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Impassibility of God
Classic theism teaches that God is impassible — not subject to suffering, pain, or the ebb and flow of involuntary passions. (theopedia.com)
I have a problem with the doctrine of the impassability of God. If God is truly not subject to suffering or pain, then in what sense did the Son of God suffer at the cross? Why does the Scripture refer to the "sufferings" of Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5; Philippians 3:10; Hebrews 2:10; 1 Peter 1:11; 1 Peter 5:1; etc.)? Is Christ not God of God, Light of Light, begotten, not made? This brings me to my problem: the council of Chalcedon expels from the priesthood anyone who denies the impassability of God... I am at odds with a declaration of the 4th ecumenical council... am I still orthodox in my beliefs, or am I a heretic? Should I even care what they thought?
Help!
Classic theism teaches that God is impassible — not subject to suffering, pain, or the ebb and flow of involuntary passions. (theopedia.com)
I have a problem with the doctrine of the impassability of God. If God is truly not subject to suffering or pain, then in what sense did the Son of God suffer at the cross? Why does the Scripture refer to the "sufferings" of Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5; Philippians 3:10; Hebrews 2:10; 1 Peter 1:11; 1 Peter 5:1; etc.)? Is Christ not God of God, Light of Light, begotten, not made? This brings me to my problem: the council of Chalcedon expels from the priesthood anyone who denies the impassability of God... I am at odds with a declaration of the 4th ecumenical council... am I still orthodox in my beliefs, or am I a heretic? Should I even care what they thought?
Help!