Our Father God

Have you ever struggled to understand who God really is?

Perhaps you've wondered whether you can truly trust Him, or maybe you've questioned what His character is actually like. Many people carry misconceptions about God—viewing Him as distant, angry, or unpredictable. For some, these distorted views stem from painful experiences with earthly fathers who fell short. For others, religious traditions have obscured the true picture of who God is. The tragedy is that many don't know what the Bible actually reveals about His nature and personality.

Christians typically call God "our Heavenly Father" because that is how Jesus introduced Him (Matthew 6:9, 11:27; Luke 11:2; John 17:1-5). But this title only begins to describe who He is. In this article, we'll explore the comprehensive picture of God that Scripture provides, examining His many titles, attributes, and personal characteristics so you can discover for yourself the Father that Jesus intended to reveal.

How the Bible Identifies God

God's name is transliterated from Hebrew as YHVH also known as the tetragrammaton. This name is found in Genesis 2:4-9, 4:26; Psalm 83:18, 118:27; Isaiah 11:2 and is commonly translated as "LORD" in the Old Testament and "Lord" in the New Testament. God's name is often pronounced "Yahweh" or "Jehovah".

Titles of God

  • "LORD my/your/our God" (Adonai Elohim / Adonai Eloheikhem) (Genesis 2:4,7,15,18,21; 3:1,8,13,21; Exodus 9:30; Deuteronomy 4:35; Leviticus 19:3; 2 Samuel 7:25; 2 Kings 19:19; 1 Chronicles 17:16; 2 Chronicles 1:9, 6:41; Psalm 72:18, 84:11; Jonah 4:6)
  • "Most High" / "LORD Most High God" (El Elyon / Adonai El Elyon) (Genesis 14:18-22; Psalm 7:17, 47:2, 78:35; Daniel 4:2)
  • "Rock" / "Fortress" / "Stronghold" / "Refuge" / "Shield" (Adonai Tsuri v'goali / Adonai Sal'i) (Genesis 15:1; Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:2,47; Psalm 18:2, 19:14, 31:3, 46:1,7, 84:11, 91:2, 115:9-11, 142:5; Isaiah 48:17)
  • "The God Who Sees" (El Roi) (Genesis 16:13)
  • "The Everlasting God" (El Olam) (Genesis 21:33; Isaiah 40:28)
  • "LORD who provides" (Adonai Yireh / Yahweh Yireh) (Genesis 22:2,14)
  • "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (Exodus 3:6,15-16)
  • "I AM THAT I AM" / "who was and who is" (Ehyeh asher Ehyeh) (Exodus 3:14–15; Isaiah 48:12; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 11:17; Revelation 16:5)
  • "God Almighty" (El Shaddai) (Exodus 15:6)
  • "LORD your healer" (Adonai Roph'ekha) (Exodus 15:26)
  • "LORD my Miracle/Banner" (Adonai Nissi) (Exodus 17:15)
  • "LORD your Sanctifier" (Adonai Mekaddishkhem) (Exodus 31:13)
  • "LORD is Peace" (Adonai Shalom) (Judges 6:24)
  • "LORD of hosts/armies" (Adonai Tseva'ot) (1 Samuel 1:11, 4:4, 15:2, 17:45; 2 Samuel 6:2,18, 7:8,26; 1 Kings 18:15; 2 Kings 3:14; 1 Chronicles 17:7,24; Psalm 24:10, 46:8,12, 48:9, 80:20, 84:2,4,9,13, 89:9; Isaiah 1:9,24, 3:1,15, 5:7; Amos 4:13, 5:14,27, 6:8; Micah 4:4; Nahum 2:14, 3:5; Habakkuk 2:13; Zephaniah 2:9; Haggai 1:2,5,7,9,14, 2:4,6,11,23; Zechariah1:3,6,12,14; Malachi 1:4,6,8,13, 2:2,4,7,12,16, 3:1,5,7,10,14,17,19,21)
  • "Strength of Israel" (1 Samuel 15:29; 2 Samuel 22:2)
  • "Redeemer" (Job 19:25; Psalm 19:14; Isaiah 41:14, 44:6, 47:4, 48:17, 49:7, 54:5)
  • "Holy One of Israel" (2 Kings 19:22; Psalm 71:22, 78:41, 89:18; Proverbs 9:10, 30:3; Isaiah 1:4, 5:19, 5:24, 10:20, 12:6, 17:7, 29:19, 29:23, 30:11-15, 31:1, 37:23, 40:25, 41:14-20, 43:3, 43:14-15, 45:11, 47:4, 48:17, 49:7, 54:5, 55:5, 60:9, 60:14; Jeremiah 50:29, 51:5; Ezekiel 39:7; Hosea 11:9-12; Habakkuk 1:12)
  • "LORD my Shepherd" (Adonai Ro'i) (Psalm 23:1; Ezekiel 34:2)
  • "King of Glory" (Melech HaKavod) (Psalm 24:7-10)
  • The "Light" (Psalm 27:1; 1 John 1:5-7)
  • "God of Glory" (Psalm 29:3; Acts 7:2)
  • "Helper" (Psalm 30:10)
  • "LORD our Maker" (Adonai Osenu) (Psalm 95:6)
  • "LORD God of Israel" (Adonai Elohei Yisrael) (Isaiah 17:6)
  • "Our King" (Isaiah 33:22)
  • The "First and the Last" / "beginning and end" (Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, 48:2-3, 48:12; Revelation 1:8, 21:5-8, 21:6, 22:12-13)
  • "The Father" / "Abba Father" (Adonai Avinu / Abba) (Isaiah 63:16, 64:8; Jeremiah 3:19; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 23:9; Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 1:2-3)
  • "Hope of Israel" (Jeremiah 14:8, 17:13)
  • "LORD our Righteousness" (Adonai Tsidkeinu) (Jeremiah 23:6, 33:16)
  • "The Ancient of Days" (Daniel 7:13)
  • "LORD is There" (Adonai Shammah) (Ezekiel 48:35)
  • The "Vinedresser" (John 15:1-9)
  • "The Only True God" (John 17:3)
  • "God of Hope" (Romans 15:13)
  • "God of Peace" (Romans 15:33, 16:20; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20)
  • "Father of Mercies" / "God of All Comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3; 1 Peter 5:10)
  • "God of Love and Peace" (2 Corinthians 13:11)
  • "Father of Glory" / "Father of Lights" (Ephesians 1:17; James 1:17)
  • "God our Saviour" (1 Timothy 1:1, 2:3, 4:10; Titus 2:10, 3:4; Jude 25)
  • "Living God" (1 Timothy 3:15, 4:10)
  • "The Alpha and Omega" (Aleph-Tav?) (Revelation 1:8, 21:6, 22:12)

Most of these "names" describe certain attributes of God. Each title reveals something unique about His character and how He relates to His people. Understanding these names helps us grasp the multifaceted nature of who God is.

Attributes of God

While God's titles often emphasize His roles and relationships, His attributes describe His fundamental nature and capabilities. The Bible reveals these essential characteristics about God's being:

God's Nature and Essence

  • God is not limited by our timeline
  • God is spirit (John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:17)
  • God is invisible (Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16; Hebrews 11:27)
  • God is not a human (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Hosea 11:9)
  • God is eternal (Genesis 21:33; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2, 93:2, 102:12,24-27; Isaiah 40:28, 57:15; Jeremiah 10:10; Romans 16:26; 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16; Hebrews 13:8)
  • God never changes (Psalm 102:26-27; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17)
  • God cannot die (Psalm 90:2, 102:27; Romans 1:23; 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16)
  • God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6, 45:5-6,18,21-22; Matthew 23:9; Mark 12:29,32; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4,6; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19)
  • God has a soul (Leviticus 26:11,30; Judges 10:16 (NKJV); Psalm 11:5; Isaiah 1:14 (NKJV), 42:1; Jeremiah 5:9,29, 6:8, 9:9, 32:41, 51:14; Amos 6:8; Hebrews 10:38)
  • God is worthy of worship (Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:13, 26:10; 1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 95:6, 96:9, 99:5,9; Matthew 4:10; John 4:23-24; Revelation 14:7, 19:10, 22:9)

