What Can We Know from the Scriptures About the Nature of God?

A Bible study asking one controlling question: What does the text actually say?

What God Says of Himself, in Exodus 3:13-15
If one is to truly know God as who He actually is, it should be interesting to note how God "defined Himself" to Moses, when specifically asked by Moses in Exodus 3:13 "who" Moses should say God is!
Exodus 3:14-15 (MWT)

13-15 . . .God said, “I am who I am. [אהיה אשר אהיה] You must tell them: ‘The one who is called "I Am" [אהיה] has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:15 God continued, “You must tell the Israelites that יהוה, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has sent you to them. This is my name forever; this is what all future generations are to call me.” Exodus 3:16 “Go and gather the leaders of Israel together and tell them that יהוה, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to you. Tell them that he has come to you and has seen what the Egyptians are doing to them.”

"I Am / I Will Become"
"who / which / that / what"
"I Am / I Will Become"

Exodus 3:13-15 presents a wondrous study on the "Nature" of God. In verse 14 God said He was "אהיה אשר אהיה". Think for a second to take special note of what that literally equates to. God said:
"I Am / I Will Become" ~ אהיה
"who / which / that / what" ~ אשר
"I Am / I Will Become" ~ אהיה
Those three original Hebrew words convey all of that! God then says to tell Israel the one who is called אהיה has sent Moses to them; God thus telling Moses He is אהיה אשר אהיה, and then, that all of those words collapse into אהיה. So, using the English "I Am" to represent אהיה just seems weak and beggarly, as it looses way too much in translation. A problem arises! God's actual and well known written Name is יהוה, but the pronunciation of the Divine Name has been lost! No one alive today knows how to say it. And the problem, since יהוה warned many times about the sanctity of His Name and the danger of misusing it; (Exo 20:7; Lev 24:16; Deu 5:11) one might choose to wonder if using a name that is not really "His Name," might be dangerous... The sudamen אהיה himself gave us through Moses, however, is still commonly pronounced in our day in time. Referring to יהוה God as אהיה thus seems a respectful and appropriate way to speak to or about our Creator. This explanation given Moses by God seems to reveal an important part of His Nature; maybe even an emblem representation of it... God owns his Name as no human knows how to pronounce it. The sound that is a representation of "Him" he has given to the sons of men! Your faith in all such matters is and/or reveals "your" nature! God cares and is listening... (Mal 3:16-4:3)
Remember, we're only really dealing with 3 Hebrew Words here:
You should probably know them!
אהיה = "I Am / I Will Become"
אשר = "who / that / which / what"
יהוה God's Hebrew Name He Gave Moses on Stone Tablets!
אהיה seems an emblem or word chosen to represent God!
And, it is one we can pronounce...
It is one you might want to know! (Jud 12:4-6)
1. God Is Eternal
God has no beginning and no end. His existence does not depend on anything outside Himself.
Psalm 90:2 (WEB)

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

Isaiah 57:15 (BSB)

15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy...

What the text shows: Scripture presents God as already existing before creation and continuing forever. Nothing created Him, sustains Him, or limits His life.
2. God Is Spirit
God is not flesh and is not confined to a physical human body.
John 4:23-24 (NWT)

23-24 Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.”

What the Bible shows: Being spirit does not make God impersonal. Throughout Scripture He thinks, speaks, chooses, loves, judges, and communicates.
3. God Is the Creator of Everything Else
Everything that exists owes its existence to God.
Genesis 1:1 (BSB)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Revelation 4:11 (WEB)

11 Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created.

What the Bible teaches: God is not part of creation. He is its source, and creation exists because He willed it to exist.
4. God Is One
Scripture repeatedly emphasizes that יהוה is one and is unique.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (WEB)

4 Hear, Israel: יהוה is our God. יהוה is one.

Isaiah 45:5 (BSB)

5 I am יהוה, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God.

What the text shows: The Bible does not present יהוה as one god among many. He alone is the true God and the ultimate source of all authority and life.
5. God Is Holy
God is completely pure and morally perfect.
Isaiah 6:3 (WEB)

3 One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is יהוה of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!”

What the text shows: The threefold declaration of holiness emphasizes the complete purity of God’s nature. Nothing corrupt or wicked originates in Him.
6. God Is Love
Love is not merely something God sometimes displays. Scripture says that God is love.
1 John 4:8 (WEB)

8 He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.

What the text shows: God’s love is fundamental to His nature. Yet His love does not oppose His holiness or justice; all of His qualities operate together.
7. God Is Truthful
God cannot lie, so His words and promises can be trusted.
Titus 1:2 (BSB)

2 ...in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

What the text shows: Truthfulness is not merely God’s usual practice. Scripture says lying is contrary to His nature.
8. God Is Righteous and Just
Every judgment and action of God is righteous.
Deuteronomy 32:4 (WEB)

4 He is the Rock. His work is perfect, for all his ways are just. A God of faithfulness who does no wrong; righteous and upright is he.

