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Emphasis Mine In Bible Verses
ON THIS PAGE
Introduction
On the surface certain Biblical passages appear to be saying that God's foreknowledge is limited.
These passages can be grouped into categories
PART I - The Four Categories
Part II - The General Impossibility Of Open Theism
God Cannot Possibly Foreordain an Event Without Knowing What Humans Are Going to Do
Theological Fatalism?
God - The Ultimate Gambler?
Conclusion
The Final Question
Introduction
The majority of orthodox Christians subscribe to the view that God is omniscient, i.e. He has complete and unlimited knowledge of everything that has ever happened, is happening now, and will ever happen.
However, in recent years a few scholars who claim there is no divine script for the future, have proposed a radically different view called Open Theism, called so because they believe that God's knowledge of the future is 'open'. Supporters of the doctrine can be roughly divided into several camps.
1. The first believes that although all aspects of the future are knowable by God, He voluntarily limits His knowledge of our free will choices so that we remain truly free.
2. The second is best defined by Gregory Boyd in his book God of the Possible. He says the future is "partly determined and known by God, but also partly open and known by God as such" [01]
3. The third camp maintains that God knows all there is to know in the past and present however, the future that hasn't yet happened is not knowable - even by God. Although God does not have infallible knowledge of what each of us will choose to do, He is all-wise thus able to predict our future actions with great accuracy.
Open Theism is based on certain Biblical passages that on the surface appear to be saying that God's foreknowledge is limited. These passages can be grouped into categories. None support open theism.
PART I - The Four Categories
1. God Tested Israel:
The first category involves the fact that God said He 'tested' Israel. Open theists contend that God had to test the nation in order to learn what they would do under certain circumstances.
2. Unfulfilled Prophecy:
The second category involves allegedly failed prophecies.
3. God Asked Questions:
In this third category, God asked questions that He did not know the answers to. For example, He asked Moses how long the people would spurn Him, and the prophet Hosea how long they would be incapable of innocence. And, on more than one occasion, He asked about someone's whereabouts - Cain where his brother Abel was (Genesis 4:9) - Abraham where Sarah was (Genesis 18:9).
4. God 'Regretted' Something:
Verses in the fourth category describe God as 'regretting' something He had done. Open theists argues that God could not feel 'regret' for something if He knew in advance what was going to happen. Therefore, as the argument goes, He could not foreknown what decisions people would make.
God Tested Israel
Open theists contend that God had to test the nation in order to learn what they would do under certain circumstances. 'Two common 'proof texts' are
You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. (Deuteronomy 8:2 NASB)
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:3 NASB)
However, we have to remember that God does not reward or punish us based on His foreknowledge. We have to actually do right or wrong before it counts.
Conditional Prophecy
A very similar situation exists with what is called 'conditional prophecy' which means that the 'prophecy' is contingent upon man's response. IF they do something they will be blessed, IF they do not they will be punished. The book The Openness of God by Clark H. Pinnock (in collaboration with four others) makes the following statement
If God knows the future exhaustively then conditional prophecies lose their integrity.. They do not express genuine divine intention. They are nothing more than hypothetical assertions that God knows fully will never be realized. [02]
The authors then bring up the example of Nineveh the capitol of Assyria. The people were told by the prophet Jonah that the city would be destroyed in forty days. In summary, the Ninevites repented and the city was spared. The book says...
In the traditional view, Jonah's announcement that Nineveh would be destroyed did not represent something that God really intended to do, since he knew exactly how the Ninevites would respond. It was simply a ploy that produced the desired result. [03]
Merriam Webster defines the word 'ploy" as being "a clever trick or plan that is used to get someone to do something or to gain an advantage over someone". The Free Dictionary says it is "an action calculated to frustrate an opponent or gain an advantage indirectly or deviously".
Are they seriously accusing our God of using devious means to to get the Assyrians to do what He wanted?
I am not sure why anyone uses the term 'conditional prophecy' which obfuscates and muddies the waters. So called 'conditional prophecy' s nothing more than a warning.
It is true that God knew ahead of time that the Ninevites would repent and He would not destroy their city. However, He could not have spared them if they didn't amend their ways - and since the Assyrians were a bloodthirsty and horribly cruel bunch they would not have done so had they not been given such a severe ultimatum.
And please note that we have been issued with exactly the same warning. What we choose to do with it is our decision regardless of whether God already knows what our decision will be. And, since very few will heed what God has said, they will face the consequences. See The Warning of The Bible
Which brings us to the second category.
Unfulfilled Prophecy?
Open theists claim that God could not always have been sure about something in the future because not all Biblical prophecies were fulfilled exactly as predicted. The "general example" given in Openness of God is that God genuinely wants all people to be saved but doesn't always get what He wants. In their words,
God does not want "anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9); he "wants all all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (I Tim 2:4); cf. Tit 2:11. Yet it appears that not all will be saved. According to Jesus; statement, all of the dead will come back to life - "those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, the the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:29 NRSV) [04]
Quite obviously they are quoting the English version of 2 Peter 3:9 and I Timothy 2:4 but in order to accurately understand these verses we need to know exactly what Greek words the New Testament authors used. The NASB's rendering of these verses is far more accurate.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing (Gr. boulomai) for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NASB)
who wants (Gr. thelo) all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4 NASB)
Boulomai: The Greek word boulomai in the first example is not always used in the sense of absolute determination (which is why is it translated "wishing" in the NASB). It has several nuances of meaning including wish, desire, purpose, etc. as the following examples show.
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting (Gr. boulomai) to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. (Matthew 1:19 NASB)
Wishing (Gr. boulomai) to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:15 NASB)
saying, "Father, if You are willing (Gr. boulomai), remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42 NASB)
Thelo: can mean to determine, choose or prefer; by implication to wish, be inclined to etc. Note the following examples
"If anyone wants (Gr. thelo) to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. (Matthew 5:40 NASB)
but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished (Gr. thelo). So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." (Matthew 17:12 NASB)
but I could wish (Gr. thelo) to be present with you now and to change my tone for I am perplexed about you. (Galatians 4:20 NASB)
In other words, 2 Peter 3:9 and 1 Timothy 2:4 do not read that God wills that all men be saved but wishes all men to be.
Other Allegedly Unfulfilled Prophecies
In his book Most Moved Mover Clark Pinnock Brings Up Other prophecies that he claims were never fulfilled. [05] For example,
1.) "The Assyrians did not destroy Jerusalem in the eighth century (Mic. 3:9-12)"
The verses in question read
Now hear this, heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And twist everything that is straight, Who build Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with violent injustice. Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, Her priests instruct for a price And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD saying, "Is not the LORD in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us." Therefore, on account of you Zion will be plowed as a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest. (Micah 3:9-12 NASB)
It says nothing about the Assyrians nor about the time frame. The last verse was fulfilled to a certain extent by Nebuchadnezzar; but fully and literally by the Romans under Titus.
2.) "despite Ezekiel, Nebuchadnezzar did not conquer the city of Tyre"
The claim that that Nebuchadnezzar was who destroyed Tyre is based on the prophecy in Ezekiel 26:1-21. However, the verses have to be read carefully because although verses 3-5 speak about many nations coming against Tyre ...
therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Behold, I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. 'They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down her towers; and I will sweep her debris away from her and make her a bare rock. 'She will become a dry place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD; 'and she will become plunder for the nations. (Ezekiel 26:3-5 NASB)
... verses 7-11 specifically talk about the havoc the Babylonian king wrought. Although it is obvious that he did not do all this alone, one has to note that virtually every verse talks about him (singular). Ezekiel certainly seemed to be avoiding the word "they."
For the Lord God says this: "Behold, I am going to bring upon Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a great army. "He will kill your daughters on the mainland with the sword; and he will make siege walls against you, pile up an assault ramp against you, and raise up a large shield against you. "And he will direct the blow of his battering rams against your walls, and he will tear down your towers with his axes. "Because of the multitude of his horses, the dust raised by them will cover you; your walls will shake from the noise of cavalry, wagons, and chariots when he enters your gates as warriors enter a city that is breached. "With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars will go down to the ground. (Ezekiel 26:7-11 NASB)
Then verse 12 returns to the word "they" as in 'many nations' of verse 3.
therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Behold, I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. (Ezekiel 26:3 NASB)
History shows that many nations did attack Tyre. As David Guzik says in his commentary,
Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Tyre for 13 years and eventually conquered them (about 586-573 BC).
The Persians conquered and brought Tyre to submission around 525 BC.
Alexander the Great destroyed the city in just the manner described in 332 BC.
Antiochus III conquered and subjugated Tyre.
Rome conquered and subjugated Tyre.
The Saracens in the 14th century AD finally obliterated the city of Tyre.
3.) The Stones of the Temple
Clark Pinnock claims that Jesus' prediction about the fall of Jerusalem was inaccurate because
"Despite Jesus, in the destruction of the temple, some stones were left one on the other (Matthew 24:2)" [06]
This is based on the fact that the Western Wall (the Wailing Wall) was left standing when the temple was destroyed. However, if you read the verse carefully you will see that the disciples had drawn Jesus' attention to the Temple building.
Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down." (Matthew 24:1-2 NASB)
The Western Wall is not and never has been part of the Temple buildings. It was one of the several supporting walls of a platform on which Herod (well-known for massive building projects) built the Temple. Today all that is left to the Jews is this one wall which is the closest they can get to their beloved Temple. Although speculation abounds no one is sure of the exact spot where the original Temple was.
To get an idea of how massive the walls of the Temple were copy and paste either of these links into your browser. https://tinyurl.com/ypn2aunu OR https://tinyurl.com/2ztxpxve
4.) Isaiah's Golden Age
"despite Isaiah, Israel's return from exile did not usher in a golden age (Is. 41:14-20) [07]
Isaiah 41 has nothing to do with a "golden age" but was God's reassurance to Israel that He was with them. He would strengthen and help them and their enemies would be as nothing and perish (Vs. 10- 11).
5.) Jesus and The Wicked
"despite the Baptist, Jesus did not cast the wicked into the fire". [08]
I presume Mr. Pinnock is referring to Matthew 3:10 that has John the Baptist telling the the Pharisees and Sadducees
"The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
However, in context (that is from verses 7 to 12) John recognized these men as wanting to partake in yet another ritual although they had not truly repented. They believed that having Abraham for a father was enough to guarantee them salvation.
The very first thing John said was (emphasis added) "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? He then went on to remind them that they had not truly repented and produced fruit consistent with repentance (V. 8). He further warned them that the axe was already laid at the root of the trees; and, every tree that did not bear good fruit would be cut down and thrown into the fire - this at the coming wrath.
See The End Of The Age And The Wrath Of God
6.) The Second Coming
"Contrary to Paul, the second coming was not around the corner" (1 Thessalonians 4:17) [10]
Yet again a claim has been made based on a single verse which along with the previous two verses read...
(15) For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NASB)
The assumption is being made that Paul's use of the word "we" included himself - that he expected to live until the Second Coming which meant the world would soon end. Thus he was mistaken and could not possibly have been inspired.
Forgive the slang but that is absolute hooey.
Paul apparently realized that some of the Thessalonians were alarmed that he meant that the world would soon come to an end. In reassurance he wrote in his second letter to them that they need not be worried - the time was not yet. Momentous events had to occur first.
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed. Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 NASB)
In 1 Thessalonians 4: 14-17 the apostle was speaking of the church at large. He was telling the Thessalonians that those believers who had died before Jesus' return would not be at any kind of disadvantage. Much to the contrary they would be resurrected before the Christians who were still alive at the time.
7.) Jehoiakim's Death
An article entitled What Unfulfilled Prophesies Say About the Open Views claims that several prophecies in Scripture were never fulfilled. In their words,
Jeremiah prophesied that Jehoiakim would die a dishonorable death. It is said that no one would mourn for him and that his corpse would be dragged around and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem, left unburied to decompose in the sun (Jer. 22:18-19, cf. 36:30).
Not only this, but it was prophesied that no descendent of his would sit on the throne (Jer. 36:30-31). As it turned out, however, Jehoiakim received a proper burial and his son succeeded him as king (2 Kg. 24:6). What are we to make of this? [09]
In regard to Jehoiakim's dishonorable death the two verses quoted above say
Therefore this is what the Lord says regarding Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They will not mourn for him: 'Oh, my brother!' or, 'Oh, sister!' They will not mourn for him: 'Oh, for the master!' or, 'Oh, for his splendor!' "He will be buried with a donkey's burial, Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 22:18-19 NASB)
'Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: "He shall have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be thrown out to the heat of the day and the frost of the night. (Jeremiah 36:30 NASB)
The site goes on to quote 2 Kg. 24:6 saying that "Jehoiakim received a proper burial". Except if you actually read 2 Kg. 24:6, it says nothing about HOW Jehoiakim died or what happened to his body but simply states that he "lay down with his fathers". The Hebrew shākab primarily means to lie down and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. It can refer to the act of lying down to sleep or rest, as well as lying down in death.
So Jehoiakim lay down (Heb. shākab) with his fathers, and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place. (2 Kings 24:6 NASB)
8.) Jehoiakim's Successor
However 2 Kings 24:6 says after Jehoiakim died his son Jehoiachin (also known as Jeconiah or Coniah) became king in his place at the age of eighteen.
The prophet Jeremiah made several prophecies about Jehoiachin
He would be removed from the throne and exiled to Babyon.
"As I live,"declares the LORD, "even if Coniah (Jehoiachin) the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were a signet ring on My right hand, yet I would pull you off; and I will hand you over to those who are seeking your life, yes, to those of whom you are frightened, that is, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans. (Jeremiah 22:24-25 NASB)
Jehoiachin was king for only three months and ten days (2 Chronicles 36:9) before he along with his mother, his servants, commanders, and officials were forced to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar II and were taken captive to Babylon (2 Kings 24:10 -12)
He would never see Jerusalem again
"I will hurl you and your mother who gave birth to you into another country where you were not born, and there you will die. "But as for the land to which they long to return, they will not return to it. (Jeremiah 22:26-27 NASB)
Jehoiachin died many years later in exile
None of his descendants would sit on David's throne. Note however, that V.30 acknowledges the fact that Jeconiah would have descendants (seven sons according to 1 Chronicles 3:17-18, but was to be entered into the genealogical records as childless
"O land, land, land, Hear the word of the LORD! "This is what the LORD says: 'Write this man down as childless, A man who will not prosper in his days; For no man among his descendants will prosper Sitting on the throne of David Or ruling again in Judah.'" (Jeremiah 22:29-30 NASB)
Jehoiachin's short stint on the throne being nothing more than a token one cannot be considered as negating Jeremiah's prophecy that Jehoiakim would have no one to sit on the throne of David.
Also See The Curse Of Jeconiah - How Can Jesus Be The Heir to David's Throne? (Scroll down a little)
Zedekiah
With Jehoiachin imprisoned in Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar wanted a king on the Judean throne whom he thought would be subservient to him. With this in mind he chose Zedekiah - Jehoiachin's uncle (He was Jehoiakim's brother)thus could not counted as a descendent). Incidentally, Zedekiah's name was actually Mattaniah but was changed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:17)
However Zedekiah not only disobeyed God, but rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar who had made Zedekiah swear allegiance to him (2 Chronicles 36:13). Eventually, God brought the Chaldeans (the word sometimes used to refer to Babylonians in general) against Jerusalem. The city was completely ruined - the temple and palaces burned, the surrounding walls torn down, and most of the population taken captive. (2 Kings 25:9 -10, 2 Chronicles 36:19) For more on the Chaldeans See Who Were The Chaldeans in the Bible?
God Asked Questions
1 John 3:20 does not say God has the capacity to know all things but that God actually "knows all things". However, if God knows everything why did he ask about someone's whereabouts on more than one occasion.
Are we really to believe that God did not know where Job was when He created the world, that He did not know where in the garden Adam was, and that he was unaware of the physical whereabouts of Abel and Sarah?
Of course not! They were all rhetorical questions, not designed to elicit an answer.
Adam and Cain
In Genesis 3:9 God called out to Adam and asked "Where are you?"
In Genesis 4:9 God asked Cain where his brother Abel was.
It seems fairly obvious that both questions were not designed to elicit an answer but asked in order to afford each man the opportunity to own up to their sin. We do it ourselves. For example take the mother who knows which child spilt milk on the kitchen floor yet asks who did so.
Job
God wasn't literally asking Job where he was when He first created the world (even we know the answer to that one.) It was rhetorical question designed to remind Job of the power and majesty of the Father.
Moses and Hosea
God appeared to ask both Moses and Hosea how long the people would or would not do something.
The Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? and how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? (Numbers 14:11 NASB)
He has rejected your calf, O Samaria, saying, "My anger burns against them!" How long will they be incapable of innocence? (Hosea 8:5 NASB)
It would have been just plain silly for God to ask either Moses or Hosea how long the people would go astray because there was no way in the world either of the men could have known.
Sarah
In Genesis 18:9 The Lord asked Abraham where Sarah was.
When God came to Abraham in Genesis 18, He was not there to savor Sarah's cooking or partake of Abraham's hospitality, but to tell them something very important. The "where is Sarah?" question was very possibly asked so that she too would hear what He had to say.
It is interesting that God had already told Abraham that Sara would bear a child in a year or so (See Genesis 17:19, 21). We do not know if Abraham had neglected to tell Sara this or she was not convinced. Either way it seems believe the words of our Lord were directed more at Sarah than Abraham.
And then we have ...
Sodom and Gomorrah
In verse 18:21, the Lord seemed to say that He had to physically visit earth in order to verify what He had heard about Sodom.
"The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. "I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know (Gr. yāda). " (Genesis 18:20-21 NASB)
God did not need to literally come down to earth to verify for Himself what the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were up to, but is a good example of metaphorical language
On that day Abraham was visited by God Himself and two other 'men' - presumably angels (Genesis 18:1-2). After delivering His message about Sara bearing a child and eating a meal with Abraham, they headed towards Sodom - Abraham walked with his three visitors to send them off. It was then that the Lord decided he would not hide from Abraham what He was about to do. It is reasonable to assume that God deliberately brought the matter to Abraham's attention otherwise he could not have interceded for Sodom as he did.
Abraham
In Genesis 22:12 it seems that God did not know what Abraham would do until Abraham actually made a choice.
After Abraham had proved himself willing to sacrifice his only son, God said "... for now I know (Gr. yāda) that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." (Genesis 22:12 NASB)
In the case of Abraham, regardless of the fact that God knew ahead of time what Abraham's response was going to be, He could not possibly act upon His knowledge until the response was made. God could not assign faith to Abraham based on what He knew would happen, but had to wait until Abraham actually exercised that faith. We have to freely and without compunction make and execute our own choices before God will act on them.
God 'Regretted' or "Repented of' Something
What may be confusing to some is the fact that the Bible also talks of God "repenting" - largely translated from the Hebrew word nācham. However, nācham carries several shades of meaning which is why newer translations tend to use English words that convey the meaning of the particular passage more accurately.
For example, nācham was rendered 'repent' in the KJV translation of the verse sbelow. In both cases the NASB uses sthe more appropriate 'sorry'.
And it repented (Gr. nācham) the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (Genesis 6:6 KJV)
The Lord was sorry (Gr. nācham) that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (Genesis 6:6 NASB)
I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent (Gr. nācham) ; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 24:14 KJV)
I, the LORD, have spoken; it is coming and I will act. I will not overlook, I will not pity, and I will not be sorry; (Gr. nācham) according to your ways and according to your deeds I will judge you, declares the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 24:14 NASB)
Just because God knew ahead of time that men would go hopelessly astray doesn't mean that He is indifferent when they do. 'Being sorry' or expressing 'regret' doesn't necessarily mean one is sorry for one's own actions. It can simply mean being expressing emotion (being sad) at how things turned out. In fact, God's emotions can be described in human terms as numerous Bible verses do.
How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! (Psalms 78:40 NASB)
"You have bought Me not sweet cane with money, Nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices; Rather you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your iniquities". (Isaiah 43:24 NASB)
But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them. (Isaiah 63:10 NASB)
Saul
"I regret (Gr. nācham) that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands." (1 Samuel 15:11 NASB)
When it comes to king Saul we can be sure that God was not caught off guard by how he turned out because God had already announced centuries earlier that the coming king would be of the line of Judah.
In Genesis 49, Jacob calls his sons together in order to tell them what would befall each of them in the coming days. When he got to Judah (not the most exemplary of characters) Jacob said
"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples." (Genesis 49:10 NASB)
Each point refers to the Messiah who was called "the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" in Revelation 5:5. In other words, the permanent rulership (depicted by a scepter) belonged to someone from the line of Judah. Since Saul belonged to the house of Benjamin the last and final king could not be one of his descendants. It was David who had to be king. In his words...
"Yet, the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father's house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. (1 Chronicles 28:4 NASB)
The fact that Jacob unerringly prophesied that the scepter would never depart from Judah throws a very large spanner into the works of Open Theism. God knew all along that Saul would not make the grade which did not however, stop Him from expressing sorrow over Saul's disobedience.
Also See Can God Change His Mind?
Part II. The General Impossibility Of Open Theism
The idea that God does not know everything that will occur in the future flatly contradicts what the Bible says about the foreknowledge of God. The first few verses of Psalm 139 are a very clear account of God's omniscience.
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. (Psalms 139:1-4 NASB) Emphasis Added
However, Open Theism also contradicts common sense simply because...
God Cannot Possibly Foreordain an Event Without Knowing What Humans Are Going to Do
In Isaiah 46:9-10 God, distinguishing Himself from false and dead idols, tells us that unlike them He knows the end from the beginning and will not fail to carry out all His plan.
Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, 'My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; (Isaiah 46:9-10 NASB)
How can God declare the end from the beginning without knowing what men will do in the future? To a greater or lesser degree all intended action depends on other factors. For example I intend to drive to work this morning. However I do not know that someone is going to run a red light at an intersection causing me to wind up in hospital instead.
However, it is not the same thing when it comes to God. He has to absolutely know that some lunatic is not going to set off a nuclear device and bring this world to an end this week thus rendering most of the book of Revelation irrelevant.
Lets look at some specific examples.
The pages of Scripture are replete with examples of God telling people what His future purpose and intentions are and what He plans to bring about. The most outstanding being the birth, life, and death of Jesus (Acts 2:23 tells us that Jesus was "delivered over (to His executioners) by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God..." )
See Only Jesus Was Foretold Centuries in Advance
The prophets gave us specific details about Jesus' birth, the miracles He worked, His betrayal, death, and resurrection
Other examples of God's fore ordination include the destruction of Judah by Babylon..
behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,' declares the Lord, 'and I will send Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land and against its inhabitants and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them and make them a horror and a hissing, and an everlasting desolation.' (Jeremiah 25:9 NASB)
The invasion and defeat of Babylon by the Medes and the Persians
Behold, I am going to stir up the Medes against them, who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold. And their bows will mow down the young men, They will not even have compassion on the fruit of the womb, nor will their eye pity children. and Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans' pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:17-19 NASB)
Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The Lord has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it; For it is the vengeance of the Lord, vengeance for His temple. (Jeremiah 51:11 NASB)
There is no question that God Himself was responsible for all these events - He caused them to happen. However, in most cases foreknowledge and fore ordination go hand in hand. This because virtually all intended action depends, to a greater or lesser degree, on other factors. God's intended actions were no different. He could neither have predicted or planned anything unless He knew ahead of time what people were going to do.
For example,
Old Testament
Nebuchadnezzar's Invasion of Jerusalem
Jeremiah 25:3 says that "From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened". Therefore God was going to bring Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon against them.
This was said in Nebuchadnezzar's first year.
However, Jeremiah 52:12 says that Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem in his nineteenth year
In other words, the people had some 18 years to heed Jeremiah's words about Nebuchadnezzar. Had they repented and changed their ways, we can be very sure that the Lord would have stayed Nebuchadnezzar's hand, which would have made the prophecy in Jeremiah 25:1-9 false.
The Amorites
It is exactly the same case in Genesis 15. God knew the Amorites would not change their ways and their iniquity would be full to the brim by the time four generations had past, which is why He could say to Abraham
"Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. "But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. "As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. "Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete." (Genesis 15:13-16 NASB)
If, as open theism posits, God cannot definitively know what people will do in the future, then Him telling Abraham to "know for certain" that certain events would transpire was nothing but an enormous gamble. In fact, He was giving Abraham false hope.
In both cases (an many others) God said what He was going to do based on the fact that He knew exactly what the people would do
Daniel's Prophecies
The prophet Daniel, a young Jewish exile in Babylon, accurately predicted the rise of successive world empires from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian king about 600 B.C. to the Roman Empire which began to come into power around 241 B.C. See Daniel's Amazing Prophecies
It is all very well to say that Daniel's prophecies involved the rise and fall of several kingdoms. However, consider the number of people who were involved in the decisions that led to the events taking place as described.
Take Greece for example. Was it Divine prompting that made Alexander the Great want to conquer the world and, in the process, defeat King Darius III and overthrow the Persian empire. Or was it his own personal ambition?
If we go way back to the founding of Rome, one has to ask whether God prompted Lucius Junius Brutus to revolt against the very oppressive Etruscan monarchs in 509 BC, without which event it is a distinct possibility that there would never have been a Roman republic. In any case, think of the enormous number of decisions made by humans that eventually shaped the Roman Empire into a world power capable of defeating the Greeks
In other words, in order to bring about everything the prophets said, whether it was about the nation of Israel or of the rise and fall of several other very powerful kingdoms God would have had to, either directly or indirectly, influence every relevant decision made by humans - which would have amounted to literally millions of individual thoughts, choices, decisions and actions.
If God pre-planned all these events then either human free will does not exist or is often overridden to fit in with His plan.
The simplest of all explanations is that God knew well in advance what every individual and nation concerned was going to do.
New Testament
Judas
Judas' betrayal of Christ was prophesied in the Old Testament. Psalms 41:9 reads
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. (Psalms 41:9 NASB)
Jesus expressly applied these words to Judas, as did Peter in Acts
"I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'he who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' (John 13:18 NASB)
"Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. (Acts 1:16 NASB)
The passage to which Peter refers is commonly believed to be that recorded in Psalm 41:9, Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me. (Psalms 41:9 NASB). If God cannot know what future choices anyone other than He Himself will make, then one had to wonder how David prophesied the betrayal.
Again, if it was in God's plan for Judas to betray the Christ then Judas had no choice in the matter and had to comply - he was nothing but a scapegoat. God doesn't do that to anyone. Quite simply the Father knew from the beginning of time that Judas would turn traitor.
Peter
One example of God's foreknowledge is when Jesus told Peter what he would do within the next few hours, -a prophecy that is recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 26:34, Mark 14:30-72, Luke 22:34, and John 13:38). In Matthew's account, just three verses before the prophecy was made Jesus, partially quoting Zechariah 13:7, told the disciples
You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.' (Matthew 26:31 NASB)
In other words, He Himself would be struck down and all the disciples would desert Him. Upon which, true to form, Peter piped up and said he would never fall away even if all the others did. Jesus then told Peter that on very night he would deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed.
Which is exactly what happened.
Peter followed Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, and was recognized by a servant-girl as being one of Jesus' companions. Peter, who in all likelihood feared for his life, denied that He knew Jesus. Apparently hoping to make his escape, says Peter went out to the gate where he was recognized by another servant-girl and again denied knowing Jesus (Matthew 26: 71). As verse 73 says, a little later some bystanders came up and accused Peter of being "one of them" for even his accent revealed that he was a Galilean. Peter responded to this third accusation by cursing and swearing that he did not know Jesus. It seems that he had barely got the words out of his mouth when the cock crowed and Peter remembered Jesus' words, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." and he went out and wept bitterly (V. 75).
It is sometimes said that the Lord knew Peter well enough to predict what he would do. While this may be true to some extent, it does not tell us how Jesus knew for certain that
1) Peter alone would follow Him into the courtyard where he ran the risk of being recognized. The other disciples were nowhere to be found.
2) This would happen within the next few hours. The prediction not only specifically says what Peter would do, but that it would happen that very night.
3) That the rooster would crow not only at precisely the right time, but would do so twice. (Note it is only Mark who mentions that the rooster would crow twice. See Footnote I)
Finally, without divine foreknowledge Jesus could not possibly have known Peter would not draw from some deep inner courage and find the strength to say "Yes I was with the Christ". People have been known to do some very unexpected and very brave things.
It has been suggested that because God can and does influence the course of history, He caused the entire chain of events - Peter following Jesus into the courtyard, the servant girl's accusations, Peter's denial, and the rooster to crow at the appropriate time.
Of course this is a possibility, but is it likely? What earthly purpose did it serve to orchestrate this entire episode that had no bearing on the major event, i.e. the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. It could not have been done to point out something to Peter himself because if God foreordained the entire sequence of events, it made hash of Peter's free will and could not possibly have taught him something about his own character which had been influenced by an outside force.
It seems not only simpler, but far more plausible that when Peter vehemently denied that he would every deny Christ, Jesus seeing into the future (I use this term loosely), simply spelled out what Peter would do when confronted. In fact, in an extremely significant verse in the book of John Jesus told the disciples that from then on they would know He was God by His ability to foretell the future.
"From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. (John 13:19 NASB) (See The Deity of Jesus Christ)
Which brings up the whole question of free will
Theological Fatalism
During the course of our lives we make innumerable decisions. Although they don't come along every day, some of these decisions are crucially important ones that have very large and long-lasting impact on our lives. Most common among these are what career to pursue, who to marry, etc.
However there is one decision that cannot possibly be understated and that is the decision to follow Christ - to be reborn. What you choose to do in that arena will determine your fate not only for your seventy odd years on this planet but for all eternity.
However, a large portion of the church subscribes to the doctrine of
Predestination
is the belief that God's infallible knowledge of a future human action makes that action necessary. In other words, we cannot choose to do something other than what is 'known' by God. Thus we are not truly free but are predestined to fulfill the future that God already knows.
In the case of Peter's denial - once Jesus had made His prediction about Peter His words became part of the unalterable past. Regardless of what Peter may or may not have been inclined to do God's foreknowledge did away with any pretense to Peter's free will.
In other words - free will is non-existent.
It is impossible to understand how many Calvinists believe that unregenerate people possess free will and strongly defend the doctrine. Yet they also believe that God has already predetermined the 'free' man's fate. Man can and does decide everything else for himself but this one momentous, vital decision has already been made for him and, like a fish caught in a net, there is nothing he can do about it. Wiggle as he may, he is trapped for all eternity.
Predestination has been amply covered in another section of the site. See A Question of Salvation
However, the Scripture are crystal clear on the subject of free will. An uncountable number of verses make it very clear that mankind has been given the responsibility of freely choosing his own path and is, in fact, instructed to do so. If God instructs us to choose for ourselves but our choices are restricted to His knowledge, the following verses are pure hypocrisy.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose (Heb. bāchar) life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, (Deuteronomy 30:19 NASB)
If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose (Heb. bāchar) for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15 NASB)
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose (Heb. bāchar) any of his ways. (Proverbs 3:31 NASB)
Let us choose (Heb. bāchar) for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good. (Job 34:4 NASB)
Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. "If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land; "But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword." Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:18-20 NASB)
Most of the above examples use the Hebrew bāchar also used in other situation which leave no doubt as to the meaning of the word.
that the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. (Genesis 6:2 NASB)
So Lot chose for himself all the vicinity of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. So they separated from each other. (Genesis 13:11 NASB)
On that day, declares the LORD of armies, I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant, declares the LORD, and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of armies. (Haggai 2:23 NASB)
The New Testament
and if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 11:14-15 NASB)
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. (1 Corinthians 9:24 NASB)
Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond slaves of God. (1 Peter 2:16 NASB)
Because man's free will is an integral part of this article, I would like to address one 'proof text' often presented by Calvinists as an example of how, if not properly considered, individual Bible verses can be made to 'prove' doctrines that the Bible knows nothing about.
Ephesians 1:11-13
is often referred to as 'proof' that everyone's eternal destiny is predestined by God. The problem is that were we to pay attention to the details these verses show exactly the opposite.
In Ephesians 1:11-13 Paul says that, in Christ..
(11) ... we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, (12) to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. (13) In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:11-13 NASB)
There is a distinct difference made between the 'we' of verse 11 and the 'you also' of verse 13. (In fact, in this chapter Paul uses the words 'we' and 'us' continuously until verse 13 when he switches to the second person 'you'.
Most commentators assume that when Paul said 'we', he meant Christian converts in general. However, the fact that he said we are the ones "who first trusted in Christ' means he was speaking of the disciples and apostles. This is exemplified by the fact that he then "you also" heard, believed, and was sealed.
So the "we" that were "predestined according to His purpose" simply shows that the disciples and apostles not the general population were foreordained by God to play a pivotal role in the spreading of the Gospel.
