In theology, an anthropomorphism is the attributing of a human body and human characteristics to God.
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden. Gen. 3:8.
I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. Dan. 7:9.
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, . . . He poured out this which you now see and hear. Acts 2:33.
God has no form, nor any bodily members. Aristides (c. 125, E), 9.264.
We do not consider that God has such a form as some say, for they try to imitate it [in images] to His honor. Justin Martyr (c. 160, E), 1.165.
Form, motion, standing, throne, place, right hand or left—these are not at all to be conceived as belonging to the Father of the universe, although it is so written. But what each of these means will be shown in its proper place. The First Cause is not, then, in space; rather, He is above space, time, name, and conception. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.461.
There are certain expressions that occur in the Old Testament, such as when God is said to be angry or to repent, or when other human affections or passions are ascribed to Him. Because of these, our opponents think that they are furnished with grounds for refuting us. For we maintain that God is altogether impassible and is to be regarded as wholly free from all affections of this kind. Origen (c. 225, E), 4.277.
Those who do not understand these expressions (and similar ones) in the sacred Scriptures imagine that we attribute to God . . . a form like that of a man. According to their conceptions, it follows that we must think the body of God is furnished with wings. Origen (c. 248, E), 4.513.
The Scripture makes use of such expressions [i.e., anthropomorphisms] as an aid to men. Origen (c. 248, E), 4.529.
If you understand the words, “work with His own hands” literally, then neither are they applicable to the second God [i.e., the Son], nor to any other being partaking of divinity. . . . Truly, indeed, God can have no voice—if we are speaking of a voice that is a concussion of the air. Origen (c. 248, E), 4.601
The Scriptures plainly speak of God as of a Being without a body. Hence it is said, “No man has seen God at anytime.” Origen (c. 248, E), 4.621.
The heavenly Scripture often speaks of the Divine appearance as if it were a human form. For example, it says, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous” [Ps. 34:15]. Or, “the Lord God smelled the smell of a good aroma” [Gen. 8:21]. . . . For the prophet then was still speaking about God in parables, according to the stage of man’s faith. He was not speaking as God really was, but as people were able to receive Him. Novatian (c. 235, W), 5.615, 616.
Let no one charge us with Jewish fables and those of the sect of the Sadducees—as though we, too, attribute material forms to the Deity. For supposedly this is taught in their writings. Arnobius (c. 305, E), 6.467.
We are far from attributing bodily shape to the Deity. Arnobius (c. 305, E), 6.469; see also 3.316–3.317.