Izzy wrote to John: > I cannot honestly make heads or tails of > the meaning of what you wrote above.
I can't give you the full answer to your questions, but I can discern a concise statement from what John wrote. If I'm wrong John, please correct me in the spirit of meekness. John seems to be saying that God exists outside of time. Therefore, if God is a father, he has always been and will always be a father because there is no time for him. Likewise, the son always was a son and always will be a son, because time does not exist for him either. So the difference in primary assumptions between John and Terry seems to be that Terry assumes God exists within time (or at least is known to us within our context of time) and John assumes that God exists outside of time (without any possible reference to time). Another difference in definition of terms might possibly exist. John seems to be understanding eternal as focusing upon the idea of something "unaffected by the passage of time" whereas others might be understanding the word eternal to mean, "existing throughout all time, without beginning or end." Further elaboration in case you did not understand the sentence just written: ---------------------------------- John seems to define the word "eternal" to mean existing outside of time. Others might understand the word "eternal" to mean existing within time, but having extended toward infinity in time past as well as will be extending toward infinity in time future. John's perspective sees God as existing along the entire time continuum AT THE SAME TIME, but others might view God as existing along the entire length of the time continuum, but not at the same time (in other words, they would perceive God to experience time the same way that we do, with the exception that he never had a beginning and he will never have an end). Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
