Timeless and In Time

Dancing in the Kingdom – Table of Contents

Part 1 – Shadows of the Kingdom, Chapter 2 – The God who created

[Bible references: Psalm 102:25-27]

Closely related to the paradox of how God is both transcendent and immanent is how God is both timeless and in time. Many scholars in philosophy and science have trouble trying to resolve questions such as: How can God even have both attributes? Did God create time or is God himself confined by time? Is time static such that the past, present and future all exist simultaneously and God sees them all at once, or is time dynamic such that the future does not yet exist – and therefore God does not yet know it?^[1]  

It is not practical to try to summarize all the arguments with all their nuances here. For our purposes, we will not try to resolve the many difficult theological/philosophical issues^[2] but, as Psalm 102 does, accept the finite mortality of our life on earth and the fact that God is both with us in the midst of our distress yet also exists outside of that.

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^[1] Closer to Truth “Is God Temporal or Timeless” This is a series of interviews showing different views on the subject of God’s timelessness.

^[2] McKnight, Scott. “Is God Timeless”; Craig, William Lane. “God, Time and Eternity”; Ganssle, Gregory E. Review of “The End of the Timeless God by RT Mullins; All About God “God is Infinite Bible Verses”

Reflect

We don’t know if time existed before God created the universe. We perceive time through things changing and since God exists outside the universe, could he change?

Observe

Read Psalm 102.  Reflect on how both anguish and hope are expressed. What speaks to you from that Psalm? How does God’s unchangeability provide hope in the midst of difficult circumstances?