The essential nature of God is defined by which type of attributes?

The essential nature of God is defined by incommunicable attributes. These attributes are intrinsic to God and cannot be shared or communicated with creation. They describe God's unique qualities that set Him apart from everything else that exists. Examples of incommunicable attributes include God's self-existence (aseity), omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotence (all-powerful), and omnipresence (present everywhere). These characteristics highlight aspects of God's being that are not reflected in humanity or the created order.

In contrast, communicable attributes are those that God shares with humanity, such as love, mercy, and justice. While these are essential to understanding God's character, they do not define His essential nature in the same way incommunicable attributes do. Transcendent attributes refer to God's existence beyond and independent from the physical universe, which can overlap with incommunicable attributes but focuses more on God's relationship to creation. Revelatory attributes involve the ways God reveals Himself to humanity, but they do not encapsulate His essential nature. Thus, incommunicable attributes are the most fitting choice when defining God's essential nature.