Natures of God

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox faith, when we speak of the "natures" of God, we must distinguish between the Nature of the Divine Essence (the Holy Trinity) and the Incarnate Nature of the Word (Christology).

1. The Nature of the Divine Essence (The Holy Trinity)

We believe in one unique Divine Nature. God is one in Essence and three in Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

• Unity of Essence: There is only one God. As St. Justin Martyr argued, the truth of the "sole government of God" is evident even to the reason of men; there cannot be multiple creators or conflicting divine wills.
• The Three Hypostases: The Father is the Fountainhead, the Son is the Word, and the Holy Spirit is the Giver of Life. They share the same nature, will, and authority.
• Attributes: This nature is unchangeable, infinite, without beginning or end, and entirely spiritual. As Aeschylus and Sophocles (referenced by St. Justin) even hinted in their poetry, God is not "clad in fleshly robes" by His original nature, nor is He like a mortal man.

2. The Incarnate Nature of God the Word (Miaphysitism)

The most critical distinction for Coptic Orthodox Christians is our understanding of the Nature of Christ. We are Miaphysites, following the theology of St. Cyril of Alexandria.

• One Incarnate Nature: We believe that the Divine Nature of the Word united with a human nature (having a rational soul) in the womb of the Virgin Mary. This resulted in One Incarnate Nature of God the Word.
• Without Mingling or Confusion: Unlike the heretical Eutychians (monophysites), we do not believe the divinity swallowed up the humanity.
• Without Separation or Partition: Unlike the Nestorians or the Chalcedonians (who speak of "two natures" after the union), we believe the divinity and humanity are united in a "Natural Union."

As we say in the Confession at the end of the Divine Liturgy:

"He made it [His humanity] one with His divinity without mingling, without confusion, and without alteration... His divinity parted not from His humanity for a single moment nor a twinkling of an eye."

3. God as the "Sole Governor"

God's nature is that of the "Only True God".

• The Creator: He is the Creator of all things, the "Lord Omnipotent."
• Unchangeable: Human sin and the "infection" of idol worship led many to transfer the name of God to mortals or stones, but the Divine Nature remains lasting and unchangeable.
• The Examiner of Hearts: Because God is Spirit, His nature allows Him to know all things, even the "secret thoughts" of the heart, which is why we must worship Him "in spirit and in truth."

God is One Nature in three Persons according to His Divinity, and Christ is One Incarnate Nature formed from the union of Divinity and Humanity. We reject any teaching that divides Christ into two persons or two distinct natures after the union.