God of the Possible: A Biblical Introduction to the Open View of God [Paperback]

The book presents two motifs found in scripture. The first are places where the future is presented as determined and settled by God, and the second is where the future appears to be at least partially open and known by God as such. Dr. Boyd attempts to document the scriptural support for and against Open Theism, and provides his response to each case. The book is written in layman's terms, and generally tries to keep the discussion on scripture, as opposed to branching off into various philosophic or scientific discussions on the future.

Calvinists will not like Boyd's conclusions, as the many reviews to this book illustrate. People who lean toward the Arminian position, or are a part of the broader expression of the Christian Church, will find much to agree with.

The book is well written, easy to read, and makes its case from scripture. It may also challenge the reader to take a fresh look at their own position on these issues.

In any case, a healthy scripturally based dialog on difficult theological issues has always been beneficial to the Church in the long run. In this book, Dr. Boyd seeks to scripturally engage the issues of free will and foreknowledge in positive and respectful way.

The issue is important because, as Dr. Boyd points out, scripture reveals that God seems to allow for possibilities resulting from the free choices of individuals. It would seem that if we merely write all these cases off as anthropomorphisms, we risk missing the point God is trying to make.

Boyd makes a convincing argument for what is called "Open View Theism." While the name certainly sounds heretical, the concept is not. Boyd believes that part of the future is settled and part of the future is open (depending on the free decisions of humans); God designed it this way. He maintains that God knows every possible decision that a man can make. Because of God's infinite power and intelligence, God will accomplish his ultimate purpose. Boyd begins by making his case through analysis of several Biblical accounts in which God changes his mind in response to what man does or God makes conditional ("if you do this, I will do that") statements through his prophets. God appears to genuinely command people to do certain things (such as repent) and responds to the decisions they make. God appears to grieve over things. If he foreordained such things, his grief, commands, and conditional statements would not appear to be geniune. Boyd next goes on to make a sound philosophical defense of his view. Boyd then talks about the implications of this view including the urgency and importance of prayer. Finally, he answers objections and questions.

Read the book first, compare it with scripture (not the writings of John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, or anyone else), and make your own judgement.

Questions: If our free will limits God to nonawareness of our future choices to preserve genuine libertarian latitude, what's to preserve our freedom if God can know our present choices while we are real-time making them? Doesn't His awareness of what we are freely doing inhibit our freedom of action so we cannot now do otherwise than as He sees or foresees? If our futures must be private and secure from divine certitude, why not our presents? Isn't only the past beyond libertarian interference by divine knowledge?