The notion of a suffering God has come to the fore in recent times largely because of the influence of theologians like Karl Barth and Jurgen Moltmann. It has been espoused by leading evangelicals like John Stott and D.A. Carson. It is not a new idea. The Church Father Tertullian (c. 160-220) in his tract ‘Against Praxeas’ successfully refuted the Monarchianism which had become so prevalent and which considered the doctrine of the three ‘persons’ in the Godhead to be irreconcilable with the unity of God. The Monarchians confessed the true and proper deity of Christ, but denied his humanity. This view inevitably led to the concept of a suffering God, the ancient heresy that the Father suffered as the Son, i.e., it was the divine essence itself that was said to suffer at Calvary. Subsequently this heresy was known as Patripassianism — the suffering Father.


One can read myriad places in the Bible where it says that God grieves, is angry, is jealous, etc, which seem to say that God is an emotional God of great passion. How are we to understand these texts? Is God similar in makeup as we human beings? The Westminster Confession of Faith describes God as being, "a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts or passions . . .". But does this mean that God is actually stoic and empty of any feelings? If you have wrestled with these things or perhaps been asked questions concerning this matter and found yourself grasping for an answer, then this article will be of great benefit. Leahy believes that this is not an academic issue but one that is at the heart of the Christian faith and thus effects the very life of a believer.

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In His service and grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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