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I've seen the uncreated God contrasted many times to the created angels, Satan, and humans, and etc. Being created is counted against the latter category as a mark of imperfection which God does not bear.

However I don't really see why being created is an imperfection. Surely something can be created and be created perfectly, right? To become perfect?

Is there a way to understand this through the bigger picture of what perfection is? Or is this something that must be understood on its own?

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Being created doesn't affect perfection as much as impassability. The doctrine of impassability states that God cannot change- that he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. If God (or Jesus) were created then he has changed - he went from not existing to existing.

The tie in between perfection and impassability is this: if God changes, then it sets up a situation where God is not perfect. If he changed, he would, it is assumed, move to being 'perfect' from a state that was necessarily 'less than perfect.' That previous state, adherents of impassability maintain, is inconsistent with the nature of God's perfection, hence it cannot be.

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  • Ah it makes sense that being created is at odds with being unchanging :)
    – Justin L.
    Jul 12, 2013 at 12:29
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Being created is not what makes something imperfect. Creation was created perfect by a perfect God:

And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

Genesis 1:31

If God approves it completely, it must be perfect.

But then Adam and Eve choose a path which made them imperfect. God warned them:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

Genesis 2:17

but they went ahead anyway:

And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate.

Genesis 3:6

Summary: their choice made them imperfect, after they were created.

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  • I've heard it said "Angels cannot be perfect because they were created"; is this something valid to say, or does it have no grounds?
    – Justin L.
    Jul 12, 2013 at 6:40
  • @JustinL.: I'm not aware of any Biblical verse stating that. The only thing that is clear to me is that some angels are not perfect (fallen). My guess is that the others (not fallen) are perfect - otherwise they could not worship God in heaven.
    – Reinstate Monica - Goodbye SE
    Jul 12, 2013 at 6:50

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