Panentheism is the view that the universe is part of God while He also transcends it. This doctrine blurs the Creator-creature distinction that is foundational to biblical revelation. In this thread, I want to present and examine some biblical and philosophical arguments arguments against panentheism that affirm God’s distinctiveness from, relational engagement and purposeful interaction with His creation without diminishing His transcendence over it.
First, the Bible opens with a clear assertion of God's transcendence over creation:
This verse establishes God as the sovereign Creator, entirely distinct from His creation. Creation exists as an act of God's will, not as an extension of His essence. Isaiah 66:1 reinforces this: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool... All these things my hand has made." By portraying God as sovereign over all creation, Scripture denies any notion that creation exists as part of God's being.
Incidentally, by "sovereign," I mean God as the highest authority over all creation, not as a being who exercises total control over every event.
Further, the act of creation described in passages such as John 1:3...
...underscores that all created things are ontologically separate from God. Panentheism's conflation of God and creation undermines this fundamental distinction.
Secondly, there are a couple passages that panentheists typically cite as evidence for their doctrine that I'd like to address....
While God’s presence is described as pervasive, the Bible portrays this presence as relational rather than intrinsic to the nature of the creation itself. Psalm 139:7 asks....
This reflects God's intimate involvement with creation without implying that creation itself is divine or in some way part of God.
Another passage often cited by panentheists is...
This passage emphasizes God's sustaining power rather than identifying creation as part of His essence. Creation depends on God for existence, but this dependence does not collapse the distinction between Creator and creation! God’s immanence is the result of His choice to engage relationally with His creation, not an indication that creation is somehow embedded within His being.
Further, a God who interacts purposefully with creation must stand outside it. Jeremiah 18:7–10 illustrates this...
God declares that His plans for nations depend on their responses to Him, indicating a dynamic, two way relationship. For God to respond to creation, He must be distinct from it. Panentheism, by merging God with the universe, makes it difficult to account for divine sovereignty over creation, as it suggests that God's actions are inherently tied to the processes of the universe.
Additionally, biblical descriptions of judgment and renewal contradict the panentheistic view.
If creation were part of God, its bondage to corruption would imply imperfection in God’s being, which is incompatible with His nature as depicted in Scripture. Similarly, II Peter 3:10–13 describes a future where creation will be burned up and made new, demonstrating that creation is a distinct reality God can act upon and transform.
Panentheism also introduces philosophical inconsistencies by implying that God is dependent on creation for His fullness. If the universe is part of God, then God's very nature is affected by the changes, imperfections, suffering and other machinations within creation. This undermines the biblical portrayal of God as perfect and complete in Himself. Psalm 50:12 affirms, "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine," which highlights God’s independence from creation. A God who is fully self-sufficient cannot require creation to complete His being.
The biblical God is profoundly relational, engaging dynamically with creation. Yet this relationality presupposes distinct entities capable of interaction. Panentheism reduces this relationship to an internal process within God, eroding the meaningfulness of divine-human interaction and relationship. For example, when God repents from judgment in Jonah 3:10, it is because of the distinct actions of the Ninevites. Such passages illustrate that God’s relationship with creation involves genuine give-and-take, which only makes sense if creation is separate from God.
Panentheism fails to align with the biblical and philosophical portrayal of God as sovereign, relational, and distinct from creation. Scripture consistently affirms a Creator who is both transcendent and intimately involved with His creation, without conflating His essence with the universe. If this distinction is not maintained, the integrity of God’s nature and the meaningfulness of His relationship with the world is rendered meaningless.
It still surprises me, even though at this point it shouldn't, how often doctrinal disputes come down to the emphasis, or lack thereof, that is placed on the fact that God is a person Who is really big on relationships. Relationships are the purpose of our existence. It is the reason God chose to create us! The Earth was made for our benefit but we were made for God's benefit! That is THE central thing! If you miss that single point, you might find yourself rubbing shoulders with the panentheists, just one small step away from pantheism.
Resting in Him,
Clete
(11/20/24)
First, the Bible opens with a clear assertion of God's transcendence over creation:
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
This verse establishes God as the sovereign Creator, entirely distinct from His creation. Creation exists as an act of God's will, not as an extension of His essence. Isaiah 66:1 reinforces this: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool... All these things my hand has made." By portraying God as sovereign over all creation, Scripture denies any notion that creation exists as part of God's being.
Incidentally, by "sovereign," I mean God as the highest authority over all creation, not as a being who exercises total control over every event.
Further, the act of creation described in passages such as John 1:3...
"All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3)
...underscores that all created things are ontologically separate from God. Panentheism's conflation of God and creation undermines this fundamental distinction.
Secondly, there are a couple passages that panentheists typically cite as evidence for their doctrine that I'd like to address....
While God’s presence is described as pervasive, the Bible portrays this presence as relational rather than intrinsic to the nature of the creation itself. Psalm 139:7 asks....
"Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?" (Psalms 139:7)
This reflects God's intimate involvement with creation without implying that creation itself is divine or in some way part of God.
Another passage often cited by panentheists is...
"In him we live and move and have our being," (Acts 17:27–28)
This passage emphasizes God's sustaining power rather than identifying creation as part of His essence. Creation depends on God for existence, but this dependence does not collapse the distinction between Creator and creation! God’s immanence is the result of His choice to engage relationally with His creation, not an indication that creation is somehow embedded within His being.
Further, a God who interacts purposefully with creation must stand outside it. Jeremiah 18:7–10 illustrates this...
If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. (Jeremiah 18:7-10)
God declares that His plans for nations depend on their responses to Him, indicating a dynamic, two way relationship. For God to respond to creation, He must be distinct from it. Panentheism, by merging God with the universe, makes it difficult to account for divine sovereignty over creation, as it suggests that God's actions are inherently tied to the processes of the universe.
Additionally, biblical descriptions of judgment and renewal contradict the panentheistic view.
"The creation was subjected to futility... in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption." (Romans 8:20–21)
If creation were part of God, its bondage to corruption would imply imperfection in God’s being, which is incompatible with His nature as depicted in Scripture. Similarly, II Peter 3:10–13 describes a future where creation will be burned up and made new, demonstrating that creation is a distinct reality God can act upon and transform.
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies[a] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." (II Peter 3:10–13)
Panentheism also introduces philosophical inconsistencies by implying that God is dependent on creation for His fullness. If the universe is part of God, then God's very nature is affected by the changes, imperfections, suffering and other machinations within creation. This undermines the biblical portrayal of God as perfect and complete in Himself. Psalm 50:12 affirms, "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine," which highlights God’s independence from creation. A God who is fully self-sufficient cannot require creation to complete His being.
The biblical God is profoundly relational, engaging dynamically with creation. Yet this relationality presupposes distinct entities capable of interaction. Panentheism reduces this relationship to an internal process within God, eroding the meaningfulness of divine-human interaction and relationship. For example, when God repents from judgment in Jonah 3:10, it is because of the distinct actions of the Ninevites. Such passages illustrate that God’s relationship with creation involves genuine give-and-take, which only makes sense if creation is separate from God.
Panentheism fails to align with the biblical and philosophical portrayal of God as sovereign, relational, and distinct from creation. Scripture consistently affirms a Creator who is both transcendent and intimately involved with His creation, without conflating His essence with the universe. If this distinction is not maintained, the integrity of God’s nature and the meaningfulness of His relationship with the world is rendered meaningless.
It still surprises me, even though at this point it shouldn't, how often doctrinal disputes come down to the emphasis, or lack thereof, that is placed on the fact that God is a person Who is really big on relationships. Relationships are the purpose of our existence. It is the reason God chose to create us! The Earth was made for our benefit but we were made for God's benefit! That is THE central thing! If you miss that single point, you might find yourself rubbing shoulders with the panentheists, just one small step away from pantheism.
Resting in Him,
Clete
(11/20/24)
