“God’s love is without bias or favor and is not subject to influence. He loves each person He has created without taint of partiality such as exists among men and women.” (Dynamis 9/26/2020)
“Favoritism is the way of the world. Human society is so ordered that some are more advantaged, favored, and honored than others. However, the Gospel opposes and reverses this preferential treatment of the privileged. In our reading of James 2:1-13, we read, “My Brethren, do not hold the faith our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory with partiality”…‘I did not come to judge the world but to save the world’ (John 12:47). Christ does not judge with favoritism or partiality. He has spoken the words of life, words of love, forgiveness, repentance, virtue, and mercy. His words will be the unbending standard by which all people are judged on the last day.” (Fr. Basil, Orthodox Study Bible, John 12:47-48)
“God taking the side of the powerless against the powerful is not a violation of His impartiality but a consequence of it. The two are cited in the same breath: “For Yahweh, your God is God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great, the mighty, and the fearsome God. He it is who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow. He loves the stranger, giving to him food and clothing. Love the stranger, then, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You will fear Yahweh your God. You will serve him and cling to him. By His name, you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that you have seen with your own eyes. Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy people. Now Yahweh your God has made you like the stars of heaven in number” (Deut 10:17-19).” (Fr. Stephen De Young)
“From the beginning onward, the scriptures teach that all human persons are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). It follows that, since we are made in the image of God, we are called to realize our likeness to God. That vocation is “not our own special thing” while others have “their thing.” The divine calling to what Orthodox call “deification” is the divine mandate for all persons everywhere. In this matter as in all others, the God of grace shows “no partiality.” (Fr. Basil)
“As for me I say that those who are tormented in hell are tormented by the invasion of love. What is there more bitter and violent than the pains of love? Those who feel they have sinned against love bear in themselves a damnation much heavier than the most dreaded punishments. The suffering with which sinning against love afflicts the heart is more keenly felt than any other torment. It is absurd to assume that the sinners in hell are deprived of God’s love. Love is offered impartially. But by its very power it acts in two ways. It torments sinners, as happens here on earth when we are tormented by the presence of a friend to whom we have been unfaithful. And it gives joy to those who have been faithful.” (St. Isaac of Syria)