What is Open Theism?

Does God actually know the future? Is the future even something that can be known? If not, how does God know His prophesies will come true? Join us this week as we answer these questions and more as we talk about Open Theism!

[jacobw]

Great video. I am an Open Theist. On the subject of prophecy, I would add that God works to make his plans happen. He is all-powerful, therefore he can do whatever he wants. So when he declares that a certain event will occur in the future, this is not him "seeing" the future - rather, he is declaring what he will cause to happen.

[TimBarr-ep]

I have become an Open Theist and I thought your explanation of my position to be Fair, and Accurate...Plus you delivered it in a winsome way...Well Done...

[garyh]

Never mind humans, open theism says that it is God who is free. If the future is settled God is limited by what has already been decided.

[Narnian]

"Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools"...(...fools who believe God is not omniscient)
--Romans 1:21, 22

[jzbman]

Great description of Open Theism. Makes a lot more sense to me. God can easily make some things happen, like making sure a prophecy is fulfilled, by manipulating people and things, But he doesnt need to control everything. He responds to what we do, what we pray, what we create. He is blessed or angered or grieved. If all our experiences were merely acting out a prescribed story, our actions and God’s responses are meaningless and pure fakery. What even is the point of living if in a way it’s already been done! What is love for another person or God if it is according to some predetermined plan?

I think people have a hard time with the idea of God not knowing the future and not being in control of everything. Their definitions of omniscience and omnipotence need adjusting, I think.

[unknownmindyourown]

God knows the future of his prophecies because he has determined (for most of his prophecies at least) to fulfill them

[troyshrader]

I love your question mark - Light bulb. It Is cool and creative.

[wildbillslunksauce]

I’ve believed this for a long time, I didn’t know it was called something lol

[IdolKiller]

Your energy & editing style are very engaging. I really dig it.

A few clarifications... the term Open Theism is new, but the view is not. In determinism the person may appear to have multiple choices but God has always determined which one they will choose and they could not do otherwise. A huge driving issue for Open Theism is protecting the character of God from such claims He decrees and causes evil. Thus Open Theism asserts God has complete knowledge and absolute power which He exercises by His character to resolve His will, not that He wills all things.

[wayneburchell]

A really excellent summary of the Open Theist position. I did my masters thesis on the subject and it pains me when I hear the theology being disparaged. I would tend towards Greg Boyd's Neo-Molinistic views rather than Open Theism but the two have similar viewpoints in that God does not have foreknowledge.

[unknownmindyourown]

There’s a difference between seeing that God experiences time the way we do or that we are in the same time as God is although for us time is very different than it is to him

[kridler]

First time I’d heard of this term until today but this has been my thinking for years now though

[MatthewFearnley]

2:33 Too Lazy; Didn’t Research? Here are the supporting Bible passages mentioned in the video:

- Asking about the future:
Numbers 14:11 - And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?

- Things God thought would happen but didn't:
Jeremiah 3:7 - And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me, ’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

- Regretting actions he's previously taken:
Genesis 6:6 - And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
1 Samuel 15:10-11 - The word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night.

- Experiencing the passing of time (patient, slow to anger, being provoked):
Exodus 34:6 - The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
Nehemiah 9:17 - They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.
Zechariah 8:14 - For thus says the LORD of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts,

[DGolden]

Thanks for this, I saw Capturing Christianity was releasing a video in a couple of days about Open Theism and I had no idea what that meant.

[abhirai]

Iam a half Open theist. Like your channel from India brother 🙂🌄🙏

[hermanessences]

So molinism and open theism both hold that the future is not set in stone, but the difference is that molinists believe that God can see all the possible branches, and thus not be "surprised" by anything? Molinism holds that God is more intelligent, in a certain way?

[DominicEnyart]

Great video! There are some stronger arguments than the ones made here. But this was a great summary nonetheless!

Are you an open theist?

[thenerdytheist]

Short and simple to understand! I like your style man!

[zzehyboy]

A man says to you, "God determines some events, but not all. Therefore, if God yet ordains to give even one more free choice to someone, then the future is at least that much open."

Then he asks whether he is an open theist or something else. What do you say?

[BradMcFadden]

But the answers don’t have to be finite if God is infinite. I haven’t read the book you listed just looking at the Bible God regrets, and changes his mind based on human responses. Is that not true?