Simplicity

“God’s unity of simplicity means that God is one with himself, selfsame and indivisible in his being and operations, and God is not composed of parts. God is pure God, and nothing but God is God.”^[1]

The doctrine of divine simplicity denies any composition in God, including:

Act-potency composition

Job 22:2–3; 35:6–7; 41:11; Ps 102:25–27; Ro 11:33, 35; Heb 13:8; Jas 1:17; Rev 4:8

Form-matter composition

Main topic: Incorporeality Ex 33:20; Mt 16:17; Jn 1:18; 4:23–24 (cf. Lk 24:36-39); Jn 5:37; 6:46; Ro 1:20; Col 1:15; 1Ti 1:17; 6:16; Heb 11:27; 1Jn 4:12, 20

Essence-existence composition

Ex 3:2–3, 14: Jn 5:26; Rev 4:8

Nature-supposit composition

Ex 8:10; 9:14; 15:11; Dt 4:35, 39; 32:39; 1Sa 2:2; 2Sa 7:22 (cf. 1Ch 17:20); 2Sa 22:32; 1Ki 8:23, 60; 2Ki 5:15; 19:15, 19 (cf. Isa 37:15–16, 20); Ps 18:31; 83:18; 86:8–10; 135:5; Isa 40:18, 25; 43:10; 44:6–8, 24; 45:5–6, 21–22; 46:5, 9; 64:4; Jer 10:6–7, 10; Hos 13:4; Joel 2:27; Mic 7:18; Heb 6:13

Genus-species composition

Ineffability: Dt 29:29; Job 11:7–9; Ps 92:5; 139:6; 147:5; Isa 40:28; 55:8–9; Mt 11:27 (cf. Lk 10:22); Ro 11:33–34; 1Co 2:9–11; 13:9–12; Transcendance: 1Ch 29:11; Job 37:23; Ps 47:2, 7–9; 97:9; 99:1–2; 148:13; Isa 6:1; 33:5; 57:15; 1Ti 6:16

Substance-accident composition

Ex 3:14; Jn 4:24; 14:6; 1Jn 1:5; 4:8

1. Swain, Scott. The Trinity: An Introduction (Short Studies in Systematic Theology) (p. 48). Crossway. Kindle Edition. #