No Other God: A Response to Open Theism

“Open theism is bad news. The appearance of this book is good news. Precisely because God is closed and not open to the nullification of his purposes, he has opened a future for believers that is utterly secure.”

“A convincing . . . biblical case for a God whose sovereignty is something not to be avoided, but cherished.”

“A devastating critique of the concept of human freedom as articulated in the 'open theistic' view.”

“Frame offers a cogent and compelling critique of open theism in this helpful and well-written volume. Central to open theism are the following affirmations: (1) God cannot know the future (i.e., God is not omniscient); (2) God does not foreordain whatsoever comes to pass (i.e., God is not sovereign); (3) God genuinely changes his mind and undergoes change over time (i.e., God is not immutable or unchangeable); (4) God is not timeless, since he exists in time (i.e., God is not eternal); (5) human beings possess "libertarian" freedom, so that human choice occurs independent of both the divine decree and human nature. In fact, it is the commitment to "libertarian" freedom that drives open theism to deny God's omniscience, since God cannot in the nature of the case foreknow actions with no cause. In his assessment of open theism, Frame focuses on the historical, systematic, and exegetical issues and evaluates the movement with charity and cogency offering a solid, well-reasoned Reformed alternative. In terms of historical analysis, Frame rightly notes that open theism, though claiming to offer fresh new insights into the biblical picture of God, is nothing more than a rehash of the old Socinian heresy. With regard to biblical and theological rigor, Frame finds open theism wanting in that the Bible affirms that God exists both in and outside of time, foreordains whatsoever comes to pass, remains immutable in his being yet is present and active in his creation, and knows himself and his creation in one eternal act of intuition. Frame also fails to find biblical foundation for "libertarian" freedom. All in all, John Frame provides a biblical antidote to the errors of open theism.”