Theological Term of the Week
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 9:41PM 
infinitude
That perfection of God whereby he is not subject to limitation or defect and is unmeasurable and unsearchable in all that he is; God’s transcendence of the creation.
- From scripture:
“Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
It is higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea. (Job 11:7-9 ESV)Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33 ESV)
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and hisgreatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145:3 ESV) - From The Westminster Larger Catechism:
Q7: What is God?
A7: God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection…. -
From Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson:
If God is infinite in his glorious essence, learn to admire—where you cannot fathom.The angels wear a veil, they cover their faces, as adoring this infinite majesty. Isa 6:6. Elijah wrapped himself in a mantle when God’s glory passed by. Admire—where you cannot fathom. “Can you by searching find out God?” Here on earth, we see some beams of his glory, we see him in the looking-glass of the creation; we see him in his picture—his image shines in the saints. But who can search out all his essential glory? What angel can measure these pyramids? “Can you by searching find out God?” He is infinite. We can no more search out his infinite perfections, than a man upon the top of the highest mountain can take a star in his hand! Oh, have God-admiring thoughts! Adore where you cannot fathom!
There are many mysteries in nature which we cannot fathom; why the sea should be higher than the earth—yet not drown it; why the Nile should overflow in summer, when, by the course of nature, the waters are lowest. “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” Ecclesiastes 11:5. If these things perplex us, how may the infinite mystery of the Deity transcend our most raised intellectuals! Ask the geometrician, if he can, with a ruler, measure the heavens. Just so—we are unable are we to measure the infinite perfections of God. In heaven we shall see God clearly—but not fully, for he is infinite. He will communicate himself to us, according to the capacity of our vessel—but not the immenseness of his nature. Adore then where you cannot fathom!
- From Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer:
We poor human creatures are constantly being frustrated by limitations imposed upon us from without and within. The days of the years of our lives are few, and swifter than a weaver’s shuttle. Life is a short and fevered rehearsal for a concert we cannot stay togive. Just when we appear to have attained some proficiency we are forced to lay our instruments down. There is simply not time enough to think, to become, to perform what the constitution of our natures indicates we are capable of.
How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none. Eternalyears lie in His heart. For Him time does not pass, it remains; and those who are inChrist share with Him all the riches of limitless time and endless years. God neverhurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is toquiet our spirits and relax our nerves.
Learn more:
- GotQuestions.org: What does it mean that God is infinite?
- Spurgeon on the Attributes of God: Infinite
- John Gill: Of the Infinity of God
- Charles Hodge: Infinity
- S. Lewis Johnson: Attributes of God: The Spirituality and Infinity of God(mp3)
- From my attributes of God posts: God’s Infinitude
Related terms:
Filed under God’s Nature and His Work
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