Immutability
Historic orthodoxy
God does not change in his being, character, knowledge, or purposes.
Also called: immutable, unchangeableness of God
What it means
Immutability means God cannot change. He does not grow, learn, improve, or decline. He is not better tomorrow than today, because he is already perfect, and he cannot become worse, because he is God. His purposes, promises, and character stay the same forever.
This does not mean God is inactive or unresponsive. He acts in history, answers prayer, and deals with people according to their repentance or rebellion. When Scripture says God "relented," it describes his unchanging character meeting changing human conduct, as he had always purposed and announced. The change is on our side of the relationship, not in God.
Immutability is one of the great comforts of the Christian life. A God who might change could not be fully trusted; a promise he made yesterday might lapse. Because God does not change, his covenant stands, his mercy endures forever, and those who belong to him are not consumed.
In Scripture
God says he does not change, and that is why his people are not destroyed.
In the Father of lights there is no variation or shadow due to change.
God confirmed the unchangeable nature of his purpose with an oath, so we have strong encouragement.
The heavens wear out like a garment, but God remains the same and his years never end.
God does not change his mind like a man; what he promises, he fulfills.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 2.1; LBCF 1689 2.1
Related terms
Classical theismHistoric orthodoxy
The historic Christian teaching that God is infinite, eternal, unchanging, and perfect in himself, not dependent on or improved by his creation.
Divine simplicityHistoric orthodoxy
God is not made up of parts; his attributes are not pieces of him but are each the one undivided God.
ImpassibilityHistoric orthodoxy
God is not subject to emotional change, suffering, or being overcome by creatures; his love and wrath are perfect and steady, not swings of feeling.
Open theismSerious error
The teaching that God does not know the future free choices of people, because those choices do not yet exist to be known, so the future is partly open even to God.