Attributes of God – The Unlimited

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III in this lecture explains the attribute of God as “Unlimited,” emphasizing that God is not limited by place, time, knowledge, power, or holiness. God cannot be measured or contained, for He transcends all human comprehension, existing beyond the laws of matter or movement, as the perfect Being and the necessary cause of all existence.
🌍 First: God Unlimited in Place
God exists everywhere and is contained by no space because He fills all. Heaven, earth, the seas, and their depths are all within His presence. As David said: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I descend to the depths, You are there.” (Psalm 139)
Because He is everywhere, God does not move from place to place — He is already present in both. Thus, expressions like “go,” “come,” “ascend,” or “descend” are human terms used to simplify divine truths for our limited understanding.
⏳ Second: God Unlimited in Time
God is eternal and everlasting, without beginning or end. He is the First Cause — the “Cause of existence,” who brought all things into being. He alone is Necessary Being, for the existence of creation itself proves the necessity of an eternal Creator. All creatures once existed only in God’s thought before He brought them into being.
💫 Third: God Unlimited in Knowledge and Power
God’s knowledge is infinite — He knows the past, present, and future simultaneously. Nothing new can occur to Him, for He has known all things eternally. His power is also without limit, as He is the One through whom the universe was made and by whom it continues to exist.
✨ Fourth: God Unlimited in Holiness and Glory
God’s holiness and glory are boundless. His divine essence cannot be seen directly, for no one can behold His essence and live. When God appears to humanity, He takes a form suited to their capacity, as in the Incarnation, yet His divine nature remains unchanged.
📖 Fifth: On Theological Questions
Pope Shenouda explains that expressions such as “the right hand of God,” “God’s descent,” or “ascent” are symbolic, referring to power, glory, or blessing — not physical movement. The divine nature has no right or left and is not confined in space. The Incarnation represents God’s appearance in flesh, not a limitation of His divine being.
💖 Spiritual Dimension
This doctrine invites the believer to humility and deep worship, for God who transcends all limits is always present among us. Understanding His greatness leads to reverence, gratitude, and steadfast faith that He is the beginning and the end — all existence is by Him and for Him.
For better translation support, please contact the center.



