Ohio State Motto: With God, All Things Are Possible

With God, All Things Are Possible comes from Gospel of Matthew, chapter 19, verse 26. Jesus spoke these words to disciples during conversation about salvation. Rich man asked what he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to sell possessions and give to poor. Man walked away sad. Disciples asked who then could be saved. Jesus replied: With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Why choose Biblical verse? James Mastronardo submitted his mother's favorite saying. He later told reporters he didn't know the phrase came from Bible when he proposed it. State officials presented motto as expression of optimism rather than religious endorsement. Secretary of State Ted W. Brown acknowledged Judeo-Christian roots in 1959 press release. Courts later ruled phrase serves as generic statement about possibility and hope.

Ohio became only state with Biblical quotation as motto. Other states reference God generically. South Dakota uses Under God the People Rule. Arizona chose Ditat Deus (God Enriches). Colorado selected Nil sine numine (Nothing without providence). Florida adopted national motto In God We Trust. Ohio's direct scripture quotation made it unique among fifty states.

Controversy followed adoption immediately. Critics questioned separation of church and state. Supporters argued phrase expresses universal optimism. Courts examined motto's context repeatedly. Federal judges ultimately ruled statement doesn't endorse specific deity. Phrase remains on state seal, official documents, and Statehouse grounds. Debate continues among residents about appropriateness of Biblical language in state symbols.

American Civil Liberties Union filed lawsuit 1997 challenging motto's constitutionality. ACLU argued Biblical quotation violated First Amendment separation of church and state. Reverend Matthew Peterson, Presbyterian minister from Cleveland Heights, joined as plaintiff. United States District Court ruled against ACLU in September 1998. Court found motto no more sectarian than other Biblical phrases in common use. Judge determined phrase doesn't endorse specific religion.

ACLU appealed to Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Three-judge panel ruled motto unconstitutional in April 2000. Panel decided 2-1 that phrase advanced Christianity. Judge Avern Cohn wrote majority opinion. Court found words must be seen in Biblical context as Jesus speaking about salvation. This context showed particular affinity for Christianity. Ruling stated motto endorsed Christian doctrine of divine intervention and salvation.

Ohio requested review by full Sixth Circuit Court. En banc court reversed panel decision in 2001. Judges ruled 9-4 that motto doesn't violate First Amendment. Judge David A. Nelson wrote majority opinion. Court determined motto serves as ceremonial deism similar to In God We Trust. Ruling found no coercion and no preference for specific denomination. Four dissenting judges argued motto uniquely Christian and implies state adoption of Christ's words.

Motto appears on state seal beneath official design. Seal used on government letterhead, official documents, and county agency materials. Large inscription visible in plaza near Statehouse in Columbus. Franklin County flag displays motto beneath county seal. State maintains phrase offers generic expression of optimism. Debate continues in 2020s about appropriateness. Petitions emerge periodically seeking motto removal. Courts have consistently upheld motto as constitutional expression.

Ohio Revised Code defines state motto. Statute establishes With God, All Things Are Possible as official motto. Legislature adopted motto through unanimous vote. Law took effect October 1, 1959. No amendments made since original adoption. State government interprets phrase as generic optimism rather than religious statement. Courts have upheld constitutionality multiple times. Motto remains legally valid despite periodic challenges.

Motto appears beneath state seal on official materials. Seal shows sunrise over Mount Logan in Chillicothe, seventeen arrows representing original states, and sheaf of wheat. Design adopted 1996 removed Imperium in Imperio remnants from earlier seal versions. Current seal places motto in prominent position. State agencies include seal and motto on letterhead. Documents bearing seal carry motto automatically. No requirement to display motto separately from seal.

What is Ohio's state motto?

Ohio's motto is 'With God, All Things Are Possible,' adopted October 1, 1959.

Where does Ohio's motto come from?

The motto is a direct quotation from the Bible, specifically Matthew 19:26, where Jesus speaks about salvation.

Who proposed Ohio's motto?

James Mastronardo, a 12-year-old boy from Cincinnati, proposed the motto in 1958 and lobbied the legislature for its adoption.

When did Ohio become a state?

Ohio became the 17th state on March 1, 1803, though Congress didn't formally ratify this until 1953.

Did Ohio have a motto before 1959?

Yes, from 1866 to 1868, Ohio used 'Imperium in Imperio' (An Empire Within an Empire), but it was repealed after public backlash.

Is Ohio's motto constitutional?

Yes, federal courts ruled the motto constitutional in 2001, determining it serves as ceremonial deism rather than religious endorsement.

What was the ACLU lawsuit about?

The ACLU challenged the motto in 1997, arguing it violated separation of church and state, but the full Sixth Circuit Court ruled 9-4 to uphold it.

Is Ohio the only state with a Biblical motto?

Yes, Ohio is the only U.S. state with a motto taken directly from scripture.

Where does the motto appear?

The motto appears beneath the state seal on official documents, government letterhead, and in a plaza near the Ohio Statehouse.

Why did Mastronardo choose this phrase?

It was his mother's favorite saying, and he initially didn't know it came from the Bible when he proposed it to the state.