Abraham would have killed Isaac if God did not tell him to stop. Yet, that does not mean that God did not know what was in the heart of Abraham before this event occurred or how this event would unfold.
The purpose was to test Abraham's faith, not prove something to God that God did not already know (Heb 11.17-19). It is silly and wrong to suppose that this happened to supply some information that God lacked.
Also, consider this: I think everyone here acknowledges along with Jeremiah that God knows the heart, and has unhindered ability to see what is in the heart of man. Hebrews 11.17-19 records what was going on in Abraham's heart and mind during this time of testing. Thus, I think everyone would agree that God knew what Hebrews 11.17-19 tells us while the testing of Abraham was unfolding.
So what did God 'learn' (i.e., what information did God gain that he lacked before Abraham raised his knife)? Obviously he knew before that point in time that Abraham would offer Isaac. But this theory of Boyd's suggests that it was not until the very moment that Abraham raised his knife that God learned that Abraham would be obedient, despite the information in Hebrews 11.
If we can admit that God knew this before that very moment (even if he knew a few hours or minutes before Abraham raised the knife) then the idea that "Now I know..." suggests limited divine forknowledge is undermined.
As it is, the whole idea of Open Theism is without any exegetical merit.
...and the purpose of "testing" or a physical demonstration of faith if it was already predetermined and unalterable?
What is the definition of test and reconcile that with omniscience and determinism...
Well, that's just totally untrue. You have been given Scripture over and over again. You are either too blind to see it or purposefully ignore the passages the defeat your view.
Yes, why not stick with Scripture that clearly over and over again say that God knows the future. You position is the one that is not based on Scripture. No where does it say that there is something that God doesn't know, but yet you say that this is true. You say that God knows what he has chosen to know, yet not one passage says that. You can only come to that conclusion though "philosophy, not scripture."
However, calling ones very biblical view "pagan" is totally uncalled for. I ask that you please edit your post.
Why would I need to reconcile friends? Honestly, there is no tension here. God can know everything and still put Abraham through a test. Jesus could test Philip in John 6.6 even though he knew the outcome (and knew what was in the heart of man - John 2.25). These tests are not to supply God with knowledge that he lacks.
I hope you are advocating that the determinist model means that God makes people act the way they do like puppets. You should know better than that by now.
Lots of evading, imo.
Again, it was a test...but not really a test.
Abraham would have killed his son....but he wouldnt have as God knew his heart.
He told him to stop else he would have killed his son...but he wouldnt have really killed his son...it was done in order to be recorded for our purpose.
My head is spinning...
You are assuming that testing is purely to supply a lack in God's knowledge. If that were the case there would be tension between omniscience and testing. However, that assumption is incorrect.
Folks, as you can see, the Closed Theists on this board have no scripture to support their view.
They go back to the claim that "all knowing" means everything imaginable, yet do not address that Peter said Jesus was all knowing yet did not know the time of His return.
The claim is without foundation and so out comes the personal attack M.O, you are a blasphemer, and you should apologise for this or that.
That is all they have folks, the same tired tricks of deception used over and over and no one holds them accountable.
Did you see all the vague general claims that this or that had been refuted?
The refutation amounts to God did not mean what He said.
That is it.
A straightup denial of God's word.
When God says He remembers no more, the Closed Theists say He lied.
When God says Now I know, the Closed Theists say He lied.
Only folks who are seeking truth will listen to God.
The rest will say God does not mean what He says if it contradicts their man-made doctrines.
They offer pagan metaphysics, as proof of something not said in scripture and say something is so because scripture does not say it is not so.
Pink elephants, folks, lots of pink elephants posing as scripture.
One of the hallmarks of the Reformed view is sole scripture, scripture alone, and yet they have abandoned scripture and embraced pagan metaphysics dressed up as biblically based reasoning.
A sad day.