Next in our study on the attributes of God we will look at the simplicity of God 

Look up the word Simplicity and write a definition in the box below:

Definition of Simplicity:

Review of the Simplicity of God:

What it does NOT mean- Simple as in naive, weak brained

What Simplicity of God does mean- 

• Simple- without parts

• Simple as in indivisible

• Simple as in absolutely one.

Biblical Defense for the attribute of Simplicity as it is found in God:

Fill in the missing word on each of the following verses:

• God is Absolutely One:

Deuteronomy 6:4   Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is

Isaiah 45
¹⁸For thus says the LORD,
        Who created the heavens,
        Who is God,
        Who formed the earth and made it,
        Who has established it,
        Who did not create it in vain,
        Who formed it to be inhabited:
        "I am the LORD, and there is

1 Corinthians 8
⁴Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world,                                                      and that there is no other

• Simplicity Discussed-

If God is simple how can there be a Trinity? Isn't He really 3 parts?

If God is simple, how can there be a Trinity? Isn't He really 3 parts?

The Trinity is 3 Persons in one Being. Another way to say this is three Who's in one What.  If you think of a triangle, the center is WHAT.  The 3 corners are the WHO's of the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.  You do not divide the triangle to get the 3 sides. You do not divide God to have the 3 Persons of the  Trinity.  God has one indivisible essence but three persons who share that one essence.

Define Essence:

What does it mean when we say "God is essentially one but relationally three?"

Do the many attributes of God divide God into parts? Explain your answer.

God has many attributes in His One Being.  These are not the same attributes, but the same God has all these attributes.  All God's attributes are coordinated in Him, in other words the attributes work together and can be combined. Example:  God is loving holiness and holy love.  He is loving truth and true love.  etc.  It does not mean that God cannot do many things.  God can only be one Being.  But He can do many things.  The many things he does all come from the One Being that He is.

If God is simple could He be divided?

To be divided means to be torn apart or separated from the whole.  God is indestructible.  He has no parts and, so, He cannot be torn apart. God can't be partly anything (like partly love) for He has no parts.  Whatever God is, He is wholly and completely.  This means that God is wholly loving, wholly holy, wholly goodness, etc.

Our Response to God's Simplicity

 We should not give devotion to anything with parts. 

We should not put our ultimate trust in anyone that can be only partially trustworthy.

We gain unity by meditating on His unity.

Why is the simplicity of God important to our doctrine and faith?

 Name  

Email Address: