The concept of Divine nature in Christianity
Synonyms: Divine essence, Spiritual character, Deity, Godliness, Divinity, Sacredness, Holiness, Spirituality, Sacred character, Spiritual nature
In Dutch: Goddelijke natuur; In Finnish: Jumalallinen luonto; In Spanish: Naturaleza divina; In German: Göttliche Natur; In Malay: Sifat ketuhanan; In Swedish: Gudomlig natur; In French: Nature divine
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Christian concept of 'Divine nature'
From: Expositions of Holy Scripture
(1) The divine nature, the rent veil symbolizes the imperfect knowledge or illumination as to the divine nature which is over all the world.[1] (2) All the faithfulness of this, and all the grandeur of the promises which Christ gives and is, are naught to us unless we attach ourselves to them by setting our hopes there.[2] (3) This phrase signifies the whole sum and aggregate of all the energies, powers, and attributes of God, representing the total Godhead in its plenitude and abundance, which is what the fulness of God encompasses.[3] (4) This term refers to the essence of God, encompassing both the loving and righteous aspects, which are considered essential and beautiful when they are associated with each other.[4] (5) Other aspects of the divine nature which God is glad that man should know include His power and His wisdom, which have their noblest illustration in the work of Jesus.[5]
From: A Dictionary of the Bible (Hastings)
(1) Divine nature is the source of all life, purifying energy, and love, constituting the binding and motive power of the whole universe, according to St. John's teachings.[6] (2) The Divine nature, specifically revealed as holy and to be feared, forms the foundation of the fundamental principle of religion, emphasizing the importance of reverence and awe for the divine.[7] (3) The Divine nature is open to Christ to use the infinite powers inherent in it as to compel men, without more ado, to worship Him as God, He resolved to reach this high dignity.[8] (4) Holiness, the essential characteristic of this, demanded an answering correspondence on the part of man made in God’s image, to obtain forgiveness.[9] (5) The essential qualities and characteristics of God as revealed through Jesus Christ, indicating His divine attributes.[10]
From: Bible cyclopedia, critical and expository
(1) This phrase describes a component of the person, referring to his essence, as mentioned in the text describing his characteristics.[11] (2) The essence and characteristics of God's nature that believers partake in through their relationship with Christ.[12]
From: A Cyclopedia of Biblical literature
(1) Refers to the inherent qualities that elevate David beyond his lowly beginnings, emphasizing his connection to God and his role as a prophet.[13] (2) The nature attributed to God that includes divine attributes and powers; the Holy Spirit possesses this nature, marking Him as truly divine.[14]
From: Hymns for Christian Devotion
(1) The essence and character of God, often seen as an example to be followed.[15]
From: Summa Theologica (English translation)
(1) This term refers to the nature of God within Christ, which is impassible and did not undergo any change during the sufferings, yet it is united with the human nature in the person of Christ.[16] (2) This refers to the essential qualities and characteristics of God, which is used to differentiate from the human soul.[17] (3) This is the essence of God, and it is used in the context of the Holy Trinity and the image, and it is the fundamental aspect of the divine.[18] (4) This refers to the nature of Christ, particularly in the context of actions performed by the power of His own Divine Nature and by the operation of the Holy Ghost.[19] (5) This refers to the essence of God, which is common to the three Persons; the text indicates that the power of creation, while common to the three Persons, belongs to them in a kind of order, with the Son receiving it from the Father and the Holy Ghost from both.[20]
From: Works of St. Anselm
(1) The essential qualities and attributes of God, which human nature is said to have originated from, and which is a source of all good things.[21] (2) This refers to the divine aspect of Jesus, which provided him with the control over himself, freeing him from obligation except to do as he chose, according to the provided text.[22] (3) The inherent quality of God that is believed to be impassible, meaning it cannot suffer or be diminished.[23] (4) The essential characteristics and qualities of God, which distinguish Him from humanity.[24] (5) The aspect of existence characterized by immortality and perfection, as attributed to God.[25]
From: The city of God
(1) The text suggests that there is no entity contrary to the divine, because nonentity is wholly opposite to Him, the supreme existence, and that the apostate angels' nature comes from God, not a different origin.[26] (2) This term pertains to the essence or characteristics of the gods, which should have taken precedence over Roman matters, even if not the entire subject.[27] (3) This is the central subject of theological inquiry, specifically how philosophers understand and explain the nature of the divine, with implications for achieving a blessed life.[28] (4) This refers to the qualities and actions of the gods, which were contrasted with human nature, specifically in their demand for plays in their own honour.[29]
From: Ante-nicene Fathers
(1) This refers to the realm where the knowledge of works is exclusively held, emphasizing that it is only known to God and cannot be fully grasped by human means.[30] (2) This phrase describes the essence of something that is considered to be of a godly or spiritual quality, and the provided text mentions this concept in relation to the name of God.[31] (3) This refers to the Spirit which was in the Word, and it is evident that it is one and the same power which is in one place described under the name of Wisdom.[32] (4) The text mentions that by imitating Christ, believers may be made partakers of the divine nature, referencing Scripture, and implying a path of imitation to achieve it.[33] (5) This refers to the inherent essence of something that is seen as godly, particularly in relation to the soul, and is connected to beliefs about its survival.[34]
From: The Existence and Attributes of God
(1) This refers to the essence of the higher power, and the text suggests that the devil seeks to distort this to promote his own agenda.[35] (2) This phrase refers to the essence of God, which is debased by the creation of idols and is rendered no better than the base matter of the objects of worship, as mentioned in the provided text.[36] (3) This is identified as the object of worship, implying that the divine perfections should be honored in worship, which means honoring the divine as they are and not contracting them into a limited state.[37] (4) The inherent characteristics and attributes that define the essence of God.[38] (5) The essence of God that embodies purity, wisdom, and eternity, emphasizing the need for reverence and appropriate understanding of God beyond human comprehension.[39]
From: The Second Helvetic Confession
(1) This refers to the teaching that the divine nature of Christ did not suffer, nor is it everywhere in the world.[40] (2) This refers to the shared essence that is common to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, indicating their unity.[41]
From: The Works of Dionysius the Areopagite
(1) The inherent quality of God that embodies His essence, attributes, and divine will, as understood in the context of Christian faith.[42] (2) The nature of God, described in terms of unity and multiplicity, encompassing the qualities of goodness and essence.[43]