What is the Biblical evidence of the phrase, "Every attribute of God is identical with His essence?"
I have heard it said a lot, but never proven from Scripture. Where is this doctrine derived from (except reason)?
Many list wrath/hate and mercy as part of God's communicable attributes but these all stem from God's holiness and goodness. By saying "Every attribute of God is identical with His essence" we are making wrath and hatred as part of his essence, rather than mere holiness which is more basic.
But God only exercises wrath and hatred towards His creation whereas God's holiness has existed for eternity past.
Wrath is not identical to His essence, but comes about due to Creation, but many scholars list wrath as an attribute of God. There was a time when God did not exercise wrath(though God was always holy). If there was no time in which God did not exercise wrath towards pre-created sinners, then this makes Creation mandatory for God in order so that God might exercise His wrath. But God was free to create or not to create.
Any help?
I have heard it said a lot, but never proven from Scripture. Where is this doctrine derived from (except reason)?
Many list wrath/hate and mercy as part of God's communicable attributes but these all stem from God's holiness and goodness. By saying "Every attribute of God is identical with His essence" we are making wrath and hatred as part of his essence, rather than mere holiness which is more basic.
But God only exercises wrath and hatred towards His creation whereas God's holiness has existed for eternity past.
Wrath is not identical to His essence, but comes about due to Creation, but many scholars list wrath as an attribute of God. There was a time when God did not exercise wrath(though God was always holy). If there was no time in which God did not exercise wrath towards pre-created sinners, then this makes Creation mandatory for God in order so that God might exercise His wrath. But God was free to create or not to create.
Any help?