Paker, J.I. Knowing God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Knowing God is a book written by J. I. Packer. In this book Packer talks much about the attributes of God, and how God relates to us and others throughout the Bible. In the opening chapters of Knowing God, Packer presents the idea that although many self-proclaimed Christians feel as though they know God most are misled regarding what this truly entails. He says that often times people in the church are not living in true relationship
Knowing God One page reflection on Romans 1:1-32 Paul opens the book of Romans by greeting the Church of Rome. He’s saying that he longs to be with them, but circumstances have not allowed him to be. In verse five he talks about bringing the obedience of faith to all nations. This is his call to preach to both the Jews and the Gentiles in Rome. Paul wants to go to Rome so badly but he is not able to. He wants to meet the believers so that he can impart spiritual gifts on them and
University. While attending Oxford, Packer gave his life to God at an Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union meeting. He is the current Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College. His most known work is Knowing God. Knowing God started as a series of magazine articles. In 1973, the articles were combined and published as a book, Knowing God. Summary The primary purpose of J.I. Packer’s book, Knowing God, is to know who God is by the end or have a better understanding. He splits the
Knowing God: Mysticism in Christianity and Other Religions Mysticism, mystic experiences, and encounters with the divine are important—and even integral—to many religions throughout the world. Mysticism, defined as experiencing the divine, should have a special importance in Christianity. Christianity posits a God who is transcendent, yet immanent, and as Christians we believe we can have a relationship with the Deity. Because of this we should have a unique conception of mystical experiences
discussion of the problem of evil in relation to the existence of god. Specifically outlining two sections where the problem of evil is discussed from atheist and theistic viewpoint. Statement: The problem of evil features an argument questioning the existence of god in relation to evil, attributing both atheistic and theistic replies. First reply to problem of evil: (atheist). If god was all good, all powerful and all knowing, he would not allow the existence of evil. 3.1 First reply to the
J. I. Packer presents a compelling summary of how believers should know God through Scripture as well as experientially in living the tenets of Scripture, a true experience of Christ living in us. Packer illustrates God’s nature through Scripture and His character of wisdom, majesty, personal unfailing lovingkindness, yet righteousness, judgment and wrath which do not diminish God’s nature or righteousness. In God’s judgement His wrath is justly shown against sin and those who reject Christ. While
the existence of evil strongly suggests that there does not exist a god who is all good, all knowing and all powerful, I agree with Blackburn’s beliefs, that having negativity present causes there to be a close assurance that there is not an existent all positive and sain god. Blackburn begins to question the coexistence of evil while having an AAA god. An AAA god is known to be an all good, all knowing and all powerful god. A god that does, nor causes any harm to occur, one that knows exactly when
all-knowing(K), and morally perfect God. First, in order to fully comprehend what is being argued we need to make a few of these terms clear. What exactly do we mean by the problem of evil? What is a PKM God? The logical problem of evil has its origins from Greek philosopher Epicurus. Typically, this argument is presented as follows: 1. If an all-powerful, all-knowing, and morally perfect God exists, then evil does not. 2. There is evil in the world. 3. Thus, an all-powerful, all-knowing, and morally
God is real. I am a theist. I will be objecting agnosticism. God is a spirit that has determined how a person’s life will unfold. I believe, God has all the power and from the time of conception until death he has a person’s life planned. He knows how a person will act and react in situations, treat others, and their daily actions. Going to church and having a conversation with God can make a decision or situation easier. One may find answers they have been looking for. God is here to help us
Western traditions believe that God is the creator and sustainer of all things. We would not even be self aware, let alone aware of right and wrong, if God had not created within us His image, and therefore the ability to make moral distinctions. The truth is we have no reference point for all this discussion about morality except as God reveals it. For us to argue with the source of morality is for the clay to argue with the potter. Some philosophers say that for God to define what is right or wrong
The God and Evil Problem A strong argument against the existence of a Christian God is contained in the theodicy problem. The existence of suffering is not compatible with an omniscient, omnipotent, omni benevolent superior being. An all-knowing being would be aware that suffering is and always will be in existence; an all-powerful being would be able to prevent suffering; and a perfectly good being would desire to end suffering. Many Christian thinkers have sought to justify this contradiction
between life and death, dying in slow agony under our eyes… Behind me, I heard the same man asking; ‘Where is God now?’ And I heard a voice within me answer him: ‘Where is He? Here He is-He is hanging here on this gallows.’” (Wiesel, 1982) What possible good could have come out of this child being executed? He committed no recognizable crime. How could an all powerful, all knowing, perfectly good God allow such a thing to happen? Philosophers and theologians have struggled with this question for centuries
that the God of classical theism has certain attributes. These are that: · God is all powerful (Omnipotence) · God is all loving (Omnibenevolence) · God is all knowing (Omniscience) · God creates ex-nilho (out of nothing) · God is infinite The last point is not as important in this discussion; the others are the main points in the arguments for and against evil in the world. I will attempt to get an argument for each of the points above. First off, the attribute of God being
to say that God saves us by personally suffering with us or by being above human suffering? How might Phil. 2 inform your answer? I think Martin Luther had it (and many, many other things) right. You can't say that Jesus died for our sins and suffered on the cross and then say that God did not also suffer. If Jesus is God, if Jesus suffered so too must God have. Philippians 2:6-8 really sums it all up stating who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be
Anne Bradstreet, a prominent author of the puritan era uses many of her simplistic style works to demonstrate her loyalty to God. “Before the Birth of One of Her Children,” “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” and “Here Follows Some verses upon the Burning of Our House” all portray Bradstreet, as well as many other puritan authors’ beliefs of placing their faith of God above all other worries. Specifically, “Here Follows Some verses upon the Burning of Our House” illustrates a prime example of typical
monotheistic faith God is defined with a triad of attributes as being all good, all powerful and all knowing. This triad is what is empirically derived from God being the prime mover. The fact of evil, or theodicy, possess that there exists evil in this world and that this triad cannot exist through that evil conflicts with all three existing at once. The presence of evil means that God lacks one of these attributes because if he had them all, he would not allow evil to exist. If God and evil are to
power, a perfect God, how can that higher power allow such evils to occur in this world? How could this perfect God create such evils in the world? How could he allow such suffering? As these questions have been asked, many philosophers have different thoughts and opinions on what kind of higher power really exists, and how evil can come from such a perfect and loving God. The example I have chosen poses the question of whether or not a perfect
through the fact that the existence of God is an extraordinary claim, hence in the absence of extraordinary evidence the saying that God exists may be regarded as false. 1.If a claim is extraordinary, then in the absence of extraordinarily strong evidence in its favor, the claim may be considered false. 2.The claim that God exists is an extraordinary claim. 3.Therefore, in the absence of extraordinarily strong evidence in its favor, the claim that a god exists may be considered false. 4.There
may die while trying to help. That is how sacrifice works, you give something of your own for the good of others. Often people expect being thanked or liked for sacrificing, they may do it out of compassion or feelings of self-righteousness. However, God gave humanity an example of the greatest sacrifice, sacrifice of His own son. Surely many would agree that losing some time or money can upsetting, even your own death would not compare to the death of your child, because it feels like part of you is
recall knowing exactly why I had made that decision. I loved Jesus and wanted to dedicate my life to him and that still applies for today. Growing up I was given many opportunities to study the bible and further my understanding of God and his ways. I remember a time in my eight grade year of school, I attended a Christ In Youth Believe conference and during that short weekend learned what it meant to let go of myself and worship God. In that moment I had gained a new understanding of God and what