Attributes of god Quote by Thomas Talbott
““With such questions as these, we perhaps approach a critical parting of the ways, a point at which our two pictures of God diverge dramatically. In part because they regard justice and mercy as distinct attributes of God, the Augustinians suppose that God could justly have refused to forgive sinners or to save them from their sin; as the Augustinians see it, this makes God’s forgiveness a free gift and his mercy all the more glorious because it is supererogatory. But if, according to our alternative picture, God’s moral nature is simple—if all of his moral attributes are identical with his love—then his justice will be altogether merciful even as his mercy is altogether just; he will punish sinners, in other words, only when it is merciful to do so, and he will always forgive them because that is the most loving, and therefore the just, thing to do.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Theology of God, Thomas Talbott, 1995
The quote contrasts two theological views: one sees justice and mercy as separate, making forgiveness a supererogatory gift; the other sees God’s moral nature as unified in love, so justice and mercy are identical and forgiveness is both loving and just.
In simple terms: Two ways to view God’s moral nature: separate attributes vs. unified love.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that love can harmonize justice and mercy.
Themes
theology
philosophy
ethics
divine nature
justice
mercy
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
respectful
Type
theological
philosophical
explanatory
When to use this quote
- pastoral counseling
- interfaith dialogue
- ethical decision making
- personal reflection
- teaching theology
Key Concepts
Augustinianism
simplicity of divine love
supererogatory
unity of attributes
Questions to Reflect On
- How does seeing God’s love as singular affect your understanding of justice?
- Can justice and mercy truly be indistinguishable?
A Different Perspective
If love is the sole attribute, complex moral dilemmas may lack nuance.
![“The greatness of our God lies in the fact that [He] is both tough minded and tender hearted. ... [God] expresses [His] tough mindedness in [His] justice and wrath and [His] tenderheartedness in [His] love and grace. ... On the one hand, God is a God of justice who punished Israel for her wayward…” quote by Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8df/martin-luther-king-jr-2-1523_god_the-greatness-of-our-god-lies-in-the-fac_549073.jpg)
