God is Simple

Introduction

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State Subject: Divine Simplicity, which is to say God is simple

Transition: In this episode we will define, demonstrate, defend, and devote this doctrine. Lets

Doctrine Defined/Explained

(Ryan) Mark Jones writes, “God is free from all composition. He is not the sum of his parts. There is not one thing and another in God. Rather, whatever is in God, God is. He is absolute which means that there are no distinctions within his being. As absolute, God alone is the sufficient reason for his eternal existence.”

(Justen) James Boyce the founder and first president of the Southern Baptists Theological Seminary writes, “In ascribing simplicity to God, therefore, we declare that his nature is so purely or simply one as not to be compounded of separate substances, as matter and spirit, or even of the same substance, in different forms, or of a substance with separable attributes; and we assert that even his attributes are one with his essence, and that he is not only essentially spiritual, but also essentially wise, and good, and holy, and just, and true, and almighty, and omnipotent.Doctrine Demonstrated”

Doctrine Demonstrated

In ascribing simplicity to God, therefore, we declare that his nature is so purely or simply one as not to be compounded of separate substances, as matter and spirit, or even of the same substance, in different forms, or of a substance with separable attributes; and we assert that even his attributes are one with his essence, and that he is not only essentially spiritual, but also essentially wise, and good, and holy, and just, and true, and almighty, and omnipotent.Doctrine Demonstrated

(Jimmy) The 2nd London Baptist Confession of faith asserts that God is simple in chapter 2 paragraph one when it says that God is, “without body, parts, and passions.” To say God is without parts is to say God is simple.

Our definition is in agreement with ones we have already quoted. When we say God is simple we are not saying God is easy to understand or can be comprehended in HIs fulness. In fact we are sayin opposite He is incomprehensible. We are saying God is perfect unity, His essence is undivided and uncompounded.

One illustration of what simplicity isn’t and another two of what simplicity is may help.

Since God is simple, when we talk of God’s attributes it is inappropriate to say that God is like the tater tot casserole that my wife often makes. In it we find beef, tater tots, shredded cheese, cream of mushroom , sour cream, and onion soup mix. As is asked her to list the ingredients for me she also said that she makes it with extra love. These things added together and cooked for the appropriate time and at the appropriate temperature compose my wife’s tatter tot casserole. To describe God in this would be to make His essence one part love, another holiness, another justice, another omniscience, another omnipresence, and all the other attributes each being an ingredient when added together make God God.

Instead it is better to illustrate God's relationship to His attributes as Matthew Barrett does.

“Churches that are several hundred years old typically have stained glass. Back then, churches would hire a craftsman to fashion biblical scenes using the colorful glass. Stepping back from the glass, one could see the entire story of the Bible pictured. The beauty of stained glass is seen most when one sunbeam hits the glass and several different colors are portrayed on the inside of the glass—yellow, red, blue, and so on. That imagery pictures simplicity in a way. God is one, and his attributes are identical with one another. Yet when God’s undivided essence is revealed to humanity, it shines in various ways. Nevertheless, it is the same, single ray of light that radiates.”

Doctrine Demonstrated

Barrett, Matthew. None Greater (p. 81). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Doctrine Demonstrated

consider how light works when it enters a prism. A “ray of sunlight is composed of many wavelengths that in combination appear to be colourless.” What happens if that ray enters a prism made of glass? “The different refractions of the various wavelengths spread them apart as in a rainbow.”24 In physics, this is called refraction. Though every illustration is imperfect, refraction does illustrate simplicity.25 We could also say that the prism symbolizes the revelation of God, not in his essence but according to his works. As the one, simple God is manifested to his creatures through human words and mighty acts, that one, undivided essence is displayed in a variety of ways. Or as James Dolezal has said, “In God’s effects the perfection of His undivided essence is shown forth in a vast array of creaturely perfections. Accordingly, what is a simple unity in God is presented to the human knower under the form of creaturely multiplicity.”26 Such refraction does not eliminate the possibility of the creature knowing the Creator, but it eliminates the possibility of knowing him in his infinite simplicity. “This refraction of His simple glory into so many beams of finite perfection does not mean that multi-farious beams speak no truth about His simple nature. They just do not speak that truth under the incomprehensible simple form of that nature.”The difficulty of this concept lies in the fact that we are finite creatures who are composed of parts and all other things we interact with also have parts. We are not love, but can be loving. A human that is not loving doesn’t cease to be human. We possess arms and legs, but if one were to not have these then they wouldn’t be less human. God is not different than us or creation in degree, but in being. He is completely other. He is the one of whom none greater than can be thought. When He reveals himself to us he accommodates to our finitude and we experience his one essence and explain our experience in a variety of creaturely attributes.

The difficulty of this concept lies in the fact that we are finite creatures who are composed of parts and all other things we interact with also have parts. We are not love, but can be loving. A human that is not loving doesn’t cease to be human. We possess arms and legs, but if one were to not have these then they wouldn’t be less human. God is not different than us or creation in degree, but in being. He is completely other. He is the one of whom none greater than can be thought. When He reveals himself to us he accommodates to our finitude and we experience his one essence and explain our experience in a variety of creaturely attributes.

The difficulty of this concept lies in the fact that we are finite creatures who are composed of parts and all other things we interact with also have parts. We are not love, but can be loving. A human that is not loving doesn’t cease to be human. We possess arms and legs, but if one were to not have these then they wouldn’t be less human. God is not different than us or creation in degree, but in being. He is completely other. He is the one of whom none greater than can be thought. When He reveals himself to us he accommodates to our finitude and we experience his one essence and explain our experience in a variety of creaturely attributes.

He goes on to say, “consider how light works when it enters a prism. A “ray of sunlight is composed of many wavelengths that in combination appear to be colourless.” What happens if that ray enters a prism made of glass? “The different refractions of the various wavelengths spread them apart as in a rainbow.” In physics, this is called refraction. Though every illustration is imperfect, refraction does illustrate simplicity. We could also say that the prism symbolizes the revelation of God, not in his essence but according to his works. As the one, simple God is manifested to his creatures through human words and mighty acts, that one, undivided essence is displayed in a variety of ways… Such refraction does not eliminate the possibility of the creature knowing the Creator, but it eliminates the possibility of knowing him in his infinite simplicity.

Barrett, Matthew. None Greater (p. 82). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. The difficulty of this concept lies in the fact that we are finite creatures who are composed of parts and all other things we interact with also have parts. We are not love, but can be loving. A human that is not loving doesn’t cease to be human. We possess arms and legs, but if one were to not have these then they wouldn’t be less human. God is not different than us or creation in degree, but in being. He is completely other. He is the one of whom none greater than can be thought. When He reveals himself to us he accommodates to our finitude and we experience his one essence and explain our experience in a variety of creaturely attributes.

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The difficulty of this concept lies in the fact that we are finite creatures who are composed of parts and all other things we interact with also have parts. We are not love, but can be loving. A human that is not loving doesn’t cease to be human. We possess arms and legs, but if one were to not have these then they wouldn’t be less human. God is not different than us or creation in degree, but in being. He is completely other. He is the one of whom none greater than can be thought. When He reveals himself to us he accommodates to our finitude and we experience his one essence and explain our experience in a variety of creaturely attributes.

Doctrine Demonstrated

There is no one explicit verse in the Bible that declares that God is a simple being. Instead it is a doctrine that is inferred from the implications of other truths the Bible teaches about God.

The Bible Teaches that:

God is one ()

God is perfect ()

God is Spirit ()

God is self-existent ()

God is timeless ()

God is truth ()

God is patience ().

God is light ()

God is love ()

These and countless other comments in the Bible make claims about the nature of God: his perfection, timelessness, oneness, spirituality, truthfulness, and so forth.

If God is all of these attributes and the many others I haven’t listed, then the question is whether or not these each make up a part of his essence or are identical with His essence. We say that these attributes are not parts of the essence, but identical with it.

Before the commercial break let me defend the doctrine of Divine Simplicity by appealing to three biblical doctrines that logically necessitate

Independence: God doesn’t derive any aspect of Himself from another (; ;; ; ; ; ). If God were composed of parts that are not identical with him then he would depend on something else, namely His attributes to be God. If God is not faithfulness, but merely has faithfulness as a part then our dependance for God operate in way consistent with His promises isn’t ultimately place in Him God, but faithfulness (a property distinct from Him) that He happens to posses. Therefore, God’s independence logically necessitates that is a simple uncompounded being.

Infinity: God has no limitation (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ). If God’s essence were composed of His individual attributes that are distinct and finite properties He would possess, then He couldn’t be infinite. Something that is infinite cannot be made up of finite properties distinct from Him.

Creation: The doctrine of creation teaches that God is the first being who created all other things out of nothing (; ; ). If God were composed of His attributes as distinct properties from His essence then it would imply that He was created. Compositions of music imply the existence of a composer. A building composed of parts requires something before it namely an architect, builders, and supplies. If God is composed of distinct parts known as His attributes it would imply that something exist before Him and put Him together. The Biblical Doctrine Creation says by Him all things exist and that He created them out of nothing. Therefore, He necessarily cannot be composed of parts. Giod is simple. His attributes are identical with His essence.

Doctrine Defended

Doctrine Defended

The doctrine of Divine Simplicity contradicts the Trinity

The doctrine of Divine Simplicity is philosophical speculation that is not mention explicit in Scripture

The doctrine of Divine Simplicity makes communication about God impossible because we are unable to speak or think of Him in a one to one fashion

Doctrine Devoted/Discussed

We must realize there is none greater than God and He is not like us.

Assurance that we can know and trust God.

In order to live the Spirit-filled life we must bare the fruit of the Spirit.

Conclusion

Restate Definition: We are saying God is perfect unity, His essence is undivided and uncompounded.

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Until next time, grace and peace.