His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks about one of God’s attributes which is that God is simple, meaning not composite.

Concept of simplicity and non-compositeness
He explains that the word “simple” here means that God is not made up of parts or components that joined together.

Illustrative example of the composite
He cites the example of calcium carbonate: there were not carbon and oxygen and calcium that united and became carbonate; this models what we mean by composite.

Theological conclusion
Based on this clarification, Pope Shenouda affirms that God is not composite, that is, there are no prior components that came together to constitute His existence.

Implication for divinity
Saying God is simple distinguishes divine theology from creatures that are composed of elements, and highlights that God has an eternal being not altered by the assembling of parts.

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