Is God The Ultimate Gambler?
Here is what I find truly bizarre. If, as open theists believe, God cannot know the future and what decisions and choices men will make, we are forced to the conclusion that He takes risks. As an illustration, when Jesus chose the disciples to spread the message of the kingdom, He had absolutely NO idea whether any of these men would actually fulfill the responsibility of the task entrusted to them or whether you would find them down at 'Ye Old Jerusalem Pub" during happy hour.
In which case, His death on the cross would have been a complete waste of time.
Are we are seriously to believe that this was a risk God was willing to take?
In view of the fact that the Bible so emphatically emphasizes man's free will, it is impossible to believe that even for such a crucial purpose God overrode the disciples right to make their own choices.
This leaves us with only one feasible option - God knew from the beginning of time how these particular men (and women) would respond to the Gospel and how they would handle the responsibility of the task given them. After all, they would not only have to faithfully proclaim the kingdom message but, in doing so, would have to endure numerous trials and tribulations to the point of martyrdom.
In other words, God knows every detail about a persons character so thoroughly that He can appoint people to certain positions knowing exactly how they will handle the assignment. Not only did God set Paul apart before he was born (Galatians 1:15) but as He told Jeremiah,
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5 NASB)
Conclusion
If open theism is true, we are being asked to believe that while God may have made some general plans, He has no idea how exactly the future will unfold because He does not know what course of action humans will take at any point in time. He is not the all-knowing God depicted in the Bible. The question then is how we can put our full trust and confidence in a God who constantly has to adjust His plans according to what humans do.
This also means that we can have no real idea (hence cannot prepare for) the End Of Days, the Second Coming of Christ, and the promised Kingdom of God. After all, humans as free agents might make decisions that move history in a direction that God did not foresee. Certainly we would not be able to rely on there being a precise time frame for these events.
The antichrist?
Lets not worry about him. After all, he too is a free agent who might just decide that Christianity is the way to go, convert and start church planting. Which would mean that because it is the persecution of Christians by the antichrist that triggers the beginning of God's Seven Trumpet judgment, none of it may happen at all. No tribulation, no resurrection of believers, no Second Advent - Nothing but this same old world that is very rapidly getting a lot worse.
What then are to base our hope on?
See The Antichrist
The End of The Age
In order to understand exactly what is in store for this planet and its inhabitants, we need to turn to Revelation, the last book of the Bible in which the horrendous conditions in the last days are described by the metaphorical images of Seals, Trumpets and Bowls. Some say they run concurrently, while others are of the opinion that they are different and succeeding series of judgments. While neither point of view is correct, there is little doubt that conditions get progressively worse and more devastating as the end times progress.
The Final Question
is how God's foreknowledge and mankind's free work together.
Quite honestly, we have absolutely no idea.
In the final analysis, regardless of how intelligent the scholarship and how many seven syllable words are used in the philosophical discussion, it brings the finite mind of man no closer to understanding this particular attribute of God. God's foreknowledge is as incomprehensible as God Himself.
Actually our only experience of life is in a three dimensional world which makes quite a few of God's characteristics impossible to really grasp. For example, how can we possibly understand omnipresence. How can God possibly be everywhere at one time. How does He hear every one of the countless prayers sent up to Him everyday?
The truth is we understand none of these things. Perhaps at some point we shall see and comprehend more than we do now, but until that day comes what we do know is that, as the Bible tells us, our decisions and individual choices are ours to make.
See Choose Life That You May Live
And however it works, the fact that God knows in advance what path we will choose does not in any way rob us of personal freedom.
Footnote I
The fact that only Mark mentions that the rooster would crow twice is hardly surprising, because Mark often added little details that no one else mentioned. Mark himself wasn't a disciple but was either physically present on some occasions or was recounting what was told him by someone who was. And that someone had a very good memory and a knack for detail. (Details)
End Notes
[01] Gregory Boyd. God of the Possible. Baker Books; unknown edition (May 1, 2000). Page 11
[02] Clark H. Pinnock, Richard Rice, John Sanders, William Hasker, and David Basinger. The Openness of God. Publisher: IVP Academic (October 22, 1994). Pg 51
[03] ibid. Pg 52
[04] The Openness of God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God. Clark H. Pinnock (Author), Richard Rice (Author), John Sanders (Author), & 2 more. Publisher : IVP Academic; 0 edition (September 22, 1994) Pg. 54
[05] Clark Pinnock. Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God's Openness. Publisher: Wipf and Stock (October 1, 2019) Page 51.
[06] Clark Pinnock. Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God's Openness. Publisher: Wipf and Stock (October 1, 2019) Page 51 [08] ibid.
[07] ibid.
[08] ibid
[09] What Unfulfilled Prophesies Say About the Open View
https://reknew.org/2015/02/what-unfulfilled-prophesies-say-about-the-open-view/
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