The Attributes of God: An Introduction

Short Studies in Systematic Theology

by Gerald L. Bray

Practical Theology for the Church Today

God is the Creator of all things. As Creator, he is unique and cannot be compared to any of his creatures. Throughout history, the church has recognized the importance of studying and understanding God's attributes. In this addition to the Short Studies in Systematic Theology series, theologian Gerald Bray examines the attributes of God, presenting their biblical foundations, systematic-theological structure, and practical relevance for the church today. Bray separates the attributes into two categories: God's relational attributes (which focus on how he interacts with his creation) and his essential attributes (which describe his essence and relation to time). As Christians better understand the attributes of God they will see, delight in, and apply what Scripture reveals concerning who God is and what he is like.

Genres: Theology

Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Gerald L. Bray (Ph.D., University of Paris--Sorbonne) is director of research for the Latimer Trust, based in London, and a research professor at Samford University, teaching in the Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. A priest of the Church of England, Bray has also edited the post-Reformation Anglican canons. He has edited several volumes of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture and Ancient Christian Texts, as well as volume one of the Ancient Christian Doctrine series, all for IVP Academic. General EditorTimothy George (Th.D., Harvard University) is a renowned Reformation historian and author of Theology of the Reformers, as well as many other theological and historical works. He is founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University and an executive editor of Christianity Today.

Reviews

[Chandler Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Bray as he explains classic concepts of the faith in such an accessible and simplistic manner. This is a work I would keep close at hand if I knew a church member was interested in further study of theology proper. Bray helpfully distinguishes between God’s nature and person as he discusses the attributes. I also appreciate his desire to follow the theological categories of John of Damascus. His appendix on God’s attributes in Christian tradition is very helpful for those interested in church history (like myself).

[Rohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up to answer a doctrine essay question. Then I changed my question ... but I kept reading because it was so readable and helpful!

Made "attributes of God" from something so airyfairy to something so foundational to my relationship with God and my salvation (and apologetics too). I loved his distinction between God as who he is, and God as he is in relationship with us. And then how we perceive those attributes / describe them (which might not technically be "attributes" but still things we want to say of God.

So recommend!

Quotes to remember:
- "It would be a sad irony if holiness, righteousness, and goodness, which we naturally associate with him, were to become yardsticks by which we measure God and find him wanting."
- God came "not to 'share' our pain in his divine nature but to set us free from it, which he can do only if he is not subject to it himself. Why it's important he is impassable.
- "Divine simplicity prevents us from calling personality a divine attribute"

[Steve Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interviews:
https://www.booksataglance.com/author...
https://reformedpodcasts.com/ggg-the-...

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are plenty of discussions out there of this key topic (could their be a key-er one?). Heck, Bray himself has written two systematic theologies. But this new series would have been incomplete without this volume, and I did find it useful. Perhaps most so because, besides outlining and explicating God's attributes (though I prefer the older and more accurate "perfections," as discussions of attributes often betray God's simplicity, though Bray avoids that trap), he also discusses how the understanding of these various attributes (and the lists themselves) has changed over time. So you get some fun historical theology as a bonus in a systematic theology series.

A few times I wish Bray had watched his language. For instance, he writes how the doctrine of omniscience creates "problems" for modern theologians (p. 70). If there is a problem with moderns and this doctrine, it doesn't lie with the doctrine! He used identical "problem" language at least one other time as well. Bray is a trusted guide and orthodox man, so I think he would probably agree with what I just wrote, but it's help to be infelicitous. Nevertheless, a worthwhile volume in an already excellent series.

[JT Stead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best concise treatment on the attributes of God I have read!

[Hobart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD ABOUT?
While there are technically four chapters in this book, it's really two--the first chapter introduces the concept of God's attributes, where we got the idea, and so on. The last chapter endeavors to sketch out how these attributes are relevant to believers, why we should study and care about them.

The bulk of the book resides in the other two chapters--one what Bray calls God's Essential Attributes, the second on what he calls His Relational Attributes. Typically, these are referred to as his incommunicable (omnipresence, omnipotence, omniscience) and communicable attributes (holiness, righteousness, goodness), respectively, but Bray has his reasons for changing the names and explains it (I'm not saying I'm dropping the usual labels myself, but I can appreciate his thinking).

Bray describes each attribute, what the Biblical justification is for ascribing it to God and relates it to the others. He even touches (it's only an introduction, so he doesn't get too far) on some of the historic discussions about the attribute.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD ?
There was a voice in the back of my head early on wondering if we needed this volume. Recent years have given us Mark Jone's God Is..., Matthew Barret's None Greater and Terry Johnson's The Identity and Attributes of God , and a few others. Is there a place for Bray's slim volume?

Of course—1. this series needs to address the topic and 2. contemporary Evangelicals have really dropped the ball on reflecting and applying that reflection on their theology and lives. We need more writing and thinking on these things which ought to characterize our thoughts not less.

Bray does a good job in introducing the notion here. Of the three I've read in this series, it's the least accessible. But I'd argue that it's still on the level with the others, you just might have to take your time with the occasional passage. These are deep waters that Bray is introducing the reader to, things that the Church has spent centuries establishing, and we need to at least see the immensity of the topic before we can say we are starting to understand it. It's a short book and he has a lot to cover, so every word counts.

Another solid entry in this series. I'm appreciating the varied approaches and styles that the authors address their topics, while sharing similar concerns for theological method. I'm really glad that Crossway gave the green light to the Short Studies in Systematic Theology and hope it's discovered by many. The Attributes of God: An Introduction is as good a place as any to dive in and see what it's about.

[Matthew Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has been a great blessing to me and this new publication on the attributes of God is like all the others. While it could always be written more simplistic, I do not find the language and word choice to be too lofty and should not keep most people from being able to read it. It seems like a lot of people are not familiar with the attributes of God.

Thankfully, this book is one that is simply divided into four main topics. The first being his attributes, the second and third of essential and relational, and a fourth idea of how they are relevant to our life today. Do not be fooled into thinking that this book is simply about the father. Instead, it focuses on all three members of the trinity, which has to be difficult to compile a short work on such a broad, deep topic. For that alone I commend the author.

One of the surprising points of this book was the discussion as to how the God that we worship is different than the pagan gods that were in the nations surrounding the Israelite people. I found this description highly interesting and one that could be useful in a future conversation as the culture continues to slide into a polytheistic worldview. It is important to note the difference in the attributes of the one true God and the little gods others may worship.

As intended, this book was a short read, but was chock full of information. If I had to choose the two most important chapters for me, it was the two middle chapters. I liked those the most despite the entire work being a solid book.

The publisher sent me this work for a fair and honest review. The words above are my own and have not been influenced in any way outside of the written manuscript.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid introduction to the attributes of God from a classical theistic perspective. The chapter on the importance of studying God's attributes was particularly insightful and the last chapter was helpful in seeing how different attributes have been emphasized throughout church history.

However, I found his treatment of God's wrath lacking—he seemed too dismissive of it as an attribute and did not fully engage with the debate. I struggled with aspects of his trinitarian theology, particularly the sharp distinction he makes at points between God's nature and persons. His claim that the persons are relational while the nature is not seems to undermine the personal nature of God's essence, given that the persons fully possess the divine nature. While he makes this distinction to preserve divine simplicity, it unintentionally implies that God's essence is impersonal.

[Coyle]

"This short book follows the traditional framework for discussing the attributes of God. After an introductory chapter, Bray discusses the “essential” attributes of God. In the following chapter he covers the “relational” attributes of God. Or, to say it differently, Bray discusses the attributes of God which are internal to Himself (immutability, impassibility, aseity, etc) and the attributes of God which exist because of a relationship with someone outside of Himself (holiness, righteousness, goodness, etc)."

Read the rest here:
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/schaeff...

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short book about a big subject. ("Huuuuge.") But Bray balanced it well. Bray followed the traditional approach of dividing the attributes into what many call the "incommunicable" and "communicable" categories. But he instead approached them as those that describe God in his nature ("what") and those that describe God in his persons ("who"). I found that very intellectually stimulating.

[Adam Kareus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short introduction to the attributes of God. The most valuable parts of the book are the discussion about personhood as well as the concept that it is in God's personhood that he relates to humanity.

[Salvador Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just excellent. I need the rest of this series.

Dr. Bray explaining divine simplicity is worth the entire book.

[Richard Lawrence]

I disagreed profoundly with this book. I may try and write a more substantial review - though it would be quite an undertaking.

[William Schrecengost · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s ok. Seemed wishy washy at times. The history of the theology at the end was good.
Better to just read Pink’s

[Riley Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little sloppy at some points

felt like he was all over the place and used over-simplified language in addressing nuanced issues

i still love him him tho ❤️‍🔥

[Bradley Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 though I could be talked into 5 stars. Great intro.

[Charles Sager · Rating 5 out of 5]

A better and more unique approach and not a primer. I’m seminary trained so I was able to keep up. A lay person may struggle some.

[Cale Fauver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simplicity was a home-run. A very philosophically driven book, perhaps that’s why it wasn’t my favorite. But good nonetheless!