Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 4: Eternality and Temporality Paradoxes
1. Introduction
One of the profound mysteries of Christian theology is how an eternal, unchanging God—who exists outside of time—can and does act meaningfully within time. Scripture affirms that God is not bound by time (Psalm 90:2; 2 Peter 3:8), yet He intervenes in human history: He speaks, judges, blesses, and ultimately becomes incarnate in Christ. This paradox raises deep questions about how eternity intersects with temporality, and how God’s transcendence coexists with His immanence.
2. Scriptural Foundations
2.1 God Exists Outside of Time
- Psalm 90:2 – “From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
- Isaiah 57:15 – “The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity.”
- 2 Peter 3:8 – “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
2.2 God Acts Within Time
- Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
- Exodus 3:7–8 – “I have surely seen the affliction of my people… and I am come down to deliver them.”
- John 1:14 – “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
3. Theological Meaning
- God is atemporal in His essence, not subject to succession or change,
- Yet He interacts with creatures who exist within time,
- His eternal plan unfolds through historical events (e.g., the Exodus, the Incarnation, Pentecost).
4. Paradox Explained
| God is Outside Time | God Acts Within Time |
|---|---|
| He is eternal and changeless (Malachi 3:6) | He speaks, moves, and relates in temporal events |
| No beginning or end | Creates, sustains, and consummates creation |
| Exists in perfect timelessness | Intervenes in moments of crisis and covenant |
5. Philosophical and Theological Background
5.1 Divine Timelessness
- Classical theism (Augustine, Boethius, Aquinas): God exists in a timeless “eternal now”,
- Time is a created dimension; God transcends all spatiotemporal limitations.
5.2 Divine Temporality (Alternative View)
- Some modern theologians (e.g. Richard Swinburne) propose that God is everlasting but experiences sequence,
- Others argue that God enters time voluntarily through relational action (especially in Christ).
6. Historical Theology
6.1 Augustine and Boethius
- God’s eternity is an unchanging present—He sees all time at once.
- His knowledge is not foreknowledge but eternal knowledge.
6.2 Thomas Aquinas
- God’s eternal nature is distinct from created time; His will causes time-bound events but is itself timeless.
6.3 Reformation and Beyond
- Reformers upheld God’s transcendence, but emphasised His covenantal acts in redemptive history.
- Jonathan Edwards: God ordains time yet remains outside of it.
6.4 Modern Theology
- Karl Barth: God’s Word breaks into human time as act and revelation.
- Oscar Cullmann: Stressed linear, historical time, with Christ as the midpoint.
7. Doctrinal Implications
- Providence: God governs history without being limited by it,
- Revelation: God’s Word is eternal, but spoken within time,
- Incarnation: The eternal Son entered time without ceasing to be divine.
8. Devotional Applications
- Offers comfort: God is never surprised, yet fully present in our moments,
- Encourages trust: God’s purposes are eternally secure, even when time-bound events seem chaotic,
- Inspires awe: God holds time in His hands, yet walked among us.
9. Summary Table
| Attribute | Outside Time (Transcendence) | Within Time (Immanence) |
|---|---|---|
| Being | Eternal, unchanging | Relational, responsive |
| Knowledge | All-encompassing | Specific and historical |
| Presence | Omnipresent | Incarnate and personal |
| Power | Sovereign over time | Active in time |
10. Conclusion
The paradox of God’s timelessness and His action within time reveals the depth of divine majesty and mercy. God is not caught in the unfolding of events, yet He is intimately involved. He wrote the end from the beginning, yet walked in human history to redeem it. This truth secures our faith: the One who stands above time enters our lives with purpose, presence, and power.
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
- Augustine. Confessions; City of God
- Boethius. The Consolation of Philosophy
- Aquinas, T. Summa Theologiae
- Barth, K. Church Dogmatics I/1
- Cullmann, O. Christ and Time
- Swinburne, R. The Coherence of Theism