LessonsDivine Attributes: Neither Identical to nor Separate from the EssenceQuiz

فإن ذات الله تعالى وصفاته أزلية
God's essence and His attributes are eternal.

An originated quality of a created being may arise later and cease. The eternal divine attributes are not understood as newly arising, perishing, or detaching from their subject.

This difference matters when using analogies from parts and wholes, accidents and substrates. One must not transfer the conditions of created colors, motions, or other transient accidents wholesale to divine attributes. Nor does “eternal” turn an attribute into an independent god.

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Eternal versus originated attributes

Divine Attributes: Neither Identical to nor Separate from the Essence

فإن ذات الله تعالى وصفاته أزلية
God's essence and His attributes are eternal.

An originated quality of a created being may arise later and cease. The eternal divine attributes are not understood as newly arising, perishing, or detaching from their subject.

This difference matters when using analogies from parts and wholes, accidents and substrates. One must not transfer the conditions of created colors, motions, or other transient accidents wholesale to divine attributes. Nor does “eternal” turn an attribute into an independent god.