Open Theism in Medieval Judaism

While I disagree with open theism, it's a false accusation that open theism is a modern innovation. Open theism was taught by the medieval Jewish philosopher Gersonides, as well as other medieval Jewish thinkers, based on Genesis 22:12.

Genesis 22:12
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” He said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

The reason why open theism doesn't contradict God's perfection is because, according to open theists, the future is unknowable because, by definition, it doesn't yet exist.

Asking if God can know a future that doesn't exist yet is, according to open theism, like asking if God can create a rock so big that even He can't lift it.

According to open theism, while God can predict what humans will choose in any possible situation, He doesn't know ahead of time exactly what man's choice will be. At the same time, God is able to fulfill prophecy by, in real time, influencing events to His will.

Open theism, just like Calvinism, Molinism, Arminianism, provisionism, etc. is a legitimate interpretation of scripture, since it has nothing to do with the essentials of salvation.

"In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity."

I disagree with open theism because I don't think it's strong enough on the fulfillment of prophecy, but I could be wrong, and it has nothing to do with the essentials of salvation anyway.

Ecclesiastes 7:18
It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

1 Corinthians 8:2-3
Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

 

I've been a fan of Gregory Boyd ever since he first published Myth of a Christian Nation. I'm still not quire sure if open theism gives a satisfying explanation for prophecy.

Boyd is not a heretic. He's one of the best scholars on the historical Jesus.

 

Open Theism Bible Verses in 33 Categories
https://opentheism.org/verses

 

It appears that Bruce Ware is both an open theist and a Baptist:
Bruce A. Ware - Wikipedia

 

This video explains open theism with scripture alone:

 

It's kind of strange when Christians who claim to believe in sola scriptura label open theists as heretics, simply for taking the many Biblical passages showing God changing His mind based on human decisions at their word, rather than reading into them an outside philosophy.

Open Theism Bible Verses in 33 Categories | Open Theism

If the future doesn't exist yet then, by definition, it's unknowable by God. It's like asking if God can create a rock so big that even He can't life it.

It's okay to disagree with open theism, but the idea that it's a recent invention is absurd, considered how widely it was already taught in medieval Judaism, based on a reading of actual passages in the Bible.

If one accepts that prophecies are promises of God influencing future events, rather than sovereignly decreeing them at the beginning of time, and that election is a corporate election of the church, rather than individual souls to salvation, as election was understood for Israel in the Old Testament, than there's nothing wrong with open theism.

The Corporate View of Election

Open theists, like Molinists, Calvinists, Arminians, etc., are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ecclesiastes 7:18
It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

1 Corinthians 8:2-3
Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

 

The medieval Jewish theologians developed their own view of open theism before Calvinism even existed, based on their reading of scripture.

Throughout the Bible, God changes His mind in response to human decisions. This is the basis of open theism, as taught in medieval Judaism.

If the future doesn't exist yet, then it is, by definition, unknowable. Asking if God infallibility foresees a non-existent future would be like asking if God can create a rock so big that even He can't lift it. It says nothing about the perfection of God.

Open theism, just like Calvinism, Molinism, Arminianism, provisionism, etc. is a legitimate interpretation of scripture, since it has nothing to do with the essentials of salvation.

"In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity."

 

Matthew 24:20 is another passage of scripture which proves that the future is not predetermined. There's no reason to "pray that your flight will not be in winter" if the future has already been decided.

Matthew 24:20
Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.

https://opentheism.org/verses

 

I have no association with Leighton Flowers, and he is not an open theist.