In Journal of Dispensational Theology. 27 (75): 167-184.

Abstract

Open theism is a problematic theological paradigm that shares foundational elements with panentheism and process theology. Not only have open theists incorporated secular evolutionary theories into their system of thought, but most open theists have also found it necessary to reject the biblical concept of creation from nothing, or creation ex nihilo. The reason for this rejection is primarily due to the fact that creation ex nihilo fundamentally presupposes an omnipotent Creator who brings to pass whatever he chooses and that his purposes are never frustrated. Open theism, however, believes that God has no exhaustive foreknowledge and that his creation does regularly frustrate his purposes. In place of creation ex nihilo, many open theists propose an endless universe with multiple cycles of big bang creation events in which God is repeatedly making worldly creations from chaos in a strange cyclic steady-state cosmology. In support of the biblical doctrine of creation ex nihilo, this article will demonstrate how it is both scientifically and scripturally valid, and that denial of this doctrine is yet another unorthodox tenant of the open theist community that must be rejected.

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