Summary of "What Are Incommunicable Attributes?"
Doctrine Matters with Kevin DeYoung
Release Date: February 18, 2025

In the episode titled "What Are Incommunicable Attributes?" Kevin DeYoung delves deep into the crucial theological concept of God's incommunicable attributes. As a pastor, bestselling author, and associate professor of systematic theology, DeYoung meticulously unpacks these attributes to provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of God's divine nature. This summary captures the essence of the discussion, highlighting key points, insightful explanations, and notable quotes from the episode.

1. Introduction to Incommunicable Attributes (00:05 - 04:30)

Kevin DeYoung opens the episode by setting the stage for the discussion on the incommunicable attributes of God. Building upon the previous week's exploration of theology proper and the distinction between communicable and incommunicable attributes, DeYoung emphasizes the importance of understanding these divine characteristics to grasp the true essence of God's nature.

Key Points:

• Doctrine Matters Podcast Overview: A platform to explore significant theological topics systematically.
• Distinction Between Attributes:
  • Communicable Attributes: Traits like goodness and kindness that humans can, to some extent, share with God.
  • Incommunicable Attributes: Characteristics that are exclusively true of God and cannot be shared by humans.

Notable Quote:

"Communicable. Think like a communicable disease, something you can catch. So those are the attributes we can in some way share with God." — Kevin DeYoung [02:15]

2. The Simplicity of God (04:31 - 12:45)

DeYoung begins his exploration of incommunicable attributes with the simplicity of God. Contrary to the everyday understanding of simplicity as "easy to understand," in theological terms, it signifies that God is not composed of parts or complex composites.

Key Points:

• Definition of Simplicity: God is not made up of different parts or attributes; He is wholly what He is.
• Contrast with Composite Beings: Unlike objects made from multiple ingredients or parts, God is indivisible.
• Implications:
  • Every attribute of God is identical to His essence.
  • No ranking of attributes; God possesses all His attributes fully and equally.
• Scriptural Examples: Verses like 1 John 4:8 ("God is love") and others (e.g., "God is light," "God is spirit") illustrate this simplicity by affirming that God embodies these attributes without ranking them.

Notable Quote:

"God does not just have some attributes. Those examples of 'God is' are just grammatical ways, and most of them are from John's writings of how to describe God." — Kevin DeYoung [07:30]

3. Divine Aseity (12:46 - 19:25)

Next, DeYoung addresses aseity, an attribute signifying God's self-existence and independence.

Key Points:

• Meaning of Aseity: From Latin "a" (from) and "se" (self), meaning God exists in and of Himself.
• Characteristics of Aseity:
  • God is before all things; everything depends on Him.
  • Absolute independence; He does not rely on anything or anyone.
• Scriptural Foundation: Genesis 1:1 sets the tone by presenting God as the uncreated Creator with no pre-existing conditions.
• Implications:
  • God exists eternally without beginning or end.
  • No struggle or need for anything outside Himself to initiate creation.

Notable Quote:

"God is the one who has always existed because he doesn't have a beginning or an end." — Kevin DeYoung [15:10]

4. Divine Infinity (19:26 - 35:50)

DeYoung explores the multifaceted nature of God's infinity, breaking it down into three distinct aspects: relation to Himself, time, and space.

A. Infinity in Relation to Himself (19:26 - 23:40)

• Absolute Perfection: God's greatness is unsearchable; His power, perfection, and knowledge are limitless.
• Essence and Attributes: All that God is, He fully embodies without any deficiency.

B. Infinity in Relation to Time (23:41 - 29:15)

• Eternity: God exists outside the confines of time, having no beginning or end.
• Duration vs. Time: While humans experience events in succession, God experiences duration as a single eternal moment.
• Transcendence Over Time: Unlike humans, God is not subject to temporal changes or sequences.

C. Infinity in Relation to Space (29:16 - 35:50)

• Immensity: God's existence is not limited by physical space; He is not confined geographically.
• Omnipresence: God fills every part of space with His being, emphasizing both His immanence and transcendence.
  • Immanence: God is present everywhere.
  • Transcendence: God's being cannot be contained or limited.

Notable Quote:

"God is infinite with relation to space, meaning eternity, which is, we just learned, not actually the same as time." — Kevin DeYoung [30:05]

5. Immutability and Impassibility (35:51 - End of Content)

DeYoung concludes the main content by briefly introducing two additional incommunicable attributes: immutability and impassibility. He indicates that these topics will be explored in more detail in subsequent episodes, particularly in relation to addressing certain heresies.

Key Points:

• Immutability: God does not change; His essence, knowledge, will, and purpose remain constant.
  • Scriptural Basis: References like James 1:17 affirm that God does not vary or waver.
• Impassibility: God does not experience suffering or emotions in a way that diminishes His nature.
  • Clarification: While God interacts with creation, His essential nature remains unaffected by external factors.
• Future Discussions: DeYoung plans to address how these attributes interact with human experience and theological challenges.

Notable Quote:

"He is immutable in his essence, in his knowledge, in his will and in his purpose. His nature cannot be altered." — Kevin DeYoung [34:20]

6. Conclusion and Further Resources (End of Content)

Wrapping up the episode, DeYoung encourages listeners to engage further with the topic through additional resources, including his book "Daily Doctrine." He underscores the podcast's mission to illuminate Christian theological traditions and invites listeners to subscribe and share the content.

Notable Quote:

"Our hope and prayer is that this has been helpful to you as you look at Scripture and try to understand the best of our theological tradition as Christians." — Kevin DeYoung [End]

Final Thoughts

In this episode of "Doctrine Matters," Kevin DeYoung provides a thorough and accessible examination of God's incommunicable attributes, laying a solid foundation for listeners to appreciate the complexities of divine theology. By breaking down attributes like simplicity, aseity, and infinity, and introducing immutability and impassibility, DeYoung equips his audience with the necessary tools to engage deeply with systematic theology. His clear explanations, supported by scriptural references and relatable analogies, make intricate theological concepts understandable, fostering a deeper reverence for the richness of God's nature.

For those seeking to expand their theological knowledge, engaging with this episode offers valuable insights into the foundational attributes that define the Christian understanding of God.