Biblical Concept:
Biblical Paradoxes
Prologue: The multidimensional (at least 14
dimensions) God of the Bible is both omniscient and linear. If One is omniscient, why do anything since
you already know how it will all eventuate?
Answer: God is also linear and enjoys the progression of the
moment. This understanding will assist
in paradox resolution. See the Biblical
Concept: The
linear aspect of God.
Prologue:
If a 14 Dimensional God of the Bible can do the greater (creation of:
angelic and human sentience, an immense and beautiful four dimensional
universe, an amazingly beautiful and bountiful earth, etc.) the lesser apparent
Biblical paradoxes might be a problem of human volitional / intellectual
limitations? Because God can do the
greater, do not assume a lesser Biblical Paradox is a problem with the
character of God. This perspective will
assist in paradox resolution.
Prologue: Biblical Paradoxes
can lead to a greater spiritual understanding by the Christian. The solution to some Biblical Paradoxes is
not easy. Immediate context, near
context, and far context must be understood and brought to bear on the
paradox. Biblical / Spiritual Paradoxes
can reveal an objective attitude toward God versus a subjective attitude toward
God. The objective will seek a logical
contextual theological solution. The
subjective will use paradoxes to criticize God, Christian, and Bible.
Prologue: This will certainly
not be an exhaustive listing of Biblical Paradoxes. Future additions of interesting Biblical
paradox will be added. I have picked
some interesting / difficult examples to consider / resolve. Those on Biblical Concepts A-Z can send me
other examples to consider / resolve.
Secular Paradox definitions:
Encarta Dictionary: a statement, proposition, or situation that seems to be absurd or contradictory, but in fact is or may be true.
AskOxford.com: 1 a seemingly absurd
or self-contradictory statement or proposition that may in fact be true. 2
a person or thing that combines contradictory features or qualities.” . . .
“ORIGIN originally in the sense “statement contrary to accepted opinion”: from
Greek paradoxon ‘contrary opinion’.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: 1 : a tenet contrary to
received opinion 2 a : a statement that is seemingly contradictory
or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true b : a
self-contradictory statement that at first seems true c : an
argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid
deduction from acceptable premises 3 : one that possesses
seemingly contradictory qualities or phases.
Related terms:
·Misnomer - an unsuitable name
·Dichotomy - separation of different or
contradictory things
·Irony - humor based on opposites, a type of
humor based on using words to suggest the opposite of their literal meaning
·Juxtaposition - to place two or more things
together, especially in order to suggest a link between them or emphasize the
contrast between them
·Incongruous - unsuitable, strange, or out of
place in a particular setting or context
●Contradiction
- a proposition, statement, or phrase that asserts or implies
both the truth and falsity of something
____________
♦ An omniscient but sorry
paradox.
Genesis 6:5-7 5 Then the LORD saw that the
wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts
of his heart was only evil continually. 6
And the LORD was sorry
that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 And the LORD said, "I will
blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals
to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them." (My underlines.)
Observations: Instead of a flaw in God’s omniscience / plan / thinking, the linear
reality aspect of God is on display. Even though God’s omniscience understood
the rebellious possibilities of free will, He did not allow this to rob Him of
the pleasure of sharing sentience
with free will volitional creatures. God
continued to enjoy shared sentience
with Noah and family. God even decided
He would suffer on the behalf of human volitional sinfulness in the Person and
Work of Jesus Christ. Linear interaction with free will volitional
creatures is something God really enjoys.
God had a strong desire to be a Creator.
God continues to enjoy making individual humans, in His image; from Adam
and Eve though the Millennial Age.
♦ An omniscient but not knowing paradox.
NAS Matthew
24:36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even
the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
Observations: During His
earthly incarnation, the God-Man Jesus Christ veiled His Deity and functioned with the power of the Holy Spirit. Philippians
2:5-11 5 Have
this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the
form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the
form of a bond-servant, and being
made in the likeness of men. 8
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him
the name which is above every name, 10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven,
and on earth, and under the earth, 11
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father. Acts 10:38 38
"You know of Jesus of Nazareth,
how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and
healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.
The Matthew 24:36 verse and context, is earthly. This is to say: during the God-Man Jesus Christ’s time on earth before His death,
burial, resurrection, and ascension.
Now that Jesus Christ has ascended to His rightful place, at the right
hand of the Father, waiting until his enemies be made a foot stool for His
feet; the probability is that He knows when He is going to make His Second
Advent. Probably the Father has told
Him, or His now unveiled omniscient Deity has become aware of the time. Or, if in the interplay of the Triune
Members, the Son and the Holy Spirit are awaiting the spontaneity of the Father
Planner so be it! We might be pondering
things beyond a mundane Omniscience (irony intended).
Omniscient but not knowing? Christians know very little about the
intellectual interplay of the Members of the Triune God of the Bible. Who is to say that They Each could not have
their Own Private thoughts? The
omniscient Triune God is also linear. To
assume no possibility of Individual linear spontaneous thinking, is a limited
assumption. We humans are about ten
dimensions short in our capabilities / thinking. Omniscient, as humans understand it, just
might not apply under the same definition among the Triunity? Human imagination is about as close as we can
come to the other ten dimensions. Not very close.
¨A
suffering and comfort paradox.
2 Corinthians 1:5-10 5 For just as the sufferings of
Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through
Christ. 6 But if we are
afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is
for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same
sufferings which we also suffer; 7
and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our
sufferings, so also you are sharers of
our comfort. 8 For we do not
want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened
excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of
death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in
God who raises the dead; 10
who delivered us from so great a peril of
death, and will deliver us, He on
whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,
Observations: 2 Corinthians 1:5 = Continual abundant
suffering and comfort in Christ. Both are true in Christ because of the mission
of Christ. Christ came to save sinful
humanity and also defeat 1/3 angels.
Comfort and suffering for those in Christ is part of the mission
statement for Believers. Comfort and
suffering is more of a juxtaposition in this context.
¨A
time paradox: “at hand” versus 1,980 years and counting.
1
Peter 4:7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and
sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
2
Peter 3:4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since
the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of
creation." (God’s critics say: “1,980 years have passed since promises of
Christ’s coming.”)
2
Peter 3:7 But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for
fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not
let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one
day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not
slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not
wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Observation: God’s salvation
patience trumps the immanent / at hand prophetic timeline. God wishes none would perish, but He honors
free will.
¨A
love versus hate paradox:
Mark
12:33 AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE
STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt
offerings and sacrifices."
Psalm
119:104 From Thy precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
Observation: Love your neighbor but hate his
false ways. How to live this is
difficult. Pray for wisdom.
¨A humility versus aggression paradox.
Hebrews 2:14 14 Since then the children share in
flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through
death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the
devil;
Hebrews 10:12-13 12 but He, having offered one
sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward
until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.
Colossians 2:15 15 When He had disarmed the rulers
and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them
through Him.
1 John 3:8 8 the one who practices sin is of
the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared
for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
1 Peter 3:22 22 who is at the right hand of
God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been
subjected to Him.
Observation: God utilized the paradox of humility
and aggression to document the error of those who maligned Him--and justly
condemned them.