Overview
"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." — Genesis 1:27 BSB
God's communicable attributes are those divine qualities that God has chosen to share with His creation, particularly with humanity made in His image. Unlike God's incommunicable attributes—such as omnipotence, eternality, and immutability—which belong to God alone, His communicable attributes can be reflected, imitated, and developed in the lives of believers. These attributes reveal that humans are not merely created by God, but created to reflect His character and moral nature. Understanding communicable attributes is essential to Christian theology because it establishes the foundation for how believers are called to live, relate to one another, and pursue holiness.
Biblical Account
The Scripture clearly teaches that humanity bears God's image, and this image-bearing necessarily includes the capacity to express God-like attributes. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." — Colossians 3:12 BSB indicates that believers are called to actively cultivate attributes that reflect God's own character. These are not natural human traits that develop through mere psychology or social conditioning; they are divine qualities that flow from relationship with God and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Holiness stands as a primary communicable attribute. "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" — 1 Peter 1:15-16 BSB establishes that believers are called to pursue holiness as a direct reflection of God's own nature. This is not legalism or mere external conformity, but a fundamental reorientation of the soul toward righteousness and separation from sin.
Love is perhaps the most emphasized communicable attribute throughout Scripture. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." — 1 John 4:7-8 BSB demonstrates that love is not merely a human emotion but a reflection of God's essential nature. When believers love one another, they are participating in and expressing the very nature of God Himself.
Justice and mercy are communicable attributes that work together in God's character and should characterize His people. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." — Micah 6:8 BSB calls believers to embody both divine justice and divine mercy in their dealings with others. This reflects God's own balanced character, in which He never compromises truth while extending boundless grace.
Faithfulness and truthfulness emerge as essential communicable attributes. "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body." — Ephesians 4:25 BSB establishes that truth-telling is not merely a social convention but a reflection of God's faithfulness and truthfulness. God cannot lie and cannot be unfaithful, and His people are called to mirror these attributes in their relationships.
Wisdom is another communicable attribute that believers are encouraged to seek and develop. Throughout Proverbs and the wisdom literature, God invites His people to pursue wisdom as a reflection of His own infinite understanding. This wisdom is not merely intellectual but moral and spiritual, enabling believers to make decisions that honor God and benefit others.
Theological Significance
The existence of communicable attributes reveals something profound about God's design for humanity and redemption. If humans are made in God's image, then the restoration and sanctification of believers fundamentally involves the renewal and development of these divine attributes. This connects directly to the Gospel: Christ came not only to redeem us from the penalty of sin but to transform us into the image of God. "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." — Romans 8:29 BSB shows that conformity to Christ's character—which perfectly expresses God's communicable attributes—is the ultimate goal of redemption.
This doctrine also establishes the moral imperative for Christian living. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." — Colossians 3:12 BSB is not merely a suggestion but flows logically from our identity in Christ. We are not earning salvation through virtue; rather, we are responding to the grace we have received by becoming increasingly conformed to the character of the One who saved us.
Furthermore, understanding communicable attributes clarifies why sin is so serious and why holiness is so essential. When believers fail to express God's communicable attributes—when they harbor hatred instead of love, speak falsehood instead of truth, or pursue injustice instead of fairness—they are failing to image God and are instead bearing the image of the enemy of God. "Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to cause stumbling." — 1 John 2:10 BSB demonstrates that the expression of God's communicable attributes directly impacts both the believer's spiritual health and the health of the church community.
Key Scripture References
- Genesis 1:27 BSB: Establishes that humanity is created in God's image, which forms the theological basis for understanding communicable attributes and human moral capacity.
- 1 Peter 1:15-16 BSB: Commands believers to be holy as God is holy, demonstrating that holiness is a communicable attribute that believers are called to pursue and develop.
- 1 John 4:7-8 BSB: Identifies love as an attribute that originates in God and is communicable to all who know Him through redemptive relationship.
- Micah 6:8 BSB: Summarizes God's moral requirements for His people: justice, mercy, and humility—all communicable attributes reflecting divine character.
- Ephesians 4:25 BSB: Requires truthfulness as a reflection of God's faithful and truthful nature, extending this communicable attribute to everyday relationships.
- Romans 8:29 BSB: