Divine Impassibility
Can God suffer? The ancient conviction that nothing outside him can move his nature
Divine impassibility teaches that God does not undergo change of emotion or suffering in his divine nature caused by anything outside himself. Writers such as Clement and Cyril of Alexandria upheld it as part of God's perfection and freedom. The doctrine is contested in modern theology: passibilist theologians argue that God genuinely suffers with creation, whereas the patristic consensus affirmed impassibility.
How it traveled
- A Plea for the ChristiansAlexandria · 190explains
- Three Fragments from the Homily on the Cross and Passion of Christ.— · 311explains
- A Treatise on the Anger of God Addressed to Donatus— · 325applies
- On the Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia. (De Synodis.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Against EunomiusNyssa · 395explains
- Answer to Eunomius' Second BookNyssa · 395explains
- The Great CatechismNyssa · 395explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and PhilemonConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Commentary on the Apostles' CreedAquileia · 411explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430redefines
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Concerning the Nature of Good, Against the ManichæansHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Morals of the ManichæansHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of TheodoretCyrrhus · 458explains
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox FaithDamascus · 749explains
- ProslogiumCanterbury · 1109explains
- Anselm's Cur Deus HomoCanterbury · 1109explains
- Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26])Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102)Paris · 1274explains
Key passages(20)
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed · Rufinus of Aquileia
A Plea for the Christians · Athenagoras
A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity. · Novatian
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book · Gregory of Nyssa
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
Three Fragments from the Homily on the Cross and Passion of Christ. · Methodius
Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus