Does God know the future?

[Mitbulls]

This probably falls under the heading of basic theology, but it holds pretty serious theological ramifications. I have been a Christian all my life, but I've always had trouble reconciling this one.

The New Testament often refers to God's foreknowledge. I think most of us accept that God knows all things, including the future. However, if this is true, he acts pretty strangely sometimes in the Old Testament.

The most obvious example is when God made men. He, knowing the future, must have known that man would fall and sin would inter the world. However, Genesis 6:6 implies that after all the sin that pervaded the world, God was sorry that he had made men. If he already knew it would happen, and still decided to create man, how could he regret it later?

There are other examples that pose questions, like, for example, the times when God proclaims he is going to destroy a people only to be talked out of it later (most famous with Moses and the Israelites).

Anyway, I was just wondering how people who believe God knows the future (which I do) reconcile these verses to that belief.

[bar Jonah]

As a resident and vocal Open Theist, I would emphatically answer:

YES.

[yxboom]

Click here for a great discussion on God's foreknowledge in regards to an Open Theist theology.

[bar Jonah]

Oh, wait.... did you mean whether God knows EVERYTHING that's going to happen in the future?

Then, of course not. Anyone one who knows their scripture knows that. :riwink:

[Jaltus]

"Today @ 05:05 PM post located here
Mitbulls:

This probably falls under the heading of basic theology, but it holds pretty serious theological ramifications. I have been a Christian all my life, but I've always had trouble reconciling this one.

The New Testament often refers to God's foreknowledge. I think most of us accept that God knows all things, including the future. However, if this is true, he acts pretty strangely sometimes in the Old Testament.

The most obvious example is when God made men. He, knowing the future, must have known that man would fall and sin would inter the world. However, Genesis 6:6 implies that after all the sin that pervaded the world, God was sorry that he had made men. If he already knew it would happen, and still decided to create man, how could he regret it later?

There are other examples that pose questions, like, for example, the times when God proclaims he is going to destroy a people only to be talked out of it later (most famous with Moses and the Israelites).

Anyway, I was just wondering how people who believe God knows the future (which I do) reconcile these verses to that belief."

Regret happens even when someone knows the future. As a parent, you know what decisions your kids will make (often they tell you) and you know not only that those events will turn out badly, but you know exactly how badly it will turn out. That does not mean you will not sorrow at the time.

Most of the "I am going to destroy" verses are within conditional prophecy (see Jonah and read chapter 3 in light of chapter 4).

While not an expert on the OT by any stretch (my specialty is NT studies), I would argue that part of the reason why God talks of destroying Israel is to force Moses back into his mediatorial role. Ask GrayPilgrim for a more full-fledged explanation.

[Blake Reas]

My thoughts exactly!

Blake :saywhat:

[doogieduff]

Yesterday @ 05:35 PM post located here
Jaltus:


Regret happens even when someone knows the future. As a parent, you know what decisions your kids will make (often they tell you) and you know not only that those events will turn out badly, but you know exactly how badly it will turn out. That does not mean you will not sorrow at the time.

So why would God regret setting up Saul as King, when He handpicked him!

[David O]

The future doesn't exist yet. It can't be known. God can make sure prophecy is fulfilled, like when Jesus said it about Judas or the crowd that came with him at night.

God says "now I know" to Abraham when He stops him from slaying Isaac.

Look at who believes in "knowing the future" or fortune telling or the fates. It's a pagan concept. The pagan stuff doesn't usually look as childish as true Christianity, so it sneaks in as wisdom.

Most of us can guess a lot of what will happen in a day. I don't believe that very much in the world shocks God, but Jesus was sure surprised a few times, by unbelief in His hometown for one.

[Minnesota]

If one is to believe that god is omniscient--all knowing--it would seem that the future would be a valid aspect of existence that falls under the category of "all." Therefore, he would certainly know everything that happens in the future.

[bar Jonah]

Today @ 04:08 PM post located here
Minnesota:
If one is to believe that god is omniscient--all knowing--it would seem that the future would be a valid aspect of existence that falls under the category of "all." Therefore, he would certainly know everything that happens in the future.

If one is to believe that god is omniscient--all knowing--it would seem that the city of New York, Colorado would be a valid aspect of existence that falls under the category of "all." Therefore, he would certainly know everything that happens in that city.



Your presuppositions are showing.

Can God know there is a blue parrot on your right shoulder right now? No? Gosh, you just said God can't know something. That's limiting His omniscience, right?

But obviously, it's not that simple.

[Minnesota]

Right Idea

If one is to believe that god is omniscient--all knowing--it would seem that the city of New York, Colorado would be a valid aspect of existence that falls under the category of "all." Therefore, he would certainly know everything that happens in that city.

If there is such a place as New York, Colorado then, yes, it would qualify as a valid aspect of existence, and "he would certainly know everything that happens in that city."
Just as an omniscient god would "know there is a blue parrot on your right shoulder right now."

Where is the problem? Do you not believe that your god is truly omniscient as claimed? Or is it that you need (as I suspect) to redefine the meaning of the word?

[doogieduff]

Today @ 04:37 PM post located here
Minnesota:



If there is such a place as New York, Colorado then, yes, it would qualify as a valid aspect of existence,

If the future was a valid aspect of existence then God would know it. No one can prove that the future exists, nor do we have any reason to think that it's any more real than New York, Colorado.

[LeiLani]

I am no expert in this area by any stretch of the imagination, but C.S. Lewis wrote about one theory. He says that since God created time, God can exist outside of time, and that he views past, present, and future all at once in a sort of 'eternal now.' We know that God has at least some knowledge of the future, because of the numerous prophecies in the Bible. I believe that God knows the future fully.

[Minnesota]

doogieduff

If the future was a valid aspect of existence then God would know it. No one can prove that the future exists, nor do we have any reason to think that it's any more real than New York, Colorado.

I'm not quite sure just what you are driving at here, but I think there is an extremely good reason to believe there is a future. For one think, there always has been a future, and for there not to be a future would mean that time would have to cease existing--in as much as the future is an essential expression of time. As far as "proving" such a thing, it can't be done, but that certainly has no bearing on the highly likelihood that time will continue as it has: creating both past and future. So, unlike the very remote possibility that there is a physical place of New York, Colorado, the future not only has billions of years of president going for it, with no reason to believe its demise is imminent, but it is also uniquely distinguished by its independence of more than one corporeal marker.

So, I find it absurd to withhold belief that there will be a future. And, as I have said, it would seem that the future would be a valid aspect of existence that falls under the category of 'all.' And therefore, an omniscient god would certainly know everything that happens in it. Now, if it should turn out that there is, indeed no future--no matter how unlikely it may be-- then, of course, it would be an unknowable.....even by your god. But that's really neither here nor there, because the crux of the question presupposes that there WILL BE a future.

[Jaltus]

Today @ 04:23 PM post located here
doogieduff:



So why would God regret setting up Saul as King, when He handpicked him!

He also "handpicked" Adam and Eve. Your objection falls short.