Library Home>All Subjects>I Subjects>Immutability

Immutability

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Three things are said to be unchangeable: God’s counsel, His word, and His oath (Mal. 3:6⁶For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6); Heb. 6:17-18¹⁷Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: ¹⁸That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrews 6:17‑18); Heb. 13:8⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8); 1 Peter 1:25²⁵But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25)). To these certainty may be attached. In Malachi 3:6⁶For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6) we read, “I am Jehovah, I change not,” and the Lord is “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever” (Heb. 13:8⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)).

From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:

This refers to God’s unchanging character—His unchangeableness (Mal. 3:6⁶For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6); Heb. 1:12; 13:8¹²And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Hebrews 1:12)
⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8); James 1:17¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)). It is an attribute essential to deity. In connection with the Lord’s dealings with Abraham, there are two things that are said to be unchangeable: the Word of God’s promise, and the oath that He made (Heb. 6:17-18¹⁷Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: ¹⁸That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrews 6:17‑18)).