The Doctrine of God: A Defense of Classical Christian Theism
Feb 5, 2024
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A discussion of classical Christian theism, defending the scholastic method, exploring key theologians like Girohard and Thomas, supporting Justin Center and the Lutheran Church, delving into divine simplicity, examining dualism in Christian theology, and exploring impassibility and divine communication.
Divine simplicity stresses God's indivisible essence and inseparable attributes, emphasizing His unique self-consistency and foundational nature.
Immutability asserts God's unchanging nature grounded in His essence, ensuring the reliability and constancy of His character and promises.
Atemporality highlights God's timeless existence beyond temporal constraints, transcending the limitations and sequence of time, marking a distinction between temporality and His eternal nature.
Deep dives
Simplicity: The Essence of God Being Indivisible
The concept of divine simplicity highlights that God's essence is indivisible, not composed of parts, and that God's attributes are not separate from Him but are intrinsic to His being. God is identified with His attributes, like love, in a unique way that distinguishes Him from creatures, emphasizing His self-consistency and foundational nature.
Immutability: The Unchanging Nature of God's Promises and Being
Immutability refers to God's unchanging nature, not only seen in His faithfulness in keeping promises but grounded in His essence that does not undergo change. This doctrine asserts that God's promises are unchanging because His very being is unchanging, ensuring the reliability and constancy of His character.
Atemporality: God's Timelessness and Eternal Existence
Atemporality asserts that God exists outside of time, embracing the concept that God is timeless and not bound by temporal constraints. This doctrine, highlighted by theologians like Robert Jensen, emphasizes that God's eternality transcends mere everlasting existence, positioning Him beyond the limitations and sequence of time, marking a distinction between temporality and God's eternal nature.
God's Relationship to Time
God's relationship to time is discussed through the metaphor of watching a parade from different vantage points, highlighting that God sees all things at once and is outside the process of time. Scripture references underscore this idea, contrasting human time with God's eternal nature.
Revisiting the Hellenization Thesis
The discussion delves into the Hellenization thesis, highlighting the perceived opposition between Hebraic and Hellenistic thought in Christian theology. Critics suggest a move away from Jewish thought towards Greek thought, emphasizing concerns about dualism and the integration of Greek philosophy into Christian theology.