A Biblical and Logical Examination of “Divine Nature” and God’s Identity
A growing theological claim suggests that God is not a being but an attribute, that “godliness” or “divine character” defines what God is, and that the Father, Son, and Spirit are expressions of this character. According to this view, “divine” refers only to moral qualities, not to God’s actual identity or reality.
This claim may sound refined, but it is neither biblical nor coherent when examined carefully. Scripture does not reduce God to qualities, functions, or character traits. Instead, it presents God as the self-existent, living, acting reality from whom all attributes proceed.
Let us examine this claim carefully—biblically, logically, and conceptually.
- How Scripture Defines God
The Bible never defines God as an attribute.
From the opening verse of Scripture, God is revealed as the acting, initiating source of all existence:
Genesis 1:1 – God creates. Attributes do not create; only a living source can initiate being.
Exodus 3:14 – “I AM THAT I AM.” This is not a description of character but a declaration of self-existence and absolute reality.
Isaiah 45:5 – “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” God identifies Himself as the sole divine authority, not a moral quality.
Attributes describe what something is like; Scripture reveals God as what exists eternally. - The Misuse of “Divine” as Mere Character
Some argue:
“Divine simply means godly character. God is godliness.”
This collapses a critical biblical distinction.
Romans 1:20 — Divine as Godhood
“His invisible things… His eternal power and divinity are clearly seen…”
Here Paul uses the Greek θειότης (theiotēs), referring to God’s divine reality or Godhood itself, revealed through creation.
Creation does not reveal moral qualities alone; it reveals:
Eternal power
Self-existence
Supreme authority
These are not character traits; they are realities of being.
2 Peter 1:4 — Divine as Shared Life
“That you may be partakers of the divine nature…”
Here Peter uses θεία φύσις (theia physis). The context is unmistakable:
Escaping corruption
Growing in holiness
Living transformed lives
This refers to participation in God’s life and qualities, not possession of God’s identity.
The Bible itself distinguishes these meanings.
One refers to what God is in Himself (Romans 1:20), the other to what believers share by grace (2 Peter 1:4). - Why “God = Attribute” Fails Biblically
If God were only an attribute or character quality, several contradictions arise: - Attributes do not exist independently
Love, holiness, and wisdom cannot exist without a source. Scripture presents God as the source of all attributes, not one attribute among others. - Attributes do not speak, command, or judge
Yet God speaks, commands nations, judges history, and reveals His will. These are actions of a living divine reality, not abstract qualities. - Attributes cannot be worshiped
Scripture commands worship of God Himself, not of godliness, holiness, or love as independent realities.
Reducing God to an attribute removes the foundation of worship, obedience, and revelation. - Godliness Is Not God
The Bible uses godliness as a derivative term:
1 Timothy 6:6 – “Godliness with contentment is great gain”
2 Peter 1:6 – “Add to your faith… godliness”
If godliness were God Himself, then believers would be adding God to themselves—which is absurd. Godliness is likeness, not identity.
God produces godliness; He is not reduced to it. - Divine Nature and Participation: A Clear Distinction
Scripture allows participation without confusion.
An illustration consistent with biblical logic:
Light illuminates objects.
Objects reflect light.
Objects do not become light itself.
Likewise:
God is divine by nature.
Believers reflect divine qualities.
Believers do not become the divine source.
This preserves:
God’s uniqueness
Human transformation
Biblical coherence - The Core Error Behind the Claim
The fundamental mistake is a category confusion:
Treating what God is as identical with what God produces
Treating divine being as identical with divine effects
Scripture never makes this mistake.
God:
Is eternal
Is self-existent
Is the source of life
Is the supreme authority
Divine attributes flow from Him, not the other way around. - Biblical Conclusion
The Bible does not teach that:
God is an attribute
Divine nature is only moral character
God is reducible to godliness
The Bible clearly teaches:
God is the living, self-existent divine reality
His divine being is revealed through creation (Romans 1:20)
Believers share in His life and holiness by grace (2 Peter 1:4)
Attributes describe God but do not define His existence
Any teaching that collapses God into character traits diminishes Scripture, weakens worship, and confuses transformation with identity.
Final Reflection
God is not a quality we imitate;
He is the source of all life we receive.
We may reflect His holiness.
We may walk in His life.
We may share in His divine qualities.
But God Himself remains the eternal, unshared, self-existent divine reality.
That distinction is not technical—it is biblical, necessary, and essential.