The Attributes of God: A Journey Into the Father's Heart

by A.W. Tozer

God's Infinitude, Immensity, Goodness, Justice, Mercy, Grace, Omnipresence, Immanence, Holiness, Perfection all answer, what is God like? For A.W. Tozer, there is no question more important. In fact, Tozer's desire to know God and His fullness consumed his entire life and ministry.

Originally preached as sermons at Southside Alliance Church in Chicago, this first volume of The Attributes of God examines ten attributes of God. A study guide has been added for an in depth look at each attribute. This all important book deals with the most important subject matter of God's traits. We should esteem Him stricken, smitten and afflicted, yet see Him as our Creator and King in awe, wonder, and fear with righteousness and amazement. How can we even be allowed to have a glimpse of His beauty, compassion, and grace?

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity, Faith, Religion, Christian Living

176 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2003

About the author

Aiden Wilson Tozer was an American evangelical pastor, speaker, writer, and editor. After coming to Christ at the age of seventeen, Tozer found his way into the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination where he served for over forty years. In 1950, he was appointed by the denomination's General Council to be the editor of "The Alliance Witness" (now "Alliance Life").

Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.

A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A.W. Tozer's The Attributes of God has been on my shelf for years. It is probably one of the first Tozer books I ever bought. However, it has remained unread for years. Even after discovering Knowledge of the Holy, a book that I loved, loved, loved. The first few attempts, for better or worse, I found a bit intimidating. The timing just wasn't right. But it was right this time. It was JUST RIGHT. The Attributes of God turned out to be an amazing--absolutely amazing--read for me.

Tozer's Attributes of God is published as two volumes. I have only read the first one. So far. In this first volume, Tozer explores:

God's Infinitude
God's Immensity
God's Goodness
God's Justice
God's Mercy
God's Grace
God's Omnipresence
God's Immanence
God's Holiness
God's Perfection

Each chapter begins with Scripture. Each chapter closes with prayer. These are contemplative, devotional readings. Tozer never lets readers forget that it is KNOWING GOD and not KNOWING ABOUT God that truly matters. His enthusiasm is contagious. His approach is passionate and demanding. He invites readers into theology. He encourages them to take God seriously, to take God at his word, to earnestly and passionately seek GOD for themselves. Some of what he says could be considered harsh, but, it could also be taken as truth--pure truth revealing the ugliness of our sin condition and just how far we've fallen. Tozer takes sin just as seriously as he takes God. I'd argue that Tozer took sin so very seriously precisely because he took God at his word, because he treasured God's word in his heart, because he believed that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, because he trusted that Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. Tozer calls believers to a deeper life, a holier life, a called apart life.

I absolutely loved this one!!!! I had four favorite chapters. I loved the chapters on God's Goodness, on God's Justice, on God's Mercy, and on God's Grace. While all the chapters are excellent, some of them are more WOW than others.

I would definitely recommend this one!!!

[Lori Keeton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book with a group of ladies in September. We met about twice a month to discuss and talk about the chapters we had read, breaking the 10 chapters up and stretching them out over the months. December was our last meeting and we finished up Volume 1 and are gearing up for Volume 2 to start in January 2025. I look forward to the time reading these theological classics and discussing them with like-minded believers in Christ. Our discussions are rich and fulfilling. I would highly recommend this or any Tozer book for your own ladies Bible group to use for your studies. Tozer was a self-taught theologian, pastor, teacher and writer. At 17, he surrendered his life to God after hearing a street preacher. Here is a link to his story from his website for anyone who is interested in knowing about his calling:
https://awtozer.com/life

In Volume 1 of The Attributes of God, Tozer covers the following 10 attributes:
God’s Infinitude, Immensity, Goodness, Justice, Mercy, Grace, Omnipresence, Immanence, Holiness, and Perfection.

One thing that is echoed throughout this book is that each attribute of God is not something God has but something that God is. For example, God doesn’t have mercy, He is mercy.

Here are some quotes:

God, to be God, must be infinite in all the He is. He must have no bound and no limit, no stopping place, no point beyond which He can’t go. When you think of God or anything about God you’ll have to think infinitely about God.

God has the attribute of immanence and immensity. God is immanent, which means you don’t have to go distances to find God. He is in everything. He is right here…There isn’t any place where God is not.

In regards to perfection:
God is incomparable, and by that we men that God stands alone as God, that nothing can be compared with Him….. Do you know why God uses the same word? Because there isn’t any other word. You cannot find the language that will tell what God is. So God does the best He can, considering who and what we are, to make Himself known to us. God is not limited in Himself. He is limited in us.

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection could have been written today instead of in the 1950's. Tozer's words are timeless and are needed by today's Christians. I'm glad I took the time to read this book.

[Leila McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tozer addresses ten attributes of God: infinitude, immensity, goodness, justice, mercy, grace, omnipresence, immanence, holiness, and perfection. This book spoke strongly to me; it is so easy to create God in our own image and limit Him because we as creatures cannot really fathom Him. Tozer's language is straightforward, and sets forth a higher view of God. I need to reread this book every so often to recalibrate. As Tozer says, "If I have a low concept of God, my religion can only be a cheap, watery affair. But if my concept of God is worthy of God then it can be noble and dignified; it can be reverent, profound, beautiful."

[Allison Anderson Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked this book, though it felt more like a chat than a systematic study of the attributes of God. I think that's why I liked it though. It felt more personal than a lot of theological books I've read, though I did notice not much scripture was referenced throughout. He seems a little discouraged about the state of Christianity and frequently referenced the lack of real Christianity. While I totally agree, I felt his message could have been balanced with a little more positive and encouraging thoughts. I totally agree with him though and wish I could have more of this sense of the reverence and excitement about the majesty of God. I don't want to invite people to a weak faith. "We need to improve the quality of our Christianity and we never will until we raise our concept of God..."

[Dionne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tozer is always good, and its always good to learn more about the character of God.

[Samara · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Christianity at any given time is strong or weak depending on her concept of God (pg. 41).”

“We try to promote religion, forgetting that it rests upon the character of God. If I have a low concept of God, my religion can only be cheap, watery affair. But if my concept of God is worthy of God then it can be noble and dignified; it can be reverent, profound, beautiful. This is what I want to see once more…Pray that way, won’t you? (pg. 195)”

Things I enjoyed:
- Tozer obviously was passionate about pushing the Church to return their gaze and their efforts toward knowing God and being defined and transformed in Him. He focused on attributes of God that aren’t exhaustive, but seem to be elected because they’re possibly the ones most avoided or mishandled in his perspective, as well as the ones that have weight in understanding the other attributes of God (example: in chapter 1 - All that God is, He is without bounds or limits. In chapter 3 - If God is good, He is infinitely good).
- A major takeaway of mine is to be careful in defining or relating God to anything and to remind myself He is completely other. He isn’t better than the next person at love, goodness, excellence, etc, He IS love, good, perfect, etc. He is never NOT love, good, perfect, etc.
- I also enjoyed the format of the book with the study guide at the end, as it helped clear up some confusing parts as well as summarized thoughts from the chapter.
- I think I gained way more from reading this in a group and discussing it together than if I read it on my own. This is in part because I’m an external processor, but also helped me have takeaways despite some of the things mentioned below.

Things I didn’t like:
- This book was written in the 1950’s, and there are several places that it feels pretty dated or insensitive (example: Abraham Lincoln regarded as a good but less than perfect man after telling a story of him chasing his wife across the lawn saying she didn’t obey??? Ummm what?).
- Although I am not disagreeing with his assessment that we can much improve our reverence toward God, he tends to speak in extremes that I don’t agree with. Examples: 1) “The Bible knew nothing about the “laws of nature” (pg. 44). (I have had many conversations with friends that these “laws” actually do much to glorify God/deepen our awe at his intricate work), 2) “You can join almost any church now. I’ve heard recently of a church where at the closing hymn they open the doors and anybody can join. A gangster can join. I say, ‘Never, never, never!’ If they can’t get to into heaven, they ought not get into our churches! (pg. 172)” (Ummm, EXCUSE ME?! This is within a chapter that he says our “holiness” is gray compared to God’s white. Isn’t the church a place to welcome anyone who wants to seek God, and shouldn’t we be a people quick to admit none of us are more or less in need of CHRIST’S holiness than the next person? The chapter was generally in agreement with me here, but this comment was confusingly and disturbingly off the mark).
- In his passion (hopefully) Tozer often came across as pretty condescending, and with the above problem of talking on extremes, would almost talk as if nothing is being done to the glory of God today/when he wrote the book. Again, this contradicts his overall message that God is unlimited and so I don’t think we can ever claim that He is not working in a place.
-Because of some of the above points, I’m not sure I would recommend this book to be read with any groups where you weren’t 100% sure there would be transparent discussion and room to disagree with Tozer, especially if there’s anyone who is in a precarious place in their faith.
- Because it was a sermon transcript (and not originally a book), it got to be pretty repetitive at several points.

Overall, I’m glad I read this. There are things I’ll takeaway, and things I disagreed with that helped me understand better what I do agree with.

[Delaney Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an effort to further understand the character of God, this title caught my eye. It did not disappoint! Truly a beautiful book.
“If I have a low concept of God, my religion can only be a cheap, watery affair. But if my concept of God is worthy of God, then it can be noble and dignified. It can be reverent, profound, and beautiful.” A.W. Tozer

[Nathan]

A.W. Tozer is one of the great Christian minds of the 20th century. His works are always jam-packed with pearls of wisdom.

In this book, Tozer tackles ten attributes of God: infinitude, immensity, goodness, justice, mercy, grace, omnipresence, immanence, holiness, and perfection. As always, his presentation is thoughtful, his words are simple, and his subject deep.

Parts of the book made me rethink my own assumptions. The topic of justice was the most profound for me:

“We say sometimes, ‘The justice of God requires Him to do so and so.’ Never use that language…. God does what He does because of what He is.” And later, “Justice is not something that God has. Justice is something that God is.”

Tozer tackles tricky issues like the coexistence of justice and mercy within God and the differences between God’s presence and God’s felt presence.

My one critique is that Tozer can jump topics a bit within the chapters. His more famous work Knowledge of the Holy has many short chapters; this work has few long chapters (at about 20 pages apiece). The result is occasional veering--yet even the rabbit trails are wise.

This book is readable for the layman, but it takes effort. It is no light reading. But as Tozer boldly writes, “An individual Christian will be a success or a failure depending upon what he or she thinks of God.” The reward from this book is worth the effort.

[Travis Bon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preaching from the 20’s-50’s, A.W. Tozer was a man far ahead of his time.
He prematurely recognized the #1 problem with the church today, dedicating his life in ministry to returning the rightful knowledge, fear, and beauty of God back into the hearts of those called to worship Him.
—“And we must begin to preach it, sing it, write about it, promote it, talk it, tell it and pray it until we have recaptured the concept of the majesty, until the awareness of the divine is back in our religion again, until we have regained the ability and desire to retire within our own hearts and worship God in the silence of our own spirits.”

Tozer knew where we would stray away nationwide - “I have tried to turn people from the externals to the internals of religion. I have tried to take away the clouds and show God in His glory. I have stood almost alone in preaching this, and it has been a strange thing. It is rare to hear a man preach anything about God the Holy One.”

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a million great reviews for this classic evangelical book, deservedly so in most respects, so I don't feel bad adding a negative note. There was a part in the section on holiness that took me aback where Tozer is talking about God's holiness and the holiness of the church and he starts talking about churches that will let just anyone in the door, and his take on that is "if they can't get into heaven, they ought not get in to our churches."

I have to conclude that this sentiment was a product of the time period in which Tozer lived, prior to the Jesus movement of the 60s which turned this idea completely on it's head, but it's worth noting that it's in there and that I disagree with it.

Aside from that, there are plenty of good points made that are both encouraging and convicting. Will likely reread.

[Meire · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart is divided. I like this book for lots of reasons. Tozer describes brilliantly the undescribable attributes of God and makes me want to know Him more. But the pages spent criticizing the church and the state of Christianity I could have done without. Not because it's not true or accurate, but because, in my opinion, it defeats the purpose of the book. I'd rather he spent all pages on the journey he endeavored to take us: knowing the infinite amazingness of God.

[Jane West · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the A W Tozer audiobooks. This one takes various attributes of God and explains how God is so far above us in each attribute. This really helped me grasp a picture of how big and infinite God is. His holiness is so awesome! I will read the paperback and take notes now that I listened to it.

[Christabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful, cleansing read after the last book. Not sure I have words...

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing to criticize about this, I just like Tozer's other works much more. For his teachings on the attributes of God, I would recommend The Knowledge of the Holy instead.

[David Asche · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading The Cross of Christ by Stott, this was a refreshingly easy-to-digest book. Tozer did a great job explaining how God is both just and loving—or, put another way, a loving God who punishes sin. The explanation of how a Christian can feel far from God at times was also very good. Overall, it’s a good book, and I recommend it.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an encouraging read for anyone seeking to rediscover their fear and sense of majesty and awe toward our God! A beautiful call from Tozer to improve our Christianity by raising our concept of God.

“Christianity at any given time is strong or weak depending upon her concept of God…the basic trouble with the Church today is her unworthy conception of God…our religion is little because our god is little. Our religion is weak because our god is weak. Our religion is ignoble because the god we serve is ignoble. We do not see God as He is.”

“What good is all our busy religion if God isn’t in it? What good is it if we’ve lost majesty, reverence, worship — an awareness of the divine? What good is it if we’ve lost a sense of the Presence and the ability to retreat within our own hearts and meet God in the garden? If we’ve lost that, why build another church? Why make more converts to an effete Christianity? Why bring people to follow after a Savior so far off that He doesn’t own them? We need to improve the quality of our Christianity, and we never will until we raise our concept of God back to that held by apostle, sage, prophet, saint and reformer. When we put God back where He belongs, we will instinctively and automatically move up again; the whole spiral of our religious direction will be upward. But we try to work it out by methods; we try to produce it by technology; we try to create revivals by publicity stunts. We try to promote religion, forgetting that it rests upon the character of God. If I have a low concept of God, my religion can only be a cheap, watery affair. But if my concept of God is worthy of God then it can be noble and dignified; it can be reverent, profound, beautiful. This is what I want to see once more among men. Pray that way, won’t you?”

[gwy｡⁠*⁠♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend lent this book to me 2-3 years ago when I had been newly converted. I got to read chapters 1 and 2, but didn't bother finishing the book (due to perfectionist procrastination). First, I came to understand how much of a nightmare it is to lend a book to a friend and never get it back (I will return this when we meet after quarantine is lifted). Second (kidding aside), this book was a great read and I can't believe I put it on hold for so long.

I've learned many things I didn't know about who God is. A few of the attributes that personally impacted me are His infinitude, immensity, and omnipresence. Those three characters of the Lord were difficult for me to grasp and comprehend. Mainly because I had just been enlightened about it. It changed my perspective on the person of God—and I finally understood what it meant for God to be so immense, mighty, and incomparable.

Additionally, I can see why A.W. Tozer was moved—or burdened by the church's condition. These truths must be preached in churches, and yet it is not. We fool ourselves into thinking we know God—when we actually don't. But I guess that's why we should personally seek Him for ourselves in His word.

The edition of this book along with the study guide makes studying God's attributes easier to understand, especially for new Christians. Would recommend this to new believers. :)

[Adam Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A. W. Tozer is an enigma. At times he sounds like a crusty old time Southern preacher, but then he also expresses a beauty and depth that seems to be at the opposite end of the spectrum.

This book expressed awe and wonder at the magnitude and majesty of God. There were a couple of finer points I took issues with, but overall a great read in just sitting back and basking in the wonder and appreciating the amazing, incredible divinity of God.

One big takeaway I have was his illustration of being in Christ and Christ in us. Tozer tells us to imagine ourselves as a bucket submerged in the sea. (The sea representing Christ.) The sea is in the bucket, but to an even greater degree, the bucket is in the sea.

[Caroline arrow_reads]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟏⁣
⁣
Lately I’ve really slacked on reading nonfiction. I have slowly staring reading through this book to take a deeper look in to 10 different attributes of God. This chapters were originally sermons Tozer preached at Southside Alliance Church in Chicago. Each chapter covers one attribute that is filled with Sciptite references. At the back of the book there is a study guide. It was created to help better understand the truths and apply to your life personally. ⁣
⁣
Thank you @m for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review! ⁣
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[Reagan Bon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"O restore again, we cry, restore again to Thy Church her vision of Thee. Restore again to Thy Church her sight of the great God. Show us Thy face, Thy lovely face, a permanent view of Majesty. We will not ask for a transient beam; we want a permanent sight of Thee in all Thy wonder. Oh God, send us out not only to make converts, but to glorify the Father and to hold up the beauty of Jesus Christ to men."

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all Christians, I love how Mr. Tozer relates God's co-existing, and seemingly contradictory attributes, showing how they all are simultaneously working together, full-time, in ways that we in our finite humanity, struggle to comprehend. This is a book that I hope to re-visit in the future.

[Katie Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

7 months later and I finally finished. A. W. really knows how to say it like it is. Quite a few paragraphs that were a sucker punch to the stomach and a jumble to the brain trying to grasp the watered down aspects of Christianity that happen when we forget the full attributes of God. Convicting for sure.

[Oscar López Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelente estudio de la naturaleza de Dios. Es realmente impresionante la forma en que el pastor Tozer logra volver a poner a Dios en el lugar que pertenece, es decir, en un nivel mucho más alto de lo que normalmente pensamos o aceptamos.

Sin duda es un muy buen libro para estudiar a detenimiento, o leerlo por segunda vez no estaría mal también.

[Traci Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a Tozer fan and this one is my favorite. Each chapter discusses and teaches about an attribute of God. Different aspects of Gods character. My favorites were the chapters on God's Mercy and God's omnipresence.

[Amber Rardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most challenging, yet life-changing books I’ve ever read. The Attributes of God (#1) has helped me in my understanding of God, and start to peel back the layers of fear-based faith that was instilled in me as a child.

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully written book makes for a great devotional; the reader can meditate on the excellencies and attributes of God.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The focus is on ten attributes of God. Written from the heart of a man hard after God. Tozer is always a good choice.