Alan G. Padgett

God, Eternity and the Nature of Time: Alan G. Padgett

A thorough analysis and discussion of the nature of time and eternity, focusing on the timelessness of God. After considering two theories of time in the light of modern science and philosophy, Padgett argues for a "process" notion of time. The traditional doctrine of absolute divine timelessness is incompatible with God's action in the world, if the process view of time is true. After an historical and biblical survey of the doctrine of eternity, Padgett rejects both the "everlasting" and the "timeless" theory of eternity, seeking to defent the intuition that God transcends time. He argues for a third, mediating view: God is in some sense temporal, yet is the ground of time, the Lord of time, and "relatively" timeless.