Does God Know From All Eternity Who Will Die Having Rejected Sound Doctrine?

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John146

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Jan 13, 2016
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Sure, if that's His intention. More often, He is stating things in a manner we can understand, and this is misconstrued as a limitation. Is God limited, or infinite. He can't be both. Is God eternal?
Yes, God is eternal. Can God choose to limit his knowledge to the time frame he has given man?
 

posthuman

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Jul 31, 2013
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Please explain how "the idea that information and knowledge is 'created' by man exercising free will is also neoplatonic".
open theism has God living in Plato's cave, chained to a wall, watching the shadows of men, never able to truly know them.
 

posthuman

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Jul 31, 2013
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It may grate against your neoplatonic view that God cannot change or learn but also be infinite in understanding, but it is an indisputable fact that something infinite can be added to. For instance. toan infinite set of odd numbers we can ad 2,4,6 and 8 and both configurations are infinite. So the idea that God cannot be infinite in knowledge and still add new knowledge is demonstrably false.
i can add infinity to infinity infinite times and still be less than another infinity - numbers show that, again.
I can add all the numbers divisible by 2, by 3, by 4, by 5, by 6, by 7 and so on and so on together. all of these sets are infinite, there are an infinite number of them, and their sum is still less than the reals.

and God still. knows all these, and knows more than these.

stacking infinity upon infinity infinite times still doesn't reach Him.

all you are demonstrating by this line of argument is that "infinite" is an infinitely inadequate way to describe His knowledge.
 

Cameron143

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Mar 1, 2022
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Yes, God is eternal. Can God choose to limit his knowledge to the time frame he has given man?
He certainly has the ability to do so. However, He will not. Anything that contradicts His divine nature, God will not perform.
What does it mean to be eternal?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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He certainly has the ability to do so. However, He will not. Anything that contradicts His divine nature, God will not perform.
What does it mean to be eternal?
Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
 

John146

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Jan 13, 2016
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open theism has God living in Plato's cave, chained to a wall, watching the shadows of men, never able to truly know them.
God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our thoughts, our hearts, our every intention.
 

Cameron143

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Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
It's a figure of speech. God is using human language to express the depth and scope of His forgiveness. What does it mean to be eternal?
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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It's a figure of speech. God is using human language to express the depth and scope of His forgiveness. What does it mean to be eternal?
If God says something, I take it as truth. Your interpretation can make scripture say anything you want it to say. "It's a figure of speech." I've heard everything now.
 

Cameron143

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If God says something, I take it as truth. Your interpretation can make scripture say anything you want it to say. "It's a figure of speech." I've heard everything now.
God calls us sheep? Are we? God speaks of Himself in scripture as possessing ears and hands and numerous other human attributes. Does He actually have them? The truth is, you already make use of figures of speech in your understanding of scripture.
You may disagree with me, but why wouldn't you want to understand why? I'm asking deliberate questions. I'm not interested in you believing as I do. I'm offering you an alternative understanding for your consideration...to reason together.
Your reasoning is built upon the plain rendering of scripture. That's awesome. But, whether you recognize it or not, you go beyond this to understand scripture.
So...what does it mean that God is eternal?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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It may grate against your neoplatonic view that God cannot change or learn but also be infinite in understanding, but it is an indisputable fact that something infinite can be added to. For instance. toan infinite set of odd numbers we can ad 2,4,6 and 8 and both configurations are infinite. So the idea that God cannot be infinite in knowledge and still add new knowledge is demonstrably false.
as i have demonstrated there are many infinities, and there are infinities infinitely greater than other infinities - but God's knowledge is not only called infinite but "perfect" - that is, "complete" lacking nothing.

Job 36:4-5​
For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,101
3,684
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God calls us sheep? Are we? God speaks of Himself in scripture as possessing ears and hands and numerous other human attributes. Does He actually have them? The truth is, you already make use of figures of speech in your understanding of scripture.
You may disagree with me, but why wouldn't you want to understand why? I'm asking deliberate questions. I'm not interested in you believing as I do. I'm offering you an alternative understanding for your consideration...to reason together.
Your reasoning is built upon the plain rendering of scripture. That's awesome. But, whether you recognize it or not, you go beyond this to understand scripture.
So...what does it mean that God is eternal?
So, when scripture goes against your theology, you claim figure of speech. When it supports your theology, you claim what it actually says. Do you not see a problem with this?

This is no figure of speech. Every word of this is truth. God has chosen not to remember their sins. Aren't you glad?

Hebrews 10
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

I'm glad, in eternity, God does not look upon me remembering all the sins of my former life. He sees me as his son, as Jesus, righteous and holy, without sin.
 

PaulThomson

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Oct 29, 2023
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open theism has God living in Plato's cave, chained to a wall, watching the shadows of men, never able to truly know them.
Please explain how you imagine "open theism has God living in Plato's cave, chained to a wall, watching the shadows of men, never able to truly know them." What is your rationale for coming to that conclusion?

