Regardless of one’s particular point of view concerning the Big Bang, all Christians can agree the Bible (which was written thousands of years before the space-time theorems of general relativity were developed) is consistent with current cosmological theory which states time has not always existed but had a beginning. As stated by Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose (the physicists who developed the space-time theorem of general relativity), “almost everyone now believes that the universe, and time itself, had a beginning at the big bang.” (Emphasis added.) NOTE: Although many Christians reject the idea of a big bang beginning of the universe, others maintain that the Bible not only describes a big bang beginning to the universe but that unlike other religious writings, the Bible’s description of the beginning of the universe is uniquely consistent with what scientists have learned about the beginning of the universe. For summaries of the different views of the creation account in the Bible, go here.] Many people assume that time has always existed however, neither modern day science nor the Bible permits such an assumption.Īccording to current cosmological theory, the universe (including all space, time, matter and energy) came into existence a finite time ago. Because it has a beginning and can move in only one direction, time is really just a half a dimension.” As discussed below, even though we are constrained by one (or more precisely, a half dimension of time), an eternal (timeless or time-full) being, such as the God described in the Bible, is not so limited. Time in that dimension proceeds only and always forward. We Live in a Half (½) Dimension of Time that Only Proceeds ForwardĪs explained by Christian astronomer and apologist, Hugh Ross, “he universe and everything in it is confined to a single, finite dimension of time. How is Living in Time Different than Being Eternal? What Does the Existence of an Eternal God Mean to Each One of Us Personally?( skip to>) The Bible Correctly Describes a Universe with a Beginning, Including a Beginning of Time Itself ( skip to>) What does it mean for God to be eternal? ( skip to>) Without time, change could not occur ( skip to>).Without time, everything would be experienced at once ( skip to>).Time hasn’t always existed ( skip to>).We live in a half dimension of time that only proceeds forward ( skip to >).Limitations of Living in Time - How is living “in time” different than being eternal? ( skip to >) Nevertheless, considering some general concepts about time can help us conceptualize what it means for God to be eternal and why his eternalness is important for each one of us. Granted, this is no easy task because as noted by Christian philosopher, William Lane Craig, apart from the idea of God itself, there is no concept “so profound and so baffling as that of time.” However, one way to think about what it may mean for God to be eternal is to think about what time is and how time affects our everyday lives. Because human beings came into existence at a certain point in time, we are not eternal beings but are finite.īecause we have always lived in time, it is impossible for us to completely comprehend what it means for God to be eternal. God never came into existence and he will never go out of existence. The Bible describes God as an eternal being.

Light from the rising sun reflecting off ice crystals

Affectus god