Is God Passible?

[Van]

I see TC is making assertions that God does not experience emotion based on the actions of His creation. Utterly unbiblical, and without a shred of biblical support. Once again we see where men have defined an attribute of God according to their speculation, and then claimed it had some validity. No so.

Deuteronomy 6:15 says God's anger is "kindled."

Folks the claim that God does not experience emotion based on reacting to our decisions is false.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Folks the claim that God does not experience emotion based on reacting to our decisions is false.

Malachi 3:6. 'For I am the LORD; I do not change.'
James 1:17. 'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation nor shadow of turning.'

 

[JonC]

I believe so too. But God's love has always been perfect love so He never changes. And His anger has always been perfect anger so He never changes. And God's compassion has always been perfect compassion so He never changes.

As the pundit once said, "Did it ever occur to you that nothing ever occurred to God?"

So I take it that God always perfectly exhibits anger, love, compassion, etc. and the change is on the part of man (the expression extended towards us changes because we change where as God does not)?

 

[TCassidy]

I see TC is making assertions that God does not experience emotion based on the actions of His creation.

Once again you demonstrate your inability to read with understanding.

 

[TCassidy]

So I take it that God always perfectly exhibits anger, love, compassion, etc. and the change is on the part of man (the expression extended towards us changes because we change where as God does not)?

Well, yes and no. God's emotions are perfect (all inclusive) and eternal (He knew what we would do, right or wrong, long before we did it, so His emotions were not caught by surprise). God doesn't get depressed.

 

[JonC]

Well, yes and no. God's emotions are perfect (all inclusive) and eternal (He knew what we would do, right or wrong, long before we did it, so His emotions were not caught by surprise). God doesn't get depressed.

I never actually understood the "caught by surprised" part. It always seems to come up when discussing this topic, but knowing something will occur does not have an effect on emotion.

Anyway, I conclude then that your interpretation of impassibility is not that God is void of emotion but that God is not subject to change of emotion.

 

[TCassidy]

Anyway, I conclude then that your interpretation of impassibility is not that God is void of emotion but that God is not subject to change of emotion.

Uh, no. God has felt the same level of emotion for all eternity. He knew in eternity past (yes I am aware that is an oxymoron) that I would do that which gladdened Him and that which saddened Him. As He is not limited by time, sequence, or duration, any and all emotions He feels toward me are exactly the same now as their were in eternity past and will be in eternity future. When I make Him glad He is glad through all of eternity and when I make Him sad He is sad through all of eternity.

 

[JonC]

Uh, no. God has felt the same level of emotion for all eternity. He knew in eternity past (yes I am aware that is an oxymoron) that I would do that which gladdened Him and that which saddened Him. As He is not limited by time, sequence, or duration, any and all emotions He feels toward me are exactly the same now as their were in eternity past and will be in eternity future. When I make Him glad He is glad through all of eternity and when I make Him sad He is sad through all of eternity.

You are going to drive me to drinking, TC......

 

[TCassidy]

I would rather drive you to thinking.