Or maybe you are bereft of logical rebuttals and are resorting to formally unsound rhetorical devices to poison the well instead.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,101
3,684
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Please explain how you imagine "open theism has God living in Plato's cave, chained to a wall, watching the shadows of men, never able to truly know them." What is your rationale for coming to that conclusion?

Or maybe you are bereft of logical rebuttals and are resorting to formally unsound rhetorical devices to poison the well instead.
I, personally, had never heard of "open theism." I still don't understand what it all entails. I am just a bible believer. If the bible says it, then I take it as truth. I try hard not to let man's opinions dictate the word of God.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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So, when scripture goes against your theology, you claim figure of speech. When it supports your theology, you claim what it actually says. Do you not see a problem with this?

This is no figure of speech. Every word of this is truth. God has chosen not to remember their sins. Aren't you glad?

Hebrews 10
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

I'm glad, in eternity, God does not look upon me remembering all the sins of my former life. He sees me as his son, as Jesus, righteous and holy, without sin.
My last try...does God have hands?
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
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as i have demonstrated there are many infinities, and there are infinities infinitely greater than other infinities - but God's knowledge is not only called infinite but "perfect" - that is, "complete" lacking nothing.

Job 36:4-5For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Ps. 147:5 says his understanding (TaBUN) is uncountable (MiShPaT), not that his knowledge ((Da'aT) is infinite (MiShPaR).

In Job 36:4 the Hebrew word TiMiYM translated above as "perfect", has a range of meanings.
1. complete, entire, sound, whole
A. complete, whole, entire
B. whole, sound, healthful
C. complete, entire (of time)
D. Sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
E. What is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact

Why do you insist TiMiYM must mean complete, and that complete must include foreknowledge of all future details? Why not "For truly my words are not false; One who is sound (TaMiYM) in knowledge (De'UT) is with you. Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding (LeB heart))

Also, is this not Elihu referring to himself, rather than to God? here Is Elihu really claiming omniscience? Why is this not saying that Elihu considers himself to be sound in understanding?

You seem to be constricting meanings arbitrarily and ignoring context to make your kind of God appear in the book of Job.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,467
452
83
as i have demonstrated there are many infinities, and there are infinities infinitely greater than other infinities - but God's knowledge is not only called infinite but "perfect" - that is, "complete" lacking nothing.

Job 36:4-5For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Ps. 147:5 says his understanding (TaBUN) is uncountable (MiShPaT), not that his knowledge ((Da'aT) is infinite (MiShPaR).

In Job 36:4 the Hebrew word TiMiYM translated above as "perfect", has a range of meanings.
1. complete, entire, sound, whole
A. complete, whole, entire
B. whole, sound, healthful
C. complete, entire (of time)
D. Sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
E. What is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact

Why do you insist TiMiYM must mean complete, and that complete must include foreknowledge of all future details? Why not "For truly my words are not false; One who is sound (TaMiYM) in knowledge (De'UT) is with you. Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding (LeB heart))

Also, is this not Elihu referring to himself, rather than to God? here Is Elihu really claiming omniscience? Why is this not saying that Elihu considers himself to be sound in understanding?

You seem to be constricting meanings arbitrarily and ignoring context to make your kind of God appear in the book of Job.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,777
13,535
113
Please explain how you imagine "open theism has God living in Plato's cave, chained to a wall, watching the shadows of men, never able to truly know them." What is your rationale for coming to that conclusion?

Or maybe you are bereft of logical rebuttals and are resorting to formally unsound rhetorical devices to poison the well instead.
open theism flatly states that God has no knowledge of what you will do next unless you happen to be fulfilling a specific prophecy He is bringing about.

thus, all He knows about you is the shadow you cast on the wall of time - He is chained to a wall in Plato's cave with bonds made of. minutes, hours, days and years, and cannot fully know anything in its true form.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,777
13,535
113
Ps. 147:5 says his understanding (TaBUN) is uncountable (MiShPaT), not that his knowledge ((Da'aT) is infinite (MiShPaR).

In Job 36:4 the Hebrew word TiMiYM translated above as "perfect", has a range of meanings.
1. complete, entire, sound, whole
A. complete, whole, entire
B. whole, sound, healthful
C. complete, entire (of time)
D. Sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
E. What is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact

Why do you insist TiMiYM must mean complete, and that complete must include foreknowledge of all future details? Why not "For truly my words are not false; One who is sound (TaMiYM) in knowledge (De'UT) is with you. Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding (LeB heart))

Also, is this not Elihu referring to himself, rather than to God? here Is Elihu really claiming omniscience? Why is this not saying that Elihu considers himself to be sound in understanding?

You seem to be constricting meanings arbitrarily and ignoring context to make your kind of God appear in the book of Job.
sound in this sense also means 'not lacking anything'

why do you insist on an ignorant God?