Divine Impassibility, Four Views of God's Emotions and Suffering

Does God suffer? Does God experience emotions? Does God change? How should we interpret passages of Scripture that seem to support one view or the other? And where do the incarnation and Christ's suffering on the cross fit into this? This Spectrum Multiview volume brings together four theologians with decidedly different answers to these questions. The contributors make a case for their own view—ranging from a traditional affirmation of divine impassibility (the idea that God does not suffer) to the position that God is necessarily and intimately affected by creation—and then each contributor responds to the others' views. The lively but irenic discussion that takes place in this conversation demonstrates not only the diversity of opinion among Christians on this theological conundrum but also its ongoing relevance for today.
Views and Contributors:
• Strong Impassibility (James E. Dolezal, assistant professor in the School of Divinity at Cairn University)
• Qualified Impassibility (Daniel Castelo, professor of dogmatic and constructive theology at Seattle Pacific University)
• Qualified Passibility (John C. Peckham, professor of theology and Christian philosophy at Andrews University)
• Strong Passibility (Thomas Jay Oord, professor of theology and philosophy at Northwest Nazarene University
Spectrum Multiview Books offer a range of viewpoints on contested topics within Christianity, giving contributors the opportunity to present their position and also respond to others in this dynamic publishing format.

Publisher: IVP
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9780830852536

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A. Chadwick Thornhill (PhD, Liberty) is the chair of theological studies for Liberty University School of Divinity and an assistant professor of apologetics and biblical studies for the School of Divinity. He is the author of The Chosen People: Election, Paul, and Second Temple Judaism.

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"The doctrine of divine impassibility, according to which God is without passions and without emotional change, has a long and distinguished history. Yet it has been subject to sustained criticism in much of modern theology. Does God feel nothing when we suffer? Can such a God be worthy of worship? The editors of this book are to be congratulated for putting into the hands of readers a one-stop-shop overview of this debate. It includes contributions from across the theological spectrum with representative scholars writing in a dialogical format. This way readers quickly get a sense of the central issues in the debate from different perspectives in the discussion. The result is a clearly written symposium from which scholars and students alike will benefit. I heartily recommend it!" Oliver D. Crisp, Fuller Theological Seminary and the University of St. Andrews