God, Eternal or Everlasting

This is the paper I wrote for Dr. Okello's Philosophy Class regarding the everlasting and eternality of God. Feel free to disagree. I'm not totally sold on my own opinion. Also, be aware, it's a bit long.

Is God Eternal or Everlasting? I affirm God as Everlasting.

Suppose God were eternal; God exists outside of time. Rather than existing moment by moment as humans do, He experiences the entirety of history all at once, in one complete concurrent now (R&RB, 83). By this view, God has no past, present, or future; He simply is (R&RB, 83). If this is the case, it would easily explain how God can be omniscient. He simply sees what is happening as it happens and consequently has all-encompassing knowledge. Now, suppose God is everlasting; God exists within time; our present is His present. Although this might prevent God from knowing a detailed future, it does not
preclude him from knowing some of the future. Also, it explains some otherwise troubling scripture regarding God changing his mind.

Both perspectives can be argued from biblical references. Eternality is supported by scriptures such as Isaiah 46:9 & 10, “… I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” God also says He knows the plans He has for us, plans for good and not for harm. Plans that give us hope for the future (Jeremiah 29:11). In first Peter, we are told Christ was destined before the foundation of the world. God knowing our plans for the future and being able to declare the end from the beginning are indicators that God has some knowledge of the future, possibly indicating God’s eternality.

Besides these broad scope indicators, scripture contains specific detailed accounts regarding God’s knowledge of the future. Jesus knew Peter would deny him three times before morning, Judas was going to betray him, the religious leaders would seek his death, and He would rise from death in three days. These factors support an eternal God.

Alternatively, instances where God appears to not know the future support God existing within time. Examples include Number 14:11, “ The LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?” and 1 Kings 22:20, “the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” among many others.

The authors of biblical texts do not describe God as a bystander; rather, God is actively engaged with man and history (P of R, 159). In order for God to be involved in human history, he must be able to adapt (P of R, 159). Within scripture there exist numerous examples of God changing his mind (1 Sam 15:11, 35, Exo 32:14, Deut 9:13-14, 18-20), asking questions, expressing surprise or disappointment (Jer 3:5-8, 19-20, 7:31, 19:5, 32:35), and predicting, rather than knowing, what might happen ( Ezek 12:3, Exodus 3:18-4:9) (Boyd & Eddy, 44). Further, scripture mentions God testing his people to determine what they will do (Gen 22:12, Deut 8:2, 13:3, Judges 3:4, 2 Chron 32:31) (Boyd & Eddy, 45). Each instance indicates God not exhaustively knowing the future.

Theses occurrences cannot happen if God has all-encompassing knowledge of future events. God can not simultaneously know the whole future and not know the whole future, therefore God cannot be eternal. In Genesis 6:6, we learn that God regretted creating man and grieved. If God were eternal, he would have known prior to creation the human race would fail and it would be illogical for him to grieve or regret. However, He likely would not have made man.

Although scripture indicates that God knows future happenings, I found no scripture expressly stating God exhaustively knows the future. Nor have I seen any scripture which explicitly affirms that God exists outside of time or that God simultaneously sees past, present, and future.

Those who determine God to be eternal can argue scripture is speaking anthropomorphically or metaphorically of God when identifying God as changing his mind, expressing disappointment and surprise, or testing his people to see what they will do. However, none of these statements appear to be so. They do not state the circumstances were as if God changed his mind, or it was as though God was disappointed (Boyd and Eddy, 47).

“If these statements were not meant to be taken in a straightforward manner, what would passages that did teach this in a straightforward manner say? If God cannot convince us by explicitly saying he can and does change his mind, experience regret, and so on, how could he convince us if he wanted to?

" … The passages cited in support of the open view [everlasting] do not readily lend themselves to an anthropomorphic interpretation. As with all figures of speech, anthropomorphisms must connect with reality at some point if they are to communicate anything truthful. Expressions such as “the right hand of God” or “the eyes of the Lord” for example, communicate something truthful about God’s strength and knowledge. But what does the concept of God changing his mind communicate if it is indeed merely anthropomorphism? If God in fact never changes his mind, saying he does so does not communicate anything truthful: It is simply inaccurate." (Boyd and Eddy, 48)

In fact, if scripture were to identify God as changing his mind, when he does not, scripture would, in effect, make a liar of God, which is opposed to the character of God. For example, if we are told God changes his decision to destroy the Israelites because of Moses’ forty day and night prayerful intervention (Isaiah 46:9-10), either God lied saying He would destroy the people or scripture lied regarding God’s ability to and practice of changing his mind. If God knew all along (Eternality) that he would change his mind after Moses prayed, then he lied when saying he was going to destroy them. If he did not know he would change his mind, then he does not exhaustibly know the future and is therefore not outside of time (eternal). If however, God actually did change his mind, God is truthful, scripture is truthful, and God is everlasting.

Everlasting makes sense of scriptures about God asking non-rhetorical questions or God changing his mind. But it also seemingly limits the abilities of God in that he doesn't "know" every detail of what will eventually happen. This is an illogical argument. Even if God does not know every detail of every future happening, His omniscience is not lessened. Not exhaustively knowing the future does not preclude God knowing everything available to know at any given time. If God were to exist within time, he could still readily know everything there is to know. He would know all math, science, history, etc. He would know what is currently happening, both actual physical happenings and the current thoughts of man. He would even know potential ramifications of choices and actions man might take. God as everlasting does not weaken the omniscience of God. Rather it redefines omniscience; He would still know all. What there is to know, however, would be a less exhaustive list than it would be if God exists outside of time, eternally.
In the discussion of an everlasting God, there is still a possibility of critique from those who support an Eternal God regarding key scriptures that expressly identify God as possessing understanding of future events, such Isaiah 46:10 declaring the end from the beginning, Jeremiah 29:11, God knowing his plans for us, the messages of many various prophets regarding the future, and 1 Peter’s description of Jesus as destined before the foundation of the world.

Let us not forget that in Isaiah 46, God also claims His counsel shall stand and that he will accomplish his purpose. Rather than this statement reflecting his foreknowledge, it could be a statement of his power. Although God is everlasting, he is not weakened; His omnipotence stands. God can intervene and interject his purpose as he desires (within the character of God). With his power, he can overrule ordinary happenings, thus shaping the future. For example, he can destine Christ to redeem humanity at the foundation of the world in the event humanity should not meet his desired expectations. This is not to say he knows they will fail to meet expectations, nor that he knows the details surrounding Jesus’ life and crucifixion. It only implies that he has a plan and is willing to implement it should it become necessary for his ultimate intentions to be accomplished.

Whereas God can not be actively involved in human life, nor can he be capable of change as an eternal God, He can as an everlasting God. Further, God as everlasting, lends credibility to scriptures and explains how God can be uncertain about aspects of the future while understanding and proclaiming others and it does so without limiting his power or knowledge.

References:
Boyd, G., & Eddy, P. (2002). Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theory. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic.

Hasker, W. (1983). Metaphysics: Constructing a World View. Downer’s Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity.

Peterson, M., Hasker W., Reichenbach, B., & Basinger, D. (Eds.) (2006) Philosophy of Religion: Selected Readings. 3rd Edition. New York: Oxford University.

Peterson, M., Hasker W., Reichenbach, B., & Basinger, D. (Eds.) (2008). Reason and Religious Belief:An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, 4th Edition. New York: Oxford University.