The term "impossible" in the biblical context often highlights the limitations of human ability contrasted with the omnipotence of God. Throughout Scripture, what is deemed impossible for man is frequently shown to be possible with God, underscoring His supreme power and sovereignty.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the concept of impossibility is often related to human limitations and the miraculous interventions of God. For instance, in Genesis 18:14, when Sarah doubts the promise of bearing a child in her old age, the Lord asks, "Is anything too difficult for the LORD?" . This rhetorical question emphasizes that what seems impossible to humans is within God's power to accomplish.

Similarly, in the account of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and the provision of manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16) are events that defy natural explanation, demonstrating that God's capabilities transcend human understanding.

New Testament Context

The New Testament further develops the theme of divine possibility. In Matthew 19:26, Jesus addresses the disciples' astonishment at the difficulty of a rich man entering the kingdom of heaven by stating, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" . This declaration underscores the necessity of divine intervention in matters of salvation and spiritual transformation.

In Luke 1:37, the angel Gabriel reassures Mary of the miraculous conception of Jesus, saying, "For nothing will be impossible with God" . This statement not only affirms the miraculous nature of Jesus' birth but also serves as a broader theological assertion of God's limitless power.

Faith and Impossibility

The Bible frequently links faith with overcoming the impossible. Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Faith Chapter," recounts numerous instances where faith in God enabled individuals to achieve what seemed impossible. Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith it is impossible to please God" , indicating that faith is essential for experiencing God's power in overcoming human limitations.

In Mark 9:23, Jesus tells a father seeking healing for his son, "If You can? All things are possible to him who believes" . This interaction highlights the role of faith in accessing divine power, suggesting that belief is a conduit through which the impossible becomes possible.

Theological Implications

The biblical narrative consistently presents God as the ultimate authority over the natural and supernatural realms. The concept of impossibility serves to magnify God's glory, as His actions defy human expectations and understanding. This theme encourages believers to trust in God's power and to rely on His promises, even when circumstances appear insurmountable.

The notion of impossibility also serves as a reminder of human dependence on God. It calls believers to humility, recognizing that their own strength and wisdom are insufficient apart from divine intervention. Through faith, believers are invited to participate in God's redemptive work, trusting that He can accomplish what is beyond human capability.1. (a.) Not possible; incapable of being done, of existing, etc.; unattainable in the nature of things, or by means at command; insuperably difficult under the circumstances; absurd or impracticable; not feasible.

2. (n.) An impossibility.

IMPOSSIBLE

im-pos'-i-b'-l (verb adunateo; adjective adunatos): "To be impossible" is the translation of adunateo, "to be powerless," "impotent" (Matthew 17:20 Luke 1:37, the Revised Version (British and American) "void of power") adunatos, "powerless," etc., is translated "impossible" Matthew 19:26 Mark 10:27 Luke 18:27 Hebrews 6:4, 18; Hebrews 11:6; "impossible" in Hebrews 6:4 is in the Revised Version (British and American) transferred to 6:6); anendektos, "not to be received" or "accepted," is also translated "impossible" (Luke 17:1). In several of these passages it is affirmed that "nothing is impossible with God," but, of course, this means nothing that is consistent with the Divine nature, e.g. (as Hebrews 6:18) it is not possible for God to lie. So, when it is said that nothing is impossible to faith, the same limitation applies and also that of the mind or will of God for us. But much more is possible to a strong faith than a weak faith realizes, or even believes.

W. L. Walker

418. anendektos -- impossible
... impossible. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: anendektos Phonetic Spelling:
(an-en'-dek-tos) Short Definition: impossible Definition: impossible ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/418.htm - 6k

102. adunatos -- unable, powerless
... unable, powerless. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: adunatos Phonetic
Spelling: (ad-oo'-nat-os) Short Definition: incapable, impossible Definition: of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/102.htm - 6k

101. adunateo -- to be unable
... to be unable. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: adunateo Phonetic Spelling:
(ad-oo-nat-eh'-o) Short Definition: to be impossible Definition: to be impossible ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/101.htm - 6k

419. anexeraunetos -- unsearchable
... 419 (from 1 "not," which negates the intensified term, 1830 , "search out ") --
properly, impossible to fully investigate, no matter how great the effort ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/419.htm - 7k

412. aneklaletos -- unspeakable
... 412 (from 1 "not" and 1583 , " tell") -- properly, unable to fully describe or report;
impossible to communicate (convey) adequately by words; hence, , (used ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/412.htm - 7k

638. apopnigo -- to choke
... 638 (from 575 , "away from" and 4155 , "choke") -- properly, choke ; ;
suffocate, make impossible to breathe (take in life). Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/638.htm - 7k

1415. dunatos -- strong, mighty, powerful
... Word Origin from dunamai Definition strong, mighty, powerful NASB Word Usage able
(6), could (1), impossible* (1), influential men (1), man of power (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1415.htm - 7k

