Nature or attributes of God- Everlasting

Question 1

Everlasting:

Answer 1

God exists without end but time also passes for him.

Question 2

Wolterstorff:

Answer 2

Does not support Boethius.
Only way to understand actions of God in Bible is to see them as reactions to humans free choices.
Eg. Noah’s Arc and the 10 plagues, God only responds when Pharo explicitly refuses to help Moses.
God’s omniscience includes what has happened and what is happening, the future isn’t a thing yet so it isn’t a thing to know.

Question 3

Swinburne:

Answer 3

• God is everlasting, future is unknown.
• Would only understand the events of 1995 because he was there.
• Can leave as he wishes.

Question 4

What are the advantages to Swinburne’s thinking?

Answer 4

Fits better with the Bible and the Theistic version of God.

Question 5

What are the disadvantages to the everlasting aspect to God?

Answer 5

• It DOES support God’s omnibenevolence.
• Gives us a personal God
• BUT questions his immutability. If he responds to events, God is changed by time. Not omnipotent.

Question 6

Important quote for introduction:

Answer 6

Deuteronomy:
‘The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms’.
Is God timeless or everlasting?