Does Simplicity Distance God?

Question #16: Does the doctrine of divine simplicity–so crucial to Catholic scholasticism–render God “unintelligible” or overly abstract, and how does the Church address concerns that this might distance believers from a personal God (cf. CCC 279–301)?

Some worry that divine simplicity, a cornerstone of Catholic scholastic thought, makes God so metaphysically “abstract” that it obscures His personal, relational aspect. If God is actus purus (pure act) with no composition or parts, does this reduce God to a kind of impersonal, philosophical principle, distant from the living God revealed in Scripture and experienced in prayer? The Church, however, addresses these concerns in multiple ways, underlining that simplicity does not undermine God’s personal nature–rather, it highlights His infinite fullness and accessibility.

1. Biblical and Catechetical Foundations

CCC 279–301 insists that God is both the transcendent Creator and the intimately involved Lord of history. While the Church teaches that God’s essence is beyond finite comprehension (CCC 230), it equally affirms that this does not negate His personal involvement with humanity. Rather, God’s simplicity underlines that His attributes–love, mercy, justice–are not fragmented “parts” but the very reality of who He is. Thus, the same God who “knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13) is not a remote principle, but the Lord who personally knows and loves each of us.

2. Scholastic Emphasis on Analogy

Medieval theologians, such as St. Thomas Aquinas, introduced the notion of analogy to safeguard God’s intimate knowability while acknowledging His transcendence. Aquinas taught that, although we cannot fully grasp God’s essence, we can speak truly (albeit imperfectly) of God’s attributes–His goodness, wisdom, and personal love–because these perfections are reflected in creation (CCC 41–43). Thus, divine simplicity indicates there is no conflict or tension within God’s being; but it does not mean that God is an impersonal “block.” Instead, it allows all of God’s self-revelation (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) to be one undivided expression of His total self-offering.

3. Personal Encounter in Liturgy and Prayer

The Church’s liturgical life and spiritual tradition demonstrate that believers do not approach a sterile, unknowable deity. Rather, we encounter the Triune God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–through the sacraments, scripture, and personal prayer. This encounter affirms God’s living presence and relationality, even as theology maintains that His essence is uncompounded and infinite. Far from distancing us, divine simplicity means God’s will, love, and essence are entirely unified: He can be fully present in every moment of every believer’s life without being “split” among them.

4. Mystery vs. Incomprehensibility

Lastly, the Church differentiates between “mystery” and “meaninglessness.” God is indeed a mystery–infinitely beyond human concepts–yet He graciously reveals Himself as a loving, personal Being. Divine simplicity does not negate revelation; it clarifies that God is supremely one and therefore supremely reliable. He is not torn by internal divisions or constraints; rather, He is the same God who declares, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) and draws near in covenant love.

In short, while divine simplicity can sound abstract, the Church insists it actually underscores God’s wholly unified, personal presence. It assures us that God’s love, knowledge, and action are never at odds. Instead of rendering God remote, simplicity magnifies His intimate fidelity to all creation.

(see #17, #29 for more)