God as Ipsum Esse

Have you ever paused to consider the profound question that lies at the heart of all existence: Why is there something rather than nothing? This seemingly simple query opens a doorway to contemplating one of the most profound theological concepts: God as "Ipsum Esse" – Being Itself.

The idea was developed largely by St. Thomas Aquinas. It can be pretty dense and philosophical, but it's also very important--so I'll try and translate Aquinas here in a way that's a little easier to "get."

The Divine Name Revealed

When Moses stood before the burning bush and asked for God's name, he received an answer that continues to resonate through the corridors of theological thought: "אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה" (ehyeh asher ehyeh) – "I AM WHO I AM" (Exod 3:14). This divine self-identification serves as the cornerstone for understanding God as Ipsum Esse.

The Hebrew verb הָיָה (hayah) in its first-person imperfect form conveys not a static reality but a dynamic, ever-present actuality.

God does not merely exist; He is existence itself.  

The Septuagint renders this phrase as "ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν" ("I am the one who is"), further emphasizing this unique ontological status. This is not merely a name but a revelation of God's very nature.

When Jesus declares "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58), He deliberately echoes this divine name, causing His listeners to take up stones against Him for what they recognized as a claim to divinity. The Greek ἐγὼ εἰμί (ego eimi) directly parallels the divine self-revelation at Sinai, forming a bridge between the testaments and confirming the eternal nature of Christ.

 

The Distinction of Divine Being

Unlike everything in creation, God's essence is not separate from His existence. While in created beings there is a distinction between what they are and that they are, in God these are identical. This is not merely a philosophical abstraction but a profound truth with far-reaching implications for our understanding of God and our relationship to Him.

St. Thomas Aquinas put it this way:

"The being of all creatures depends upon God, so that not only did they receive their being from Him, but they would not be able to continue in being if not sustained by Him." (Summa Contra Gentiles III, 65)

The Scriptures affirm this unique status repeatedly. The psalmist declares, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God" (Ps 90:2). The Hebrew עוֹלָם (olam) used twice in this verse conveys not just temporal eternity but an existence that transcends time itself.

This understanding preserves God's absolute transcendence while simultaneously explaining His intimate presence in all creation. He is not one being among many, not even the greatest of beings, but Being itself – the ground and source of all that exists.

 

Creation as Gift of Being

When we understand God as Ipsum Esse, creation takes on new significance. The universe does not emerge from pre-existing material or as an emanation of God's substance, but as a free gift of existence to that which is not God. The Hebrew בָּרָא (bara), used in Genesis 1:1, is a verb reserved exclusively for God's creative activity, highlighting the unique nature of divine creation.

This act of creation ex nihilo (from nothing) reveals both God's transcendence over all created reality and His immanent presence sustaining it at every moment. As Paul beautifully expresses to the Athenians, "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). The Greek preposition ἐν (en) here suggests not just spatial proximity but ontological dependence – our very existence is grounded in God's being.

Every sunrise, every breath, every moment of continued existence testifies to this ongoing gift of being. Creation is not a past event but a continuous relationship between the Creator and the created. The world exists now because God is giving it existence now.

 

The Participation of Creation

All created things exist by participation in God's being. They do not possess existence independently but receive it as a continuous gift. This participatory understanding avoids both the error of pantheism (which identifies God with the world) and deism (which separates God from ongoing involvement with creation).

According to Aquinas, "God is not a being, but Being itself, by participation in which all other things exist." (Summa Contra Gentiles I, 26)

The Scriptures affirm this participatory relationship: "For from him and through him and to him are all things" (Rom 11:36). The Greek prepositions ἐκ (ek), διά (dia), and εἰς (eis) present a complete picture of our ontological relationship to God – He is the source, sustainer, and ultimate purpose of all existence.

This understanding transforms our view of reality. The world is neither divine (to be worshipped) nor merely material (to be exploited), but a created gift that points beyond itself to its Source. Each existing thing whispers of the mystery of Being itself.

 

Spiritual Implications of Ipsum Esse

How does this seemingly abstract concept transform our spiritual lives? In profound and practical ways:

Radical Dependence

When we recognize God as the source of our being, we acknowledge our fundamental dependence. Every heartbeat, every thought, every moment of existence is sustained by God's creative will. This fosters a humility that recognizes the truth of our contingent nature and leads to gratitude for the gift of being.

