14 – God Never Changes, Yet Christ Grew and Matured: Immutable Divinity in a Developing Humanity

, ,

Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 1: God’s Nature vs. Christ’s Earthly Life

1. Introduction

The unchangeableness of God is a central doctrine of classical theism. Scripture affirms in Malachi 3:6, “I am the LORD, I change not”. Similarly, Hebrews 13:8 declares, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever”. Yet, paradoxically, the Gospels speak of Jesus growing: “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). How can an unchanging God experience growth, development, and change? This paradox probes the nature of Christ’s incarnation, revealing profound truths about the mystery of the Word made flesh.

2. God Never Changes

2.1 Scriptural Foundations

  • “For I am the LORD, I change not.” – Malachi 3:6
  • “Every good gift… cometh down from the Father… with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” – James 1:17
  • “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

2.2 Theological Implications

  • God’s being, will, and promises are immutable.
  • Divine immutability affirms that God is perfect, complete, and lacking nothing.
  • Change implies movement from better to worse (or vice versa), which cannot apply to God.

3. Christ Grew and Matured

3.1 Scriptural Witness

  • “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.” – Luke 2:40
  • “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” – Luke 2:52
  • “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” – Hebrews 5:8

3.2 Human Development

  • Christ’s human nature experienced growth physically, mentally, and relationally.
  • This growth was not sinful or deficient, but essential to the fullness of true humanity.

4. Theological Resolution: Immutable in Divinity, Mutable in Humanity

Divine NatureHuman Nature
Unchanging, eternal, perfectGrowing, learning, experiencing change
Always omniscient, perfect in willIncreased in wisdom and learned obedience
  • Christ possesses two natures: immutable divine and mutable human, united in one person (hypostatic union).
  • His divine nature remained unchanged, while His human nature underwent normal developmental processes.

5. Historical Theological Perspectives

5.1 Early Church

  • Gregory of Nazianzus: What was not assumed was not healed—so Christ assumed true human development.
  • Athanasius: Christ’s human growth magnifies, not diminishes, His divinity—it shows the extent of His condescension.

5.2 Medieval Thought

  • Aquinas: The divine nature of Christ is eternally unchanging, while His human soul acquired experiential knowledge through the senses.
  • Growth pertains only to the assumed nature, not the divine person.

5.3 Reformation Theology

  • Luther: Christ humbled Himself not just in suffering, but in growing from infancy—the God who needed to be carried.
  • Calvin: His growth confirms the authenticity of His humanity, which was not merely apparent.

5.4 Modern Theology

  • Karl Barth: The becoming of Jesus Christ in history reveals the freedom of God to act without ceasing to be God.
  • T.F. Torrance: Christ’s growth is a vicarious journey of human obedience, through which He perfects our humanity.

6. Doctrinal and Devotional Implications

6.1 Affirmation of True Humanity

  • Christ’s growth underscores that He did not merely appear human, but truly shared in our human condition.

6.2 God With Us in Every Stage of Life

  • Christ sanctified every phase of life—from infancy to adulthood.
  • He is a faithful High Priest who understands development, learning, and the limits of human experience.

6.3 The Reliability of God’s Character

  • Even as Christ grew, His divine nature did not change—His mission, will, and personhood were always perfectly aligned with the Father.

7. Conclusion

The paradox of divine immutability and human development is not a contradiction but a testimony to the mystery of the Incarnation. Jesus, fully God, did not cease being God when He became man. In assuming human nature, He experienced true growth while His divine essence remained unchanged. This tension magnifies the glory of the Gospel: the unchanging God entered a changing world to redeem it from within.

References

  • The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
  • Gregory of Nazianzus. Theological Orations
  • Athanasius. On the Incarnation
  • Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologiae, III, q.9–12
  • Calvin, J. Institutes of the Christian Religion
  • Barth, K. Church Dogmatics, IV/1
  • Torrance, T.F. Incarnation: The Person and Life of Christ
Home