Gregory A. Boyd is a theologian, pastor, and author known for his advocacy of Open Theism, a controversial view that significantly diverges from traditional Reformed and confessional Christian theology. Boyd's Open Theism has generated much debate within evangelical circles, as it presents a different understanding of God’s knowledge, sovereignty, and relationship with creation. He has written extensively on the topic, most notably in his book God of the Possible.
Key Beliefs and How They Differ from Confessional Christianity
1. Beliefs about God’s Foreknowledge:
- Gregory A. Boyd's View: Boyd is one of the leading proponents of Open Theism, which teaches that God does not have exhaustive, definite foreknowledge of all future events, especially those involving human free will. According to Boyd, God knows all possibilities and outcomes but does not have absolute certainty about future free decisions because the future is open and not yet determined. He argues that this view preserves human freedom and makes God’s relationship with humanity more genuine and dynamic.
- Confessional Christianity: In contrast, confessional Christianity affirms that God is omniscient, meaning He knows all things—past, present, and future—including all future contingent events (Isaiah 46:9-10; Psalm 139:1-4). The Westminster Confession of Faith emphasizes that God has perfect foreknowledge and that He decrees whatsoever comes to pass, yet without violating human freedom. Traditional Reformed theology holds that God’s exhaustive knowledge of the future does not negate human responsibility but rather demonstrates His absolute sovereignty.
2. God’s Sovereignty and Human Freedom:
- Gregory A. Boyd's View: Boyd argues that for human freedom to be meaningful, God must not exhaustively determine or know the future actions of free agents. He believes that Open Theism upholds God’s sovereignty by depicting Him as flexible, responsive, and relational, adapting His plans based on the choices that people make. Boyd's view portrays God as taking risks and being genuinely affected by human decisions.
- Confessional Christianity: Reformed theology emphasizes that God is absolutely sovereign and that He ordains all things according to His will (Ephesians 1:11). This includes the free actions of human beings, which are understood to be compatible with God’s sovereign decree (Acts 4:27-28). Confessional Christianity teaches that God's sovereignty and human responsibility coexist, even if this mystery transcends human understanding. It rejects the idea that God’s foreknowledge and ordination compromise human freedom.
3. The Nature of Prayer and Divine Interaction:
- Gregory A. Boyd's View: Boyd believes that prayer plays a dynamic role in influencing God’s actions. In Open Theism, God genuinely responds to prayers and can change His course of action based on human intercession. Boyd emphasizes that because the future is open, prayer can have a real impact on how events unfold.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity acknowledges that God ordains both the ends and the means, including prayer. While prayer is indeed meaningful and commanded by God (James 5:16), it is not because God’s plans are uncertain or subject to change, but rather because He has ordained prayer as a means through which His will is accomplished. The Bible teaches that God’s purposes are established from eternity and will not be thwarted (Isaiah 14:24; Psalm 33:11).
4. The Problem of Evil and Suffering:
- Gregory A. Boyd's View: Boyd’s Open Theism approach attempts to address the problem of evil by suggesting that much of the suffering and evil in the world results from the genuinely free choices of creatures. According to Boyd, because God does not have absolute control over every event, He is not directly responsible for the existence of evil. God works to bring good out of evil but does not meticulously control or ordain all instances of suffering.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity teaches that God is sovereign over all aspects of creation, including suffering and evil (Lamentations 3:37-38; Job 42:2). While God is not the author of evil, He permits it and uses it for His greater purposes, such as revealing His glory, justice, and mercy (Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20). Reformed theology holds that even in suffering, God’s sovereign will is being accomplished, and He is working all things according to His divine plan.
5. View of Scripture and Theological Method:
- Gregory A. Boyd's View: Boyd asserts that the Bible supports Open Theism, particularly passages where God appears to change His mind, express regret, or respond to human actions (e.g., Genesis 6:6; Exodus 32:14; Jonah 3:10). He argues that these texts show that God’s knowledge of the future is not exhaustive or fixed. Boyd emphasizes that theology should be shaped by a narrative reading of Scripture rather than abstract philosophical categories.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity holds that Scripture is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It teaches that God’s self-revelation in Scripture, when rightly interpreted, shows Him as omniscient, unchanging, and sovereign. Passages where God “changes His mind” are understood as anthropomorphic expressions that help finite humans understand God’s actions within time. The Westminster Confession maintains that God’s knowledge and will are perfect and unchanging.
Summary of Differences
Why Gregory A. Boyd should be regarded as a false teacher and why his teachings should be avoided:
1. Open Theism and the Denial of God's Omniscience
Gregory A. Boyd is a leading proponent of open theism, a view that teaches that God does not have exhaustive knowledge of the future, particularly human free choices. Boyd argues that the future is partly "open," and thus, God learns as events unfold. However, this view contradicts the clear biblical teaching that God is all-knowing and sovereign over all things, including the future. Isaiah 46:9-10 declares, "I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done." Psalm 139:4 affirms that God knows every word before it is spoken, and Matthew 6:8 shows that He knows what we need before we even ask. Boyd’s denial of God’s comprehensive knowledge undermines the biblical doctrine of God’s omniscience and sovereignty, which is foundational to the Christian faith.
2. Undermining God’s Sovereignty and Control over History
By advocating open theism, Boyd diminishes God’s sovereignty and control over His creation. The Bible presents God as the supreme ruler over all things, working everything according to the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11). Proverbs 16:9 teaches that "the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps," demonstrating that God actively guides and governs the affairs of humanity. Additionally, Daniel 4:35 declares, "all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’" Boyd's teaching denies God's sovereign rule over history and introduces uncertainty about whether God can fulfill His purposes, which directly contradicts the Bible’s clear affirmation of God’s absolute sovereignty.
3. Distorting the Nature of God’s Foreknowledge
Boyd’s open theism suggests that God does not have certain knowledge of future free actions, implying that God learns and adapts over time. This is inconsistent with passages where God clearly predicts specific future events. For example, in Isaiah 44:28–45:1, God names Cyrus as the future deliverer of Israel over a hundred years before Cyrus was born, demonstrating His precise and exhaustive foreknowledge. Jesus Himself affirmed God’s knowledge of future events, accurately predicting His death and resurrection (Mark 8:31), as well as Peter’s denial (Luke 22:34). Such teachings show that God knows the future exhaustively, even the free actions of individuals, which completely contradicts Boyd’s views.
4. Challenging the Reliability and Trustworthiness of God’s Promises
If God does not know the future with certainty, as Boyd claims, then His promises become unreliable. Scripture presