Divine Simplicity

[Alex, Moderator]

During the meeting last night, one of the topics that we (as a group) found to be particularly challenging to understand is the simplicity of God, one of God's incommunicable attributes (see chapter 3, point #7; and chapter 4, point #8). Here I'll try to summarize the discussion we had last night; this will hopefully provide a bit more clarity for everyone.

What is absolute divine simplicity? When we speak of God's simplicity, we mean that God is free from all composition and division. This means that He is not made up of different parts, but He is entirely and wholly God.

God is free from composition. This is a concept that is difficult for us to understand because there is nothing in the universe, apart from God, that is absolutely simple (that is—without composition). There is nothing we can compare God to. For example, looking at a plain glass of water, we may be tempted to think of it as being simple and without composition. But the reality is, water is often contaminated with impurities. If, however, we were to remove all its impurities, we might be left with pure water; but even then, it is not absolutely simple. Water itself is composed of individual molecules (H2O), and those molecules are composed of individual atoms, and those atoms are composed of subatomic particles, and so on and so forth.

Why is it important that God is free from composition? The presence of composition means that the person (or thing) is originated and dependent. "Since nothing can be composed by itself, but whatever is composed must necessarily be composed by another" (Turretin, Francis. Institutes of Elenctic Theology / Volume 1. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Pub., 1992. p. 191). By way of analogy, a car is assembled from different parts, and each part is deliberately fitted into place by intelligent bodies. Its composition, by necessity, makes it dependent upon another. "Now God is the first and independent being, recognizing no other prior to himself" (Turretin, Vol. 1. p. 191). God has no maker or predecessor. He does not have individual parts that were assembled and fitted together by another. He is simply One.

God is free from division. Again, there is nothing in the universe that is entirely and absolutely free from division apart from God. What this means is that there is nothing extraneous (or unnecessary) in His Being.

Philosophers and theologians sometimes use the term "accidents" to describe a subject. (This is a term that will also come up in our readings in Chapter 6: The Holy Trinity). The way that the word "accidents" is used in philosophy and theology is different than in how it is used in our everyday language. We commonly think of an "accident" as an unfortunate event that occurs unintentionally. In contrast, in philosophy (and theology), the word "accident" refers to an attribute that may (or may not) belong to a subject without affecting its essence. For example, there are thousands of different cars that exist in this world. Each one has necessary characteristics to be properly called a car: each one has tires, an engine, a steering wheel, a frame, etc. If any of these components were removed, the vehicle would cease to be a car. But we can also list some attributes that are non-essential: some cars are red, others are blue, yet others are grey. The colour of a car can be changed (or removed) without affecting the essence of the car: a blue car that is repainted red still legitimately remains a car. In philosophy (and theology), the colour of a car would be referred to as an "accident"—something that has no necessary connection with the essence of a being or thing. The colour of a car can be changed or removed without affecting the essence of the car; it is therefore called an "accident."

Why is it important that God is free from division? Applying the above example to God, we can now understand why it is important that God is free from all division. We affirm that He has no "accidents." God has no extraneous (non-essential) attributes that can be properly removed (divided from His Being). If any attribute is removed from Him, He ceases to be God. It is impossible to take away or change God's omnipresence, for example, and still preserve His divine essence. None of His attributes are like the colour of a car (i.e., something that can be freely changed, manipulated, or removed). This is why it is said (in reference to God's simplicity) that "None of his attributes can be suspended, withdrawn, diminished, or altered, since his attributes are identical with his existence" (Horton, Michael Scott. The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. p. 230)

Simplicity = Perfection. God's simplicity means that He is independent (recall: composition necessitates an origin) and perfect. If God was composed of different parts, that would mean that He is not eternally perfect; it would mean that He received His perfection from another. By "adding" love to God (if we imagine that love is an attribute that can be added), do we make God more perfect? Or, if we "subtract" love from God (again if we imagine love as a distinct part that can be freely taken away), do we make God less perfect? No, for neither scenario is possible. For "in God there is nothing which needs to be made perfect or can receive perfection from any other, but he is whatever can be and cannot be other than what he is" (Turretin, Vol. 1. pp. 191-192).

"Whatever in God is essential and absolute is God himself. Thus the absolute attributes may be identified really with the divine essence are in it essentially, not accidentally" (Turretin, Vol. 1. p. 193). None of His attributes are superadded to His essence. That is why we say that God's essence is synonymous with His being and His attributes. He is not made up of different parts (Bavinck, Vol. 2. pp. 118, 173-174). God is not merely loving, good, wise, just, etc., but He is Love, Goodness, Wisdom, Justice, etc. None of His attributes are separate from Him. We can't just "add" love to God as if it was something extra that is distinct from Him; He already is love. He is everything that He possesses. He has no "extra parts" that are non-essential to His being.

This doctrine of God's simplicity is really quite important for us to affirm. The church father Athanasius declared, "God is not composed who composed all things that they might be… since he is a simple substance in whom there is no quality nor any shadow of change" (Turretin, Vol. 1. p. 194). Likewise, in our confession documents, we also uphold this doctrine: Article 1 of the Belgic Confession states, "We all believe with the heart and confess with the mouth that there is only one simple and spiritual Being, which we call God; and that he is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good" (emphasis mine); and the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 2 states, "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…" (emphasis mine).

I hope this post helps to clarify this doctrine a bit more! Have a good weekend, everyone!

[Hans, Pastor and Moderator]

Thanks for this further explanation, Alex. It helps make clear to me God being simple is simply infinitely wonderful. It is another tremendous gospel truth that reasonably proclaims God as the one only true God. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else"...." "...I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me." Isaiah 45:22 and Isaiah 46:9b.