Is Open Theism Heresy?
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That’s not in the scripture.
1. God sent Jonah to cry unto Nineveh that wicked city, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”
2. Nineveh believed God and repented of their evil. “9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?”
3. God repented, “10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”
Either God lied or he changed his mind.
1. God sent Jonah to cry unto Nineveh that wicked city, “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”
2. Nineveh believed God and repented of their evil. “9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?”
3. God repented, “10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”
Either God lied or he changed his mind.
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Did God lie about Hezekiah's death, or did God simply change his mind based upon Hezekiah's prayer?
Isaiah 38:
1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord,
3 And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying,
5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
Isaiah 38:
1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord,
3 And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying,
5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
Well, JER 1:5 seems to refer to Jeremiah being called to be a prophet to all nations, not only Jews.
JR 1:16 says the Lord will judge the Jews because of them forsaking him, which could apply to them rejecting Messiah.
JR 2:19 seems to affirm GAL 6:7, "A man reaps what he sows." (Cf. karma)
JR 3:8-13 speaks of Israel's unfaithfulness in terms of divorce and adultery but promises forgiveness conditional upon repentance.
JR 4:4 describes repentance in terms of spiritual or heart circumcision, affirming RM 2:29.
JR 4:14 seems to be echoed in MT 23:37.
JR 5:4 states the need to know GW re GRFS (cf. 8:7-10).
JR 5:21 echoes IS 6:9, stated in a way that blames sinners rather than God for foolishness.
JR 6:13-19 could be viewed as predicting the holocaust.
JR 7:11 is reflected in LK 19:46.
JR 8:22 inspired the song, "There is a balm in Gilead".
JR 9:24 must have been the basis of 1CR 1:31 & 2CR 10:17.
JR 10:12 says God made the earth by his power and wisdom, prompting Paul in RM 1:20.
I have no idea about Cyrus and Judas.
JR 1:16 says the Lord will judge the Jews because of them forsaking him, which could apply to them rejecting Messiah.
JR 2:19 seems to affirm GAL 6:7, "A man reaps what he sows." (Cf. karma)
JR 3:8-13 speaks of Israel's unfaithfulness in terms of divorce and adultery but promises forgiveness conditional upon repentance.
JR 4:4 describes repentance in terms of spiritual or heart circumcision, affirming RM 2:29.
JR 4:14 seems to be echoed in MT 23:37.
JR 5:4 states the need to know GW re GRFS (cf. 8:7-10).
JR 5:21 echoes IS 6:9, stated in a way that blames sinners rather than God for foolishness.
JR 6:13-19 could be viewed as predicting the holocaust.
JR 7:11 is reflected in LK 19:46.
JR 8:22 inspired the song, "There is a balm in Gilead".
JR 9:24 must have been the basis of 1CR 1:31 & 2CR 10:17.
JR 10:12 says God made the earth by his power and wisdom, prompting Paul in RM 1:20.
I have no idea about Cyrus and Judas.
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I note that it does not say "Foreknown unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world," which is what you are interpreting it to mean.
Let me give an example of what I think James is probably saying here, according to the context. When someone does something that seems strange and unexpected, someone might suggest that the person involved does not realise what they are doing, and does not realise what the consequences of their actions could be. But another person might know the agent as a very thoughtful and deliberate personality, and would reply. "He has known exactly what He's doing from the start. This is no mistake."
The Jerusalem church find themselves in a similar situation. God seems to have been doing something strange and unexpected in Paul's ministry, in giving the Holy Spirit to Gentiles without them converting to Judaism. However, Peter affirms a precedent for this in His experience with the Roman Cornelius and his household. Then James raises an Old Testament text that seem to also predict the same thing, He concludes that God has always known what He is doing since the beginning. He does not unconsciously lapse into irrational and unintentional behaviour. God knew when He gave the Holy Spirit to Paul's converts and Cornelius, without their being circumcised and adopting Judaism, and without requiring them to be, that He was doing so. And if God intended it, we should not oppose it.
"Known (GnOsta) unto God are all His works since (apo) the beginning."
Let me give an example of what I think James is probably saying here, according to the context. When someone does something that seems strange and unexpected, someone might suggest that the person involved does not realise what they are doing, and does not realise what the consequences of their actions could be. But another person might know the agent as a very thoughtful and deliberate personality, and would reply. "He has known exactly what He's doing from the start. This is no mistake."
The Jerusalem church find themselves in a similar situation. God seems to have been doing something strange and unexpected in Paul's ministry, in giving the Holy Spirit to Gentiles without them converting to Judaism. However, Peter affirms a precedent for this in His experience with the Roman Cornelius and his household. Then James raises an Old Testament text that seem to also predict the same thing, He concludes that God has always known what He is doing since the beginning. He does not unconsciously lapse into irrational and unintentional behaviour. God knew when He gave the Holy Spirit to Paul's converts and Cornelius, without their being circumcised and adopting Judaism, and without requiring them to be, that He was doing so. And if God intended it, we should not oppose it.
"Known (GnOsta) unto God are all His works since (apo) the beginning."
Paradidomi means to hand over. It does not necessarily mean to betray. Judas could have been faithful to Jesus and cooperated with Him to fulfil the prophecies that someone would hand Jesus over to the Jews. As it happened, he fulfilled the prophecy out of resentment against Jesus and a love of money instead
No. Open theism says that which future events will happen is not knowable until they happen. Some Open Theists (Dynamic Omniscience) believe God knows ALL future possibilities, but not which of those possibilities will occur, apart from some that He specifically decides He will make happen for some specific purpose.
Some take it too far and claim God is surprised or caught off guard. No, God is not surprised by man's decisions for he knows us better than we know ourselves.
I heard it described as a chess match. God will allow you to move. If you move this piece, he knows what he will do. If you move another piece, he knows what he's going to do in response. In the end, he wins.
I heard it described as a chess match. God will allow you to move. If you move this piece, he knows what he will do. If you move another piece, he knows what he's going to do in response. In the end, he wins.
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