What the text shows: God’s justice is not arbitrary or corrupt. His decisions proceed from perfect knowledge, righteousness, and faithfulness.
9. God Is Merciful and Compassionate
God is compassionate, patient, forgiving, and just.
Exodus 34:6–7 (BSB)

6 Then יהוה passed in front of Moses and called out: “יהוה, יהוה God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth,”

7 “maintaining loving devotion to thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished...”

What the text shows: Mercy and justice appear together in God’s own description of Himself. His compassion does not make wickedness harmless, and His justice does not erase His willingness to forgive.
10. God Is All-Wise
God’s wisdom and understanding exceed human comprehension.
Romans 11:33 (WEB)

33 Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!

What the text shows: Human beings can understand what God reveals, but we cannot independently trace the full depth of His knowledge, judgments, and purposes.
11. God Knows All Things
God knows hearts, motives, present realities, and the end from the beginning.
1 John 3:20 (WEB)

20 ...because God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Isaiah 46:9–10 (BSB)

9 ...I am God, and there is no other...

10 I declare the end from the beginning...

What the really teaches: Nothing hidden in the human heart escapes God, and no development can overturn the purpose He has declared. What does "knows all things" actually mean in the light of the rest of Scripture?

Scripture portrays God as making genuine tests, asking questions, expressing regret over human choices, and responding to decisions as they are made. For example, when Abraham was about to offer Isaac, God said:
"Now I do know that you fear God..." (Genesis 22:12)
That statement suggests God had just observed something demonstrated by Abraham's action. All Scripture is harmonized by saying that God knows everything He chooses to know, and nothing can prevent Him from knowing it. That is different from saying He is able to know every future free-will decision before it occurs. Some argue that God eternally knows every future human choice. The scriptures do not support that conclusion. What the text shows: Nothing is hidden from God. He knows every heart, every motive, and every circumstance. He declares the end from the beginning, and no created thing can frustrate His purpose. As His Name indicates, He causes to become!

The relief of knowing truth: God said at the mmouth of two witnesses a thing is established. While He does not, of course, need a second witness of His own righteousness, God has lovingly chosen to live by his own standards. When Jesus resubmit's to his Father after being given full autonomy including life within himself, he provides the eternal witness to his Father's goodness and right to rule. (1 Cor 15:12-28) No toleration of badness will ever again exist. If God could foreknow all our choices, He could just look to see where we will all be after the suffering casued by badness and put us there in paradise, similar to a resurrection. My loving God would never allow all the suffering if he could forsee our choices...
12. God Is Everywhere by His Presence and Power
No place is hidden from God or beyond His reach.
Jeremiah 23:23–24 (WEB)

23 “Am I a God at hand,” says יהוה, “and not a God far away?”

24 “Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I can’t see him?” says יהוה. “Don’t I fill heaven and earth?” says יהוה.

What the text shows: Scripture does not mean that God is identical with the physical universe. It means that no location conceals anyone from His sight, presence, or power.
13. God Does Not Change in His Character
God’s purposes unfold, but His righteous nature remains constant.
Malachi 3:6 (BSB)

6 “Because I, יהוה, do not change, therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”

What the text shows: God can respond differently when people change their conduct, but He does not become dishonest, unjust, unloving, or unholy.
14. God Desires to Be Known
God invites people not merely to know facts about Him, but to understand and know Him.
Jeremiah 9:23–24 (WEB)

23 ...Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom...

24 but let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am יהוה who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth...

What the text shows: Knowing God means recognizing His ways—His loving kindness, justice, and righteousness—and learning to value what He values.
15. God Reveals His Personality Through His Name
God identifies Himself by His enduring personal name, יהוה, and connects that name with His continuing existence and purpose.
Exodus 3:14 (WEB)

14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Exodus 3:15 (WEB)

15 God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘יהוה, the God of your fathers... has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.”

What the text shows: God’s name is not presented as a temporary label. It is His memorial for all generations and is bound up with who He is and His ability to fulfill His purpose.
16. Conclusion: The Scriptural Picture of God
The Bible presents the qualities of God as perfectly united in the one God, יהוה.
Putting the testimony together

From Scripture alone, God is presented as:

  • Eternal
  • Spirit
  • Creator of everything else
  • One and unique
  • Holy
  • Love
  • Truthful
  • Righteous and just
  • Merciful and compassionate
  • All-wise
  • Knowing all things
  • Present and active everywhere by His sight and power
  • Unchanging in character
  • Personal and desiring to be known
  • Known by His enduring name, יהוה
God’s qualities do not compete with one another. His justice never ceases to be loving, His mercy never ceases to be holy, His power never ceases to be righteous, and His truth never ceases to be compassionate.
The Scriptures consistently portray all these qualities as perfectly unified in the one God, יהוה.