God's Power and Sovereignty

  • God created everything (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 33:6,9, 89:11, 102:25, 121:2, 124:8, 146:6; Isaiah 37:16, 40:26,28, 42:5, 44:24, 45:12,18, 48:13, 51:13; Jeremiah 10:12, 27:5, 32:17, 51:15; Zechariah 12:1; John 1:3; Acts 17:24; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2,10, 3:4, 11:3; Revelation 4:11, 10:6)
  • God has no limitations (Genesis 17:1, 28:3, 35:11, 43:14, 48:3, 49:25; Job 11:7; Jeremiah 32:17,27)
  • God is omnipotent and can therefore handle any problem or situation (Genesis 18:14; Job 42:2; Jeremiah 32:17,27; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27, 14:36; Luke 1:37, 18:27)
  • God is sovereign (1 Chronicles 29:11-12; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Psalm 22:28, 47:2,7-8, 93:1, 103:19; Isaiah 6:5, 37:16; Jeremiah 10:7,10; Daniel 4:34-35; Matthew 6:13; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:6)
  • God has a will and purposes (Psalm 115:3, 135:6; Isaiah 14:24,27, 46:10; Jeremiah 51:29; Daniel 4:35; Matthew 6:10, 18:14, 26:42; Luke 22:42; Acts 13:36; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 1:5,9,11; Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:18; Hebrews 10:7,9; 1 Peter 2:15, 4:2; 1 John 2:17)

God's Knowledge and Presence

  • God knows everything (1 Samuel 2:3; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Job 37:16; Psalm 44:21, 94:11, 139:1-6, 147:5; Proverbs 15:11; Isaiah 41:22-23, 42:9, 44:7, 45:21, 46:10, 48:3-5; Jeremiah 17:10; Daniel 2:28; Amos 3:7; Matthew 6:8,32; Acts 15:18; Romans 11:33; Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20)
  • God sees everything (Genesis 16:13; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Job 28:24, 34:21; Psalm 33:13-15, 94:9; Proverbs 5:21, 15:3; Jeremiah 16:17, 32:19; Hebrews 4:13; Matthew 6:4,6,18)
  • God is omnipresent (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6, 6:18; Psalm 139:7-10; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 66:1; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49, 17:24-28; Ephesians 4:6; Revelation 19:6)
  • God does not sleep or slumber (Psalm 121:3-4; Isaiah 40:28)
  • God is the source of all revelations (Amos 3:7; Daniel 2:28-29; Matthew 11:27, 16:17; 1 Corinthians 2:10; Galatians 1:12,16; Ephesians 1:17; Revelation 1:1)

God's Actions and Activities

  • God speaks (Genesis 1:3; Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:6-8; Deuteronomy 5:4; Psalm 50:1; Isaiah 1:2; Jeremiah 1:4; Amos 3:8; Matthew 3:17, 17:5; Hebrews 1:1-2)
  • God works and is involved in different kinds of activities (Genesis 2:2-3; Psalm 77:12, 111:3; Isaiah 5:12, 28:21, 64:4; John 5:17; 1 Corinthians 12:6; Ephesians 1:11, 2:10; Philippians 2:13)
  • God gives, sustains, and raises life from the dead (Genesis 2:7; Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; 2 Kings 5:7; Job 12:10, 33:4; Psalm 36:9, 66:9, 68:20, 104:30; Isaiah 42:5; John 5:21; Acts 2:24, 17:25,28, 26:8; Romans 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Corinthians 1:9; Galatians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Timothy 6:13)
  • God hears prayers and cries (Exodus 2:24, 3:7; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 34:15,17, 65:2; Isaiah 65:24; 1 Peter 3:12)
  • God gives wisdom and understanding (Exodus 31:3; 1 Kings 3:12; Job 32:8; Psalm 119:130; Proverbs 2:6; Daniel 2:21; James 1:5)
  • God gives supernatural strength (Psalm 18:32, 29:11, 68:35; Isaiah 40:29-31, 41:10; Ephesians 3:16, 6:10; Philippians 4:13; Colossians 1:11; 2 Timothy 4:17)
  • God teaches (Isaiah 48:17, 54:13; Psalm 25:8-9, 32:8)
  • God rewards people (Matthew 6:1,4,6,18; Hebrews 11:6)

Personality of God

While God's attributes describe what He is like in His essential being, His personality reveals how He relates to humanity and expresses His character through His actions and emotions. Different religions and denominations have various views about who God is. If we strictly consider only Bible scripture, then God is revealed as the following person:

  • God is a fair judge (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 7:8-11, 9:7-8,19, 50:4-6, 67:4, 75:2, 96:10-13, 98:9; Isaiah 3:13-14, 33:22, 51:5; Jeremiah 11:20; Ezekiel 7:3,8,27)
  • God provides for and takes care of creation (Genesis 22:14; Psalm 104:27-28, 145:15-16, 147:9; Matthew 6:26,30-33, 7:11, 10:29-31; Luke 12:24; Philippians 4:19; James 1:17; 1 Peter 5:7)
  • God is glorious (Exodus 15:11; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalm 19:1, 24:7-10, 29:1-3; Isaiah 6:3, 42:8; Ezekiel 1:28; Luke 2:14; John 17:5; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 3:21; Revelation 4:11)
  • God is compassionate and merciful, delighting in showing mercy (Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 4:31; Psalm 86:15, 103:8, 145:8; Joel 2:13; Micah 7:18)
  • God is patient (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:17; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15, 103:8, 145:8; Jonah 4:2; Romans 2:4, 9:22; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9,15)
  • God is abounding in love (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:17; Psalm 86:15, 103:8)
  • God does not lie (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 23:19; Deuteronomy 7:9; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18)
  • God forgives wickedness, rebellion and sin (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:17; Psalm 86:5, 103:3; Isaiah 55:7; Micah 7:18; Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25; Acts 13:38; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:9)
  • God is holy (Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2, 20:26; Joshua 24:19; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 99:9; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8)
  • God does not need to repent (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29)
  • God is perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30; Matthew 5:48)
  • God is faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 36:5, 89:1-2,8, 119:90; Lamentations 3:22-23; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Hebrews 10:23)
  • God is our saviour (2 Samuel 22:3; Psalm 106:21; Isaiah 43:3,11, 45:15,21, 49:26, 60:16, 63:8; Jeremiah 14:8; Hosea 13:4; Luke 1:47; 1 Timothy 1:1, 2:3, 4:10; Titus 1:3, 2:10, 3:4; Jude 25)
  • God is righteous (Psalm 11:7, 119:137, 145:17; Isaiah 45:21; Jeremiah 12:1; Daniel 9:14; John 17:25; 2 Timothy 4:8)
  • God is good (Psalm 25:8, 34:8, 86:5, 100:5, 107:1, 119:68, 136:1, 145:9; Nahum 1:7; Mark 10:18)
  • God is loving/love (Psalm 36:7, 136:1-26; Jeremiah 31:3; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:8,16)
  • God is a refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1, 62:7-8)
  • God is a father to the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows (Psalm 68:5, 146:9; Deuteronomy 10:18)
  • God is the only wise God (Psalm 136:5; Daniel 2:20-22; Romans 16:27; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 25)
  • God is near to those who call upon Him (Psalm 145:18; James 4:8)
  • God is willing to reason together (Isaiah 1:18)
  • God teaches (Isaiah 48:17, 54:13; Psalm 25:8-9, 32:8)
  • God does not rule by violence but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6)
  • God does good to both good and evil (Matthew 5:45; Luke 6:35)
  • God rewards people (Matthew 6:1,4,6,18; Hebrews 11:6)
  • God wants people to seek Him (Matthew 11:25-27; Luke 10:21)
  • God sent His beloved son to save the world (John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9-10)
  • God is kind (Luke 6:35; Romans 2:4; Ephesians 2:7; Titus 3:4)
  • God has no partiality (Romans 2:11; Deuteronomy 10:17; Job 34:19; Acts 10:34; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25)
  • God comforts those in tribulation (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Isaiah 51:12, 66:13)
  • God desires all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)
  • God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6-10; Proverbs 3:11-12; Revelation 3:19)
  • God is light with no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5; James 1:17)

Knowing God Personally

This study of God's titles, attributes, and personality reveals a Father who is infinitely more wonderful than many imagine. Yet even this exploration is by no means the full revelation of God. It serves as an invitation for you to study the Bible yourself and discover the depths of His character that no single article could contain.

Jesus didn't come merely to teach theological truths about God; He came to introduce you personally to the Father, to tear down the barriers between you and Him, and to make a way for you to know Him intimately.

God is not a religious system to be studied from a distance. He is a Person who can be pursued and known. He is near to those who call upon Him (Psalm 145:18), willing to reason with you (Isaiah 1:18), and He reveals Himself to those who seek Him with all their heart (Jeremiah 29:13). The Father who created you knows every detail of your life. He is compassionate and abounding in love—these are only a few of His many qualities.

This God invites you into relationship with Him.

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