion on the crowds.

Mark 1:41 — Compassion toward a leper.

3. Obedience

Philippians 2:8 — Obedient unto death.

John 6:38 — Came to do the Father’s will.

4. Humility

Philippians 2:5–8 — Christ humbled Himself.

Matthew 11:29 — “Gentle and humble in heart.”

5. Love

John 15:13 — Greater love has no one than this.

Ephesians 5:2 — Christ loved us and gave Himself.

6. Wisdom

Luke 2:52 — Jesus increased in wisdom.

Colossians 2:3 — Treasures of wisdom in Christ.

7. Suffering

Isaiah 53:3–5 — Man of sorrows.

1 Peter 2:24 — Bore sins on the cross.

Hebrews 5:8 — Learned obedience through suffering.

The Wrath of God

God’s “wrath” refers to His holy and just opposition to sin, evil, and injustice. It is not portrayed as uncontrolled rage or emotional instability, but as a righteous response consistent with His holiness, justice, and love.

1. God’s wrath is tied to His holiness and justice

The Bible presents God as morally perfect. Because He is holy, He opposes evil.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men...” — Romans 1:18

“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries...”
— Nahum 1:2

At the same time, Scripture says His wrath is not impulsive:

“The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
— Psalm 103:8

“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger...”
— Exodus 34:6

God’s wrath is measured with righteous judgment. It is not sinful anger as humans often display.

2. God’s wrath is directed toward evil and injustice

Throughout Scripture, God’s wrath comes against:

oppression,
violence,
idolatry,
corruption,
exploitation of the vulnerable,
persistent rebellion.

For example:

“Woe to those who make unjust laws...”
— Isaiah 10:1

“God is a righteous judge,
and a God who feels indignation every day.”
— Psalm 7:11

The prophets often described wrath as God’s response when nations abuse power, abandon justice, turning wicked in disobedience to God.

3. God’s wrath coexists with mercy

A major biblical theme is that God warns before judging and desires repentance rather than destruction.

“Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked... and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” — Ezekiel 18:23

“The Lord is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9

Even when judgment comes, mercy is repeatedly emphasized.

4. In the New Testament, wrath is connected to final judgment

The New Testament continues the theme of divine wrath, especially regarding final accountability before God.

Jesus Himself spoke about judgment:

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
— John 3:36

Paul writes:

“Because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
— Ephesians 5:6

But the New Testament also emphasizes salvation from wrath through Christ:

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
— Romans 5:8

“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”
— Romans 5:9

In Christian theology, the cross is often understood as the place where God’s justice and mercy meet.

5. Wrath can be seen as…

active divine judgment against sin.

the natural consequences of rejecting God,
separation from God,
or God “giving people over” to their chosen path (of sin) (Romans 1).

6. A key theological idea

God truly loves goodness, truth, and people. He opposes evil.

In that sense:

God’s love explains His mercy,
and God’s wrath explains His justice.

God’s Word consistently holds both together.

“Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.”
— Psalm 85:10