Understanding God's Attributes Through Logos
Dr. John Fallahee's Logos training webinar "The Attributes of God: A Logos Deep Dive" offers a focused study on how to explore the doctrine of God using Logos Bible Software. This session is especially helpful for anyone wanting to grow in their understanding of God's character through practical digital tools. The webinar is part of a larger series that connects theological study with evangelism, making it directly relevant to Gospel 444's mission.
Why Study the Attributes?
Scripture reminds us in Jeremiah 9:23-24 that true wisdom is knowing God, not merely human achievements. Recognizing God's attributes—His eternal nature, holiness, love, and power—shapes how we view our own lives and responsibilities. When we see God as sufficient and worthy of worship, we avoid self-reliance and keep Him central in all areas of life.
Two Categories of Divine Attributes
The webinar clearly separates divine attributes into two groups. Incommunicable attributes—such as God's eternality—mark Him as uncreated and distinct from all created beings. These qualities cannot be fully shared or mirrored by humans. Communicable attributes—like love, wisdom, and holiness—are qualities we can reflect because we are made in God's image (Genesis 1). While we will never perfectly embody these traits due to sin, we can pursue them as reflections of God's perfection.
Organizing Your Study in Logos
One of the most practical parts of the webinar is Dr. Fallahee's step-by-step approach to organizing notes. He recommends creating a dedicated notebook titled "Attributes of God" where each attribute gets its own note. Using bold, capitalized headings for attribute names (like HOLY or LOVE) makes them easy to find later. For each attribute, he suggests inserting relevant verses directly through Logos' auto-linking feature, which saves time and ensures accuracy.
He also demonstrates using Passage Lists to gather all verses related to a single attribute. This involves creating a new Passage List, selecting verses, copying them, and then sorting and removing duplicates. Adding headings within the Passage List allows for sub-grouping (for example, separating verses about God's holiness from those about His love). These organizational tools make it simple to conduct thorough research without getting overwhelmed.
Enhancing Searches with Specialized Collections
Dr. Fallahee shows how to download and use free theological guide collections—specifically the "07" series (e.g., "07 Theology All")—to broaden study options. He advises opening these collections manually and then refining searches to avoid information overload. For example, instead of searching the entire library for "omniscience," he suggests narrowing the search to specific books like Psalms using the "near" keyword. This strategy yields more precise results and speeds up study.
Using the Bible Browser and Fact Book
The Bible Browser tool (found under Tools) helps users discover tags and themes associated with attributes. Typing terms like "omniscience" reveals categorized results, such as verses tagged under "promises" or "preaching themes." Combined with the Fact Book—accessed via the checkmark icon—users can explore theological themes like "God's attributes" and see related tags (e.g., "God's grace," "God's truth"). This combination of tools uncovers indirect connections, such as how God's actions in Genesis reveal His creative power and knowledge.
Practical Tips for Effective Study
- Use highlighting with custom labels to tag verses with specific attributes (e.g., tagging Psalm 139:4 with "omniscience").
- Link highlights to your notebook so tagged passages appear in organized collections.
- Leverage the Study Assistant to explore attributes with prompts like "What are the attributes of God?" or "List key passages on God’s omniscience."
- Verify AI-generated content against trusted sources to maintain theological accuracy.
Next Steps for Deeper Study
The webinar sets the stage for exploring how these attributes influence evangelism and gospel presentation. Understanding God's holiness, love, and justice helps believers communicate the gospel more clearly and compassionately. By using Logos' organizational tools, you can systematically study these attributes, prepare sermons, or grow in personal discipleship—all while keeping the focus on knowing God more deeply.