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; 11:6; "impossible" in Hebrews 6:4 is in the Revised Version (British and American) transferred to Hebrews 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

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.