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God’s existence cannot be measured by time. The past, present, and future of God’s existence are possessed by Him in one indivisible equal vividness. He has no before or afterward, no earlier or later. In fact, God transcends all temporal limitations and is without beginning or end. As such God is the author or cause of time. God exists endlessly, His existence extends backward and forward (from our viewpoint) without any interruption or limitation caused by succession of events.
Time must be understood as duration. God’s relationship to time is such that He is above time. Still, it does not seem quite correct to say that [God] lives in an eternal now, as we do occasionally read, for the past and future are present in God’s mind as truly as the present. There is logical succession in God’s thoughts but no chronological succession; since, however, creation does now exist in succession of events, God sees them and knows them. Time is therefore as real for God as it is for us. The immutability of God does not mean that He is in the least immobile, nor does it suggest that, being eternal, God dwells in some sort of everlastingly static present tense. In sum, God’s being in its perfect and dynamic fullness does not take away from Him the reality of time. His relationships to His creation are anything but unreal or surreal to Him.
Abraham calls God the Everlasting God [el ‘olam] (Gen 21:33). In his swan song to Israel on the plains of Moab, Moses says, “The eternal ([/i]qedem[/I]) God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting (‘olam) arms” (Deut 33:27). And, in contrast to the earth and its mountains, which were always considered very ancient and almost eternal, Moses speaks of God’s existence as “from everlasting to everlasting [‘olam] ” (Ps 90:2). The psalmist sy man is destined to wither as grass, but God endures forever [‘olam] (Ps 102:11–12). Job, wrestling with the incomprehensibility of God, notes that “the number of His years is unsearchable” (Job 36:26). God has “eternal purpose” (aionon) and His “eternal power” (aidios) is revealed in the natural order (Rom 1:20). Further, God is named the “King eternal” (ton aionon) in Paul’s brief, but early confession of faith (1 Tim 1:17). And, John’s Revelation describes God as the one “who was and who is and who is to come” (Rev 1:8; cf. 4:8).
Yes, God’s relationship to time is very difficult to understand. Time is understood as a unit of measurement marked by a succession of events. It involves a relationship between changing things. In this sense, time began when God created the universe and the changing relationships within it. God then causes time through His creation, but He is not subject to time or anything finite. God is eternal and in His transcendence inhabits an atemporal eternity. Therefore, time on the human level receives its meaning from the creative hand of God, but time is not a mode of God’s being.
God transcends time in that He is changeless. He possesses His being in one indivisible present. He eternally is who He is; He is His own eternity. His knowledge of all things is not only complete but simultaneous (a simultaneous act of eternal intuitive cognition), and He is everywhere simultaneously in His whole presence. He will not add to nor diminish in any respect of His person or being. In this sense, God’s existence cannot be measured by time. As for man, he can rise above time in a feeble, finite sense, through memory, purpose, prediction, and communication. Man can, as well, know several things simultaneously; however, only God infinitely transcends time.
AMR
Time must be understood as duration. God’s relationship to time is such that He is above time. Still, it does not seem quite correct to say that [God] lives in an eternal now, as we do occasionally read, for the past and future are present in God’s mind as truly as the present. There is logical succession in God’s thoughts but no chronological succession; since, however, creation does now exist in succession of events, God sees them and knows them. Time is therefore as real for God as it is for us. The immutability of God does not mean that He is in the least immobile, nor does it suggest that, being eternal, God dwells in some sort of everlastingly static present tense. In sum, God’s being in its perfect and dynamic fullness does not take away from Him the reality of time. His relationships to His creation are anything but unreal or surreal to Him.
Abraham calls God the Everlasting God [el ‘olam] (Gen 21:33). In his swan song to Israel on the plains of Moab, Moses says, “The eternal ([/i]qedem[/I]) God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting (‘olam) arms” (Deut 33:27). And, in contrast to the earth and its mountains, which were always considered very ancient and almost eternal, Moses speaks of God’s existence as “from everlasting to everlasting [‘olam] ” (Ps 90:2). The psalmist sy man is destined to wither as grass, but God endures forever [‘olam] (Ps 102:11–12). Job, wrestling with the incomprehensibility of God, notes that “the number of His years is unsearchable” (Job 36:26). God has “eternal purpose” (aionon) and His “eternal power” (aidios) is revealed in the natural order (Rom 1:20). Further, God is named the “King eternal” (ton aionon) in Paul’s brief, but early confession of faith (1 Tim 1:17). And, John’s Revelation describes God as the one “who was and who is and who is to come” (Rev 1:8; cf. 4:8).
Yes, God’s relationship to time is very difficult to understand. Time is understood as a unit of measurement marked by a succession of events. It involves a relationship between changing things. In this sense, time began when God created the universe and the changing relationships within it. God then causes time through His creation, but He is not subject to time or anything finite. God is eternal and in His transcendence inhabits an atemporal eternity. Therefore, time on the human level receives its meaning from the creative hand of God, but time is not a mode of God’s being.
God transcends time in that He is changeless. He possesses His being in one indivisible present. He eternally is who He is; He is His own eternity. His knowledge of all things is not only complete but simultaneous (a simultaneous act of eternal intuitive cognition), and He is everywhere simultaneously in His whole presence. He will not add to nor diminish in any respect of His person or being. In this sense, God’s existence cannot be measured by time. As for man, he can rise above time in a feeble, finite sense, through memory, purpose, prediction, and communication. Man can, as well, know several things simultaneously; however, only God infinitely transcends time.
AMR