Job's powerful realization comes to mind: "In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind" (Job 12:10). The Hebrew נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh) here encompasses not just biological life but the totality of our embodied existence – all of which depends moment by moment on God.

This dependence is not weakness but the recognition of our true relationship to reality. It liberates us from the illusion of self-sufficiency and opens us to receive life as gift rather than possession.

 

Contemplative Awareness

Understanding God as Ipsum Esse invites us to a deeper perception of reality. Beyond the surface appearances and constant flux of experience lies the sustaining mystery of being itself. This contemplative gaze sees creation not merely as objects to be used but as a participation in divine mystery.

The Psalmist cultivated this awareness: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?" (Ps 8:3-4). This is not merely aesthetic appreciation but ontological wonder – amazement at the gift of existence itself.

In our distracted age, cultivating this contemplative awareness becomes a countercultural spiritual practice. It calls us to presence, to attend to the depth dimension of reality, to recognize the gift of being that underlies all experience.

 

Freedom from Idolatry

When we recognize God as Being Itself, we are freed from absolutizing any particular being. Idolatry mistakes a being for Being, attributing ultimate significance to that which is merely contingent. The prophets consistently condemned this fundamental error.

Isaiah mockingly describes those who worship idols: "Half of it he burns in the fire... the rest of it he makes into a god" (Isa 44:15-17). The error is not just religious but ontological – mistaking the contingent for the absolute, the created for the Creator.

This insight remains profoundly relevant. Our modern idols may not be carved from wood, but we still absolutize the relative – whether in consumerism, nationalism, technology, or even our own egos. Recognizing God as Ipsum Esse places all created realities in their proper perspective.

 

Existential Security

Our ultimate security rests not in fragile human constructs but in the unchanging reality of God as Ipsum Esse. The Psalmist proclaims, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge" (Ps 18:2). The Hebrew צוּר (tsur/rock) conveys unshakable stability, a foundation that cannot be moved.

This security transcends circumstances. Even in the midst of suffering and loss, we remain held in being by the One who is Being itself. Nothing can separate us from this fundamental relationship. As Paul affirms, neither death nor life, nothing in all creation "will be able to separate us from the love of God" (Rom 8:38-39).

 

Contemporary Relevance

In our current cultural moment, the concept of Ipsum Esse offers several important correctives:

Beyond Materialism

Against reductive materialism, which treats physical reality as ultimate, Ipsum Esse reminds us that being itself transcends materiality. Matter participates in being but does not exhaust it. This opens space for recognizing dimensions of reality beyond the merely physical without falling into dualistic separation of matter and spirit.

The Scriptural witness consistently affirms this fuller vision of reality. Jesus reminds us that "God is spirit" (John 4:24), using the Greek πνεῦμα (pneuma) to indicate a mode of being not reducing the concept of "Ipsum Esse" to a modern audience requires more than philosophical arguments; it demands a reorientation of our entire way of being in the world. It challenges us to see beyond the surface of things and recognize the deeper mystery that underlies all existence.

In a world that often values productivity over contemplation, consumption over gratitude, and individualism over interconnectedness, embracing God as Being Itself can be a radical and transformative act. It invites us to move from a posture of control and possession to one of receptivity and awe.

As we contemplate the implications of "Ipsum Esse" for our lives, let us remember that we are not isolated beings striving for meaning in a random universe. Instead, we are intimately connected to the Source of all being, sustained by an unfathomable love that transcends time and space.

May this awareness guide our steps, shape our relationships, and deepen our sense of purpose in a world that is both beautiful and broken. For every moment we breathe is a testament to the ongoing gift of existence. The wind rustles through the trees, carrying whispers of Being itself, inviting us to partake in the divine dance of creation.

As we journey through this world, let us remember that our ultimate security lies not in the fleeting pleasures or achievements of this life, but in the unchanging reality of God as Ipsum Esse. In Him, we find our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer – a refuge that remains steadfast amidst the stormy seas of life.

 

In Jesus' name,

Judah