God's character does not change. He always has been and always will be love, light, and justice, etc.. But the Bible clearly tells us that God can change his mind, make plans, and alter them.
Any kind of change for Aristotle is an imperfection. He defined four kinds of change that he saw in nature. "Change of what a thing is is simple coming-to-be and perishing; change of quantity is growth and diminution; change of affection is alteration; change of place is motion." He also said everything in nature "changes from being potentially to being in actuality; a thing changes, for instance, from being potentially white to being actually white."
In reference to God Aristotle said, "There is something that moves things while being itself immovable and existing in actuality (without any potential for change), it is not possible in any way for that thing to be in any state other that in which it is."HA! I told you I didn't buy all of Greek philosophy!
It is very important that we define what we mean by time. Time is a characteristic of anything that exists and is active. Any kind of movement is a change of some type and incorporates the essence of time in three ways: 1. before and after; 2. past, present, and future; 3. duration. Time does not exist in itself as something material or as an invisible form of energy. The measuring of time is relative because it can be done in many ways in different places.
Einstein "If we assume that all matter would disappear from the world, then before relativity, one believed that space and time would continue existing in an empty world. But according to the theory of relativity, if matter and its motion disappeared, there would no longer be any space or time."
Time exists in God because he is active in the world he has created--Revealed Theology. We know that God existed 'before" he created the world and so we can also say that the creation of the world is in his "past". Before the creation of the world there was "movement" within the Trinity. Love and communication are forms of movement. God endures forever, time for God is unlimited, he had no beginning and he will have no end.
To understand the essentials of Greek philosophy, as I have outlined it, is essential in an understanding of what OV is and why it is so important. Augustine is one of many theologians who have attempted to synthesis philosophy with revelation and produced a theology of contradictions and confusion. Biblical terms and concepts must be defined and understood within their own context and not a Platonic one.
There is some truth to this, EXCEPT, where and if Plato was correct. We don't look to errancy, we look to inerrancy, but anyone that agrees with scripture is in agreement. This not to say that there is absolutely no greek influence whatsoever, but to say correlations is not the same as saying extrapolations. I find the extrapolation theory from OV a bit unfounded.
The key to understanding OV is not primarily in a concept of eternal time or a view of free will and foreknowledge, but in our understanding of God. God has "infinite potentiality". He has unlimited potential and freedom of thought and action in an eternity of unlimited time. God does not do everything all at once nor does he do anything carelessly.
If we can continue along this way, we can focus on key definitions, compare scripture with philosophy and see "if" and "how" theologians have combined them, and see if we are doing the same or not.
You realize you just said, "I cannot trust God!"?
You'd consider mentioning this like it might be viewed as a trap? The context of these passages is so simple that a 3rd grade reading level would sort it out without much difficulty. I'm not joking - 3rd grade. You don't need any help with this beyond reading these passages as if GOD WROTE A NORMAL STORY ABOUT IT! Just.like.He.did.
First, there is no antinomy in the bible. Now that that is out of the way, I doubt this statement you just made is true. We've been very patient and clear and complete with answers but you don't seem to know how we are going to answer the same question asked for the 10th time. Obviously, you aren't learning the OV perspective.
Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? That is 6 or 7 now. I'll tell you the same thing I tell my students. When you pass your menza exam you can put my intelligence down, until then, you are only accentuating your own score. This has nothing to do with my or your theological position and everything to do with your own self-image. Go ahead and take them, but remember accusatory and demeaning language has one finger pointing at the intended and those three remaining fingers are VERY tell-tale of your own. Condescension doesn't bother me much.
it is not that I am less the son of Adam than the next person. It is who I am after salvation. After i was born again of the seed of God. There was no way on God's green earth to live righteously as lone as I remain in the flesh, before or after salvation. My Father in heaven says that I am a new creation. That I am as Christ is. That I have been born of his righteous seed and therefore I am not a sinner as I was before. It is not a matter of what I do anymore that determines my status before God but who God, the Father, has made me to be. I am that, regardless of my fallen nature in the flesh. I am no longer of the flesh but of the spirit. Why, Because my Spirit has been born of God. If we do not have the Spirit then we are none of His. It does not mean that I do nothing wrong while I remain in the body of this death. This body will die or be changed like unto the body of Christ at His appearing. The resurrection and the coming of the Lord are my great hope. All who have this hope purifies himself. I am born of God and I am as He is. Sense I am no longer a son of Adam, I am no longer under the curse of Adams death. I am not a sinner because that is not what my Father has made me to be. It is the same with all God's children regardless if they know it or not. He leads me in the path of righteousness for His namesake. When I mess up he corrects my path because He loves me. There is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.
