There are seven attributes about the Father that show His unique personhood. Most of our understanding of God the Father comes from the NT. But we will touch on the OT as well. 

The Father is conscious of His own existence.

In philosophy, a person is defined as a self-conscious or rational being. Meaning they have the mental capability to think and be aware of their own existence. Animals are not considered persons because they are not self-conscious. They have an inability to understand their own mental state. Trees and plants are living things, but they are not persons because they’re not self-conscious. 

The Father is conscious of Himself.

When Jesus was baptized, the Father spoke in an audible voice to the Son saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” (Matthew 3:17). The Father is conscious of who He is and who the Son is. He’s able to identify and articulate what pleases Himself. We’re also told that the Father is looking for people to worship Him (John 4:23). The fact that the Father is aware of His own existence shows that He is a personal being. 

The Father has a will.

Jesus spoke of the will of the Father in John 6. ”For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.“ John 6:38-39 ESV 

We start to see the differences in roles between the different persons of the Trinity. The plan for salvation ultimately comes from the Father. He is the source of salvation while Jesus came to execute the Father's plan. Self-determination or will is a sign of personality. 

The Father has emotion.

The Father has the ability to express emotion. For example, He sent his Son into the world because of the great love that he has for humanity (1 John 4:9-10). The capacity to love is an emotional state only seen in rational beings. Trees and mountains have an inability to love. Even animals like dogs do not have the ability to love. God's love is not just an abstract principle. It’s not a philosophical idea. His love is real, tangible, and was manifested through Jesus. 

The Father can communicate.

We read of Jesus speaking, and the Father replying (John 12:28-29). This is one of three instances during Jesus’ earthly ministry where a heavenly voice attests to his identity. In one of the last teachings to His disciples before His death, Jesus called them friends as He spoke about the things the Father made known to Him (John 15:15). Communication alone does not define personhood. As we know, animals communicate with one another. But the inability to communicate, whether verbal or non verbal, disqualifies someone from personhood. 

Communication is at the center of relationship. One thing that separates Yahweh from any other God is the fact that He is personally involved in His creation. Greek and Roman gods sat at a distance and were uninvolved. Your whole goal was to not make them angry. Hindu gods are impersonal, with the whole goal of doing enough good works to make them happy so you can be reincarnated into a better position in the next life. The fact that the Father can communicate his love shows that He is a personal God. 

The Father makes promises.

After Jesus’s death and burial, the disciples catch word that the tomb is empty. Jesus appears to two disciples that are walking down a road toward Emmaus. Then He appears to a larger group of disciples and tells them to stay in the city to await the “promise of [His] Father” (Luke 24:29). A promise indicates a will. The fact that God can make a promise shows He is a personal, relational being. We also see an example here of the Trinity in full display. The Son is talking about the promise of the Father, which is the Holy Spirit. 

The Father can bless people.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians about God's desire to bless those who are his (Ephesians 1:3). Paul is making a 1:1 correlation between the oneness of God’s nature and the person of the Father. They are one in the same thing. Only a person has the ability to bless others. We also see another example of the Trinity on display. Spiritual blessing communicates that the saving gifts of God are conveyed by the Holy Spirit. His personal presence through the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of future heavenly blessings. 

The Father can comfort people.

The Father comforts us in all our affliction so that we might be able to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).  Comfort is the overall disposition that comes from resting in God's sovereignty and loving rule. One of God's purposes in our suffering is that we would experience direct, personal comfort from God. Comfort in its truest and most fulfilling way comes from a personal being. If I’m suffering or struggling with something, I can go for a walk, take a nap, try to change my mind, or any other number of mental strategies. But nothing compares to the comfort that comes through a personal relationship with another person. We are relational beings just as God is a relational being. Paul is saying we can have that level of comfort with God. Then, from that experience, we would be able to minister to others. God uses our personal relationship with Him as the first step in impacting the world. 

The Father is directly called God in the NT.

Just so there is no confusion, let’s look at a couple more instances where the Father is directly called God. We’ve already read several instances where it says “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” A few other examples. 

”There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.“ Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV 

At a high level, “one body” is the church. “One Spirit” is the Holy Spirit. “One Lord” refers to Jesus. Then we have “one God and Father” where Paul directly connects God and Father together in the same identification, while reinforcing the oneness of God’s nature. We also see that God is not just Father in the sense of the Trinity.  He’s the Father of the church. He’s the Father of Israel. 

”Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“ Philippians 2:9-11 ESV 

The language “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess” is coming from Isaiah 45. “The name that is above every name” is referring to God's personal name Yahweh. Paul is making the connection that the full power and authority of God can be found in Jesus, while also recognizing that God is the Father. 

The Father is called God in the OT.

The OT was written hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus and before the Holy Spirit is given to the church. Therefore, most references to Yahweh are of the nature of the One God. While God is not often referred to as Father in the Old Testament, there are a few key verses where the person of the Father is mentioned. There’s a prayer for mercy from the prophet Isaiah where he’s claiming the Father’s love for his people (Isaiah 63:16). Isaiah’s concerned that God is withholding Himself from His people due to their unfaithfulness and lack of obedience. “Abraham doesn’t know us, Israel doesn’t acknowledge us.” He’s reminding God and petitioning that He maintain His relationship as Father with His people. To not abandon them and continue His loving relationship and involvement with them. Isaiah isn’t blaming God for Israel’s condition. He puts his hope in God as their sovereign Father (Isaiah 64:8-9). 

The Father has a mind, a will, and feelings giving Him unique characteristics of personhood. He has a unique role as the Source, Sender, and Planner of Salvation. And we see evidence of His personhood in both the NT and OT.