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Employing Multiple Analogies to Describe God's Complex Nature

The complex nature of God is frequently described in the Bible and theological tradition through various analogies, acknowledging that human language and understanding are limited when attempting to grasp the divine [11]. The biblical text itself often employs anthropomorphism, attributing human characteristics or experiences to God to make divine actions and attributes more comprehensible [14].

One fundamental aspect of God's nature is His incomprehensibility and infinite greatness. The book of Job repeatedly emphasizes this, asking, "Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?" [2]. Similarly, Job 37:5 states, "God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend" [3]. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on Job, notes that God is "unsearchable" and "eternal," propositions that are "too profound, comprehensive, and sublime" for simple paraphrase [12]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Job 11:7, describes God as an "incomprehensible Being, infinite and immense, whose nature and perfections our finite understandings cannot possibly form any adequate conceptions of" [11]. This inherent limit to human understanding necessitates the use of analogies and metaphors.

The names used for God in Hebrew, such as 'El, 'Eloah, and 'Elohim, convey strength and divinity [1]. The plural form 'Elohim, though grammatically plural, is often used with singular verbs and adjectives, leading some, like John Calvin, to suggest it expresses the "intensity of the idea contained in the singular" [9]. This linguistic feature itself can be seen as an analogy, hinting at the multifaceted unity of God's being.

God's attributes are frequently described through analogies that highlight His power, wisdom, and love. For instance, God's "loving-kindness" is depicted as "great," "excellent," "good," "marvellous," and "multitudinous" [6]. These descriptive terms, while human in origin, serve as analogies to convey the boundless nature of divine love. The concept of God's "hardiness or rigor" is also found in biblical names like Elkeshai [7].

The Bible also uses analogies to describe God's relationship with humanity. Adam Clarke notes that God "blessed them" (referring to Adam and Eve), marking them "as being under his especial protection" [10]. This analogy portrays God as a protector and benefactor. The "wondrous works of God" are described as "endless in their variety; stupendous in their structure; complicated in their parts; indescribable in their relations and connections; and incomprehensible in the mode of their formation" [15]. These descriptions, while not direct analogies, invite contemplation of God's creative power through the lens of His creation.

The New Testament continues this tradition of employing analogies. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:27, states that "God hath chosen the folysshe thinges of the worlde to confounde the wyse. And God hath chosyn the weake thinges of the worlde to confounde thinges which are mighty" [4]. Here, God's method of working is analogized to a reversal of human expectations, demonstrating His power through apparent weakness. The incarnation of Christ is described by John Gill as a "mystery of godliness," a profound truth that, while revealed, cannot be fully grasped by human reason, akin to the doctrine of the Trinity [13].

Adam Clarke highlights the "dignified" opening of the Epistle to the Hebrews, which immediately presents the "infinite God" not through His essential attributes but through "the manifestations of his love to the world, by giving a revelation of his will" [8]. This approach uses God's actions and their impact on humanity as an analogy for His character, making His nature accessible through His relationship with creation. The use of multiple analogies, therefore, serves to approximate the divine nature, acknowledging that no single human concept can fully encapsulate the infinite God [5].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
  2. Job “Job 11:7 (BSB) — Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?”
  3. Job “Job 37:5 (BSB) — God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.”
  4. I Corinthians “I Corinthians 1:27 (Tyndale) — but God hath chosen the folysshe thinges of the worlde to confounde the wyse. And God hath chosyn the weake thinges of the worlde to confounde thinges which are mighty.”
  5. Psalms “Psalms 40:5 (NASB) — Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
  7. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Elkeshai — hardiness or rigor of God”
  8. Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 1:1: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners - We can scarcely conceive any thing more dignified than the opening of this epistle; the sentiments are exceedingly elevated, and the language, harmony itself! The infinite God is at once produced to view, not in any of those attributes which are essential to the Divine nature, but in the manifestations of his love to the world, by giving a revelation of his will relative to the salvation of mankind, and thus preparing the way, through a long train of years, for the introduction of that most glorious Being, his own Son”
  9. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 5.8: is in the Hebrew language a widely extended use of the plural which expresses the intensity of the idea contained in the singular.” After numerous references, which prove this point, he proceeds to argue, that “if, in relation to earthly objects, all that serves to represent a whole order of beings is brought before the mind by means of the plural form, we might anticipate a more extended application of this method of distinguishing in the appellations of God, in whose being and attributes there is everywhere a unity which embraces”
  10. Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 1:28: And God blessed them - Marked them as being under his especial protection, and gave them power to propagate and multiply their own kind on the earth. A large volume would be insufficient to contain what we know of the excellence and perfection of man, even in his present degraded fallen state. Both his body and soul are adapted with astonishing wisdom to their residence and occupations; and also the place of their residence, as well as the surrounding objects, in their diversity, color, and mutual relations, to the mind and body of this lord of the creation. The co”
  11. Job (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Job 11:7: Zophar here speaks very good things concerning God and his greatness and glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly: these two compared together, and duly considered, will have a powerful influence upon our submission to all the dispensations of the divine Providence. I. See here what God is, and let him be adored. 1. He is an incomprehensible Being, infinite and immense, whose nature and perfections our finite understandings cannot possibly form any adequate conceptions of, and whose counsels and actings we cannot therefore, without the greatest presumption, pas”
  12. Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 36:26: God is great - He is omnipotent. We know him not - He is unsearchable. Neither can the number of his years be searched out - He is eternal. These three propositions are an ample foundation for endless disquisition. As to paraphrase and comment, they need none in this place; they are too profound, comprehensive, and sublime.”
  13. 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 3:16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness,.... What follows is so, the incarnation of Christ, his birth of a virgin, the union of the two natures, divine and human, in his person; this is a mystery, which though revealed, and so to be believed, is not to be discerned nor accounted for, nor the modus of it to be comprehended by reason: and it is a great one, next, if not equal, to the doctrine of a trinity of persons in the divine essence; and is a mystery of godliness, which tends to encourage internal and external religion, powerful and practical g”
  14. Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 29:18: 29:18 pleasing aroma: Such language is anthropomorphism, describing God with human terms and experiences. God’s delight in an appropriately offered sacrifice is like a human’s enjoyment of a pleasing smell.”
  15. Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 37:14: Hearken unto this - Hear what I say on the part of God. Stand still - Enter into deep contemplation on the subject. And consider - Weigh every thing; examine separately and collectively; and draw right conclusions from the whole. The wondrous works of God - Endless in their variety; stupendous in their structure; complicated in their parts; indescribable in their relations and connections; and incomprehensible in the mode of their formation, in the cohesion of their parts, and in the ends of their creation.”
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