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Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About The Impassibility Of God

Early Christian writers taught that God is not changeable, not ruled by human passions, and not subject to suffering or pain in his divine nature. Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, Novatian, and others say God is impassible, immutable, and beyond passion, while also making clear that Christ truly suffered in the flesh. The strongest witnesses are the second- and third-century writers, especially Clement, Tertullian, Origen, Athenagoras, Novatian, and Gregory Thaumaturgus.

The evidence is broad and consistent, though some passages use philosophical terms like impassible or passionless and some are focused on Christ’s two natures rather than God the Father alone. Bible passages often cited alongside this teaching include Malachi 3:6, Isaiah 40:28, Hebrews 6:18, and 1 Timothy 6:16.

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Key Passages

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How to Study The Impassibility Of God

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35 references

Foundation Texts

Job 23:13 primary

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

Says God is unchangeable.

Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Says God alone has immortality.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Used as a high Christology passage tied to God's nature.

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

Says God is not man and will not come in wrath.

Supporting Passages

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Direct Bible passage commonly used for God's unchanging nature.

For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Bible passage on God's unchangeable purpose.

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Bible passage saying God does not change his mind.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

About Christ's priesthood remaining unchanged.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Bible passage directly says God is the same.

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

About Christ's priesthood, not direct impassibility.

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Bible passage about God's unfailing power and restlessness.

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Bible passage on the immutability of God's counsel.

But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.