This abstract noun denotes divine nature or the quality of divinity—what makes God, God. It differs from θεότης (the fullness of deity) in emphasizing the general divine quality rather than absolute deity itself. Paul uses it in Romans to describe how God's invisible attributes, including his divine nature, are understood through creation. The term appears in the LXX and later Christian writings to describe the divine character or quality. It's more abstract than 'a god' (θεός) or 'the deity' (θεότης), focusing on the essential nature or quality of divinity.