It is impossible for us to define God, for definition sets limits to concepts and expressions. Nevertheless, even with our limited understanding, we know that we can speak meaningfully of God. When St John tells us in his First Letter that "God is love" that is strictly speaking not a "definition" of God - it is rather a remarkable insight into the meaning of all that the Blessed Trinity has done and is doing for us, creating, saving, and sanctifying us.

The Gospel of John tells us that God the Father is the one who sent Jesus. St. Paul, on the other hand tends to see God the Father as the one who raised Jesus from the dead. Similarly St Peter speaks of God as "the God who raised him (Jesus) from the dead and gave him glory."

These writers are not trying to construct definitions of God. Rather, they point to significant aspects of the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, and assure us that in Jesus of Nazareth, Our Saviour and Lord, we can indeed know something of the mind and heart of God.