Nature of God
TheologyHow God's nature, attributes, and being are understood — whether God is a spirit, a person, or has a physical body, and what attributes are emphasized.
Key scriptures: John 4:24, 1 Timothy 1:17, Isaiah 46:9-10, Exodus 33:20
Catholic (5)
Eastern Catholic (Byzantine Rite)
Affirms
Infinite, triune God; known through apophatic and cataphatic theology
Maronite Catholic
Affirms
One infinite God; classical theism affirmed with Syriac patristic heritage
Old Catholic Church
Affirms
Trinitarian monotheism; classical theism; divine simplicity; personal God
Roman Catholic
Affirms
One infinite God; classical theism; Creator, omnipotent, perfectly good
Saint Thomas Christians (Syro-Malabar Church)
Affirms
Trinitarian monotheism; classical theism; God is love, justice, and mercy
Orthodox (5)
Assyrian Church of the East
Affirms
One infinite God in Trinitarian form, transcendent and revealed in Syriac theology
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Affirms
Infinite, triune God; Alexandrian apophatic tradition; God is love
Eastern Orthodox
Affirms
Unknowable divine essence known through uncreated energies; apophatic theology central
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Affirms
One infinite God; classical theism with Alexandrian and Solomonic heritage
Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite)
Affirms
Infinite, transcendent, triune God; known through apophatic theology
Mainline Protestant (8)
Anglican / Episcopalian
Affirms
One eternal God; sovereign, holy, and known through Scripture
Calvinist / Reformed
Affirms
God absolutely sovereign, eternal, omnipotent; all for his glory
Congregationalist (UCC)
Nuanced
God as Eternal Spirit; diverse theological languages welcomed in UCC
Lutheran
Affirms
One eternal God; omnipotent, omniscient, perfectly holy
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Affirms
Eternal, omnipotent, omniscient Creator; perfectly holy, just, merciful, and wise
Methodist
Affirms
One sovereign God; known as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Presbyterian
Affirms
Absolutely sovereign God; chief end is to glorify God forever
Reformed Church in America
Affirms
Infinite, eternal, immutable, omniscient, omnipotent; perfectly holy and just always
Evangelical (15)
Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention)
Affirms
Eternal, personal, omnipotent God; Creator and Sustainer of all things
Calvary Chapel
Affirms
One eternal God, infinite, personal, and Trinitarian
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Affirms
Eternal, omnipotent, omniscient God; personal, holy, and loving Creator
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Affirms
Eternal, sovereign God; Creator and Sustainer; omnipotent, omniscient, holy
Church of the Nazarene
Affirms
Holy, loving, eternal God; sovereign Creator; personally knowable and present
Evangelical Covenant Church
Affirms
Personal God; Trinitarian; eternal Creator; God of love and mission
Evangelical Free Church of America
Affirms
Infinite, holy, loving God; Creator; triune; sovereign and intimately personal
IFCA International (Independent Fundamental Churches of America)
Affirms
Eternal, immutable, all-powerful, all-knowing God; absolutely sovereign and holy
National Association of Free Will Baptists
Affirms
Eternal, omnipotent, omniscient God; Creator, holy, just, and loving
Non-denominational Evangelical
Affirms
Eternal, personal, omnipotent Creator; knowable through Christ and Scripture
Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)
Affirms
Eternal, omnipotent, personal God; Father, Son, Spirit; Creator and Redeemer
Presbyterian Church in America
Affirms
God infinite, eternal, immutable, omniscient, omnipotent; divine simplicity explicitly affirmed
Reformed Baptist Churches (1689 London Baptist Confession)
Affirms
God is eternal, immutable, all-powerful, all-knowing, sovereign, and absolutely simple
The Wesleyan Church
Affirms
Trinitarian monotheism; holy love; omnipotent, omniscient, eternal Creator
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Affirms
Eternal, omnipotent, omniscient Creator; infinitely holy, just, merciful, and wise
Charismatic (5)
Charismatic Movement
Affirms
One God, Trinitarian, personal, and active in creation and history
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Affirms
Trinitarian monotheism; God of holy love; Creator; personal, responsive to prayer
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Affirms
Omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Creator; personal, holy, and loving God always
