What is God?

✠ God & Decree

God is a Spirit,¹ in and of himself infinite in being,² glory,³ blessedness,⁴ and perfection;⁵ all-sufficient,⁶ eternal,⁷ unchangeable,⁸ incomprehensible,⁹ everywhere present,¹⁰ almighty,¹¹ knowing all things,¹² most wise,¹³ most holy,¹⁴ most just,¹⁵ most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.¹⁶

Scripture proofs

The Westminster Assembly's proof texts (KJV). The bracketed numbers in the answer above mark the clause each set of references supports; expand a row to read the verses.

1 John 4:24

John 4:24

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

2 Exod. 3:14; Job 11:7–9

Exod. 3:14

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Job 11:7–9

Job 11:7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

Job 11:8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

Job 11:9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

3 Acts 7:2

Acts 7:2

And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

4 1 Tim. 6:1

1 Tim. 6:1

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

5 Matt. 5:48

Matt. 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

6 Gen. 17:1

Gen. 17:1

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

7 Ps. 90:2

Ps. 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

8 Mal. 3:6; James 1:17

Mal. 3:6

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

9 1 Kings 8:27

1 Kings 8:27

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

10 Ps. 139:1–13

Ps. 139:1–13

Ps. 139:1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Ps. 139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Ps. 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

Ps. 139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Ps. 139:5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Ps. 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Ps. 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

Ps. 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

Ps. 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Ps. 139:10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Ps. 139:11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Ps. 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Ps. 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

11 Rev. 4:8

Rev. 4:8

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

12 Heb. 4:13; Ps. 147:5

Heb. 4:13

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Ps. 147:5

Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

13 Rom. 16:27

Rom. 16:27

To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

14 Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4

Isa. 6:3

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Rev. 15:4

Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

15 Deut. 32:4

Deut. 32:4

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

16 Exod. 34:6

Exod. 34:6

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

This doctrine across the Standards

Where the Confession and the Westminster Shorter Catechism treat the same matter, so the question can be studied alongside its parallel statements.

In the Westminster Confession

II.1 There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most …

There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will, for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments; hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.

→ II.1 · Of God, and of the Holy Trinity

II.2 God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself …

God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them: he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature; so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, he is pleased to require of them.