411. anekdiegetos -- inexpressible
... 411 (from 1 "not" and 1555 , " declare") -- properly, (beyond words);
(inexplicable), impossible to estimate (used only in 2 Cor 9:15). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/411.htm - 7k

421. anexichniastos -- that cannot be traced out
... 421 (literally, "not able to trace the steps of") -- properly, impossible to "track"
("trace the steps of"); unable to follow or fully comprehend ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/421.htm - 7k

379. anapologetos -- without excuse
... genuine. 379 ("without rationale or convincing argument") refers to what
is , ie impossible to accept (without solid logic). 379 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/379.htm - 8k

1219. batsar -- to cut off, make inaccessible, enclose
... NASB Word Usage cut off (1), fortified (24), fortify (2), gather (3), gathered
(1), gatherer (1), gatherers (2), impenetrable (1), impossible (1), mighty ...
/hebrew/1219.htm - 6k

Impossible Silence
... IMPOSSIBLE SILENCE. ... Two things Peter and John adduced as making silence
impossible"a definite divine command, and an inward impulse. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/impossible silence.htm

An Impossible Neutrality
... LXIV AN IMPOSSIBLE NEUTRALITY. John xviii.28-38. (PASSION DAY"FRIDAY). The ...
Jesus. He was attempting a neutrality which was impossible. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lxiv an impossible neutrality.htm

'Impossible, --Only I Saw It'
... THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS IMPOSSIBLE,"ONLY I SAW IT'. 'Then Elisha said, Hear
ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, Tomorrow ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/impossibleonly i saw it.htm

For it is Impossible that the Good which is the Result of Accident ...
... Chapter XLIV. For it is impossible that the good which is the result
of accident? For it is impossible that the good which is ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter xliv for it is.htm

A Resurrection is not Impossible.
... Chapter II."A Resurrection is Not Impossible. Let us, then, consider the
subject in the way I have indicated. If all disbelief ...
/.../chapter ii a resurrection is not.htm

How it is Impossible for one who Trusts to his Own Judgment to ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XI. How it is impossible for one who trusts
to his own judgment to escape being deceived by the devil's illusions. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xi how it is.htm

That it is Impossible for any one to Worship the True God Together ...
... of the gods. Chap. xix."that it is impossible for any one to worship the
true god together with false deities. But some one will ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xix that it is impossible.htm

It is not Impossible that Some Believers May Pass through a ...
... Chapter 69."It is Not Impossible that Some Believers May Pass Through a
Purgatorial Fire in the Future Life. And it is not impossible ...
/.../augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 69 it is not impossible.htm

Now it is Impossible, as Far as Manual Exercise Goes...
... II."Ascetic and Moral. Chapter XX. Now it is impossible, as far as manual
exercise goes? Now it is impossible, as far as manual ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xx now it is.htm

Impossible that Marcion's Christ Should Reprove the Faithless ...
... Chapter XXIII."Impossible that Marcion's Christ Should Reprove the Faithless Generation
Such Loving Consideration for Infants as the True Christ Was Apt to ...
/.../chapter xxiii impossible that marcions christ.htm

Impossible (31 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) An impossibility. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. IMPOSSIBLE.
im-pos'-ib'-l (verb adunateo; adjective adunatos): "To be ...
/i/impossible.htm - 17k

Possible (133 Occurrences)
... Matthew 19:26 Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible." (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS ...
/p/possible.htm - 36k

Disciples (277 Occurrences)
... Some have therefore sought to maintain that we have here only a confused variant
of the appointment of the Twelve; but this is impossible in the light of ...
/d/disciples.htm - 39k

Seventy (97 Occurrences)
... Some have therefore sought to maintain that we have here only a confused variant
of the appointment of the Twelve; but this is impossible in the light of ...
/s/seventy.htm - 47k

Atheism
... It has often been held that this is, in fact, impossible. ... History has shown again
and again how impossible it is to bring the mind to rest in this doctrine. ...
/a/atheism.htm - 13k

Dial (2 Occurrences)
... It is impossible, therefore, to accept the suggestion that the dial of Ahaz may
have been improperly constructed, so as to produce a reversal of the motion of ...
/d/dial.htm - 19k

Necessary (75 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Such as must be; impossible to be otherwise;
not to be avoided; inevitable. 2. (a.) Impossible...
/n/necessary.htm - 30k

Jael (6 Occurrences)
... It is really impossible to justify Jael's act, though it is not impossible to
understand it or properly to appreciate Deborah's approval of the act as found in ...
/j/jael.htm - 14k

Gethsemane (2 Occurrences)
... old, they appeared venerable to the traveler Maundrell more than two centuries ago,
but that they go back to the time claimed is impossible, for Josephus ...
/g/gethsemane.htm - 11k

Thorns (56 Occurrences)
... It is therefore impossible definitely to determine what was the exact plant
or tree, whose thorny branches were selected for this purpose. ...
/t/thorns.htm - 25k

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