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Affirms
Omnipotent, omniscient, eternal Creator; personal, holy, merciful, and loving God
Vineyard Churches
Affirms
One God: eternal, personal, holy, loving, and actively present
Anabaptist (5)
Amish (Old Order)
Affirms
God is the sovereign Creator, eternal and personal, Father of Christ
Brethren in Christ Church
Affirms
Trinitarian monotheism; God is personal, holy, good; relationship with God is central
Church of the Brethren
Affirms
Trinitarian monotheism; God of love and peace; personal relationship possible
Hutterite Brethren
Affirms
God is the eternal Creator; sovereign, personal, holy, and loving
Mennonite Church
Affirms
God is Creator, Father, and Sovereign Lord; love and justice are central
Adventist & Restorationist (5)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Affirms
God as Creator, Father, and Trinitarian; emphasis on love and justice
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Affirms
Trinitarian monotheism; personal God always; sovereign Creator; Scripture-centered doctrine exclusively
Churches of Christ
Affirms
One eternal God: holy, personal, just, and loving Creator
International Churches of Christ
Affirms
God is one eternal, personal, almighty Creator and Father
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Affirms
God is eternal, personal, all-knowing, all-powerful, and Trinitarian
Other Protestant (8)
Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum)
Affirms
God is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, perfectly holy and loving.
Plymouth Brethren
Affirms
God is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly holy.
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Varies
Evangelical affirm personal God; liberal Quakers more open-ended
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
Affirms
Eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing God; Creator and Sustainer of universe
The Salvation Army
Affirms
Affirm classical theism; God is omnipotent, omniscient, eternal
True Jesus Church
Nuanced
One God; Father, Son, and Spirit are one through Jesus modalistic framework
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Affirms
Trinitarian God; God of power, deliverance, and prosperity; desires physical blessing for believers
Waldensian Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese)
Affirms
Eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing God; Creator and Sustainer of universe
Non-Trinitarian (6)
Biblical Unitarians
Affirms
One God, the Father alone; personal, holy Creator; absolute divine singularity
Christadelphians
Affirms
One God, the Father alone; omnipotent, personal Creator; not a Trinity
Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
Affirms
One God, the Father alone; personal Creator; absolutely singular in person
Jehovah's Witnesses
Nuanced
Jehovah alone is the Almighty; his personal name Jehovah is emphasized
Oneness Pentecostals (UPCI)
Nuanced
One God, absolutely singular; not a Trinity; fully revealed in Jesus Christ
Unitarian Universalist
Varies
No required theism; God understood as one person, force, ground of being, or absent
Latter-day Saint (2)
Unique & Independent (7)
Armstrongism (Sabbatarian splinter groups)
Nuanced
God is a divine Family: Father and Son; believers called to become family members
Church of Christ, Scientist
Nuanced
God is divine Mind, Principle, Life, Truth, Love, Soul, Spirit—impersonal
General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian)
Nuanced
God is the Divine Human—infinite Love and Wisdom—incarnate in Jesus
Iglesia ni Cristo
Affirms
One God is the Father (Yahweh/Almighty God); strict unitarian monotheism
Message Movement (Branhamism)
Denies
God is absolutely one; the fullness of the Godhead is in Jesus Christ bodily
Messianic Judaism
Affirms
YHWH is the one God; echad (complex unity) allows Trinitarian understanding
New Apostolic Church
Affirms
Trinitarian monotheism; God of grace, love, and redemptive purpose
African Independent (4)
Cherubim and Seraphim Church
Affirms
Trinitarian God; God of power, healing, protection, and answer to prayer
Church of Jesus Christ on Earth through the Prophet Simon Kimbangu (EJCSK)
Affirms
God the Father is the transcendent Creator of all things
Redeemed Christian Church of God
Affirms
Trinitarian God described as blessing, power, provision, healing, and holiness
Zion Christian Church
Affirms
God the Father as Creator and sustainer; Trinity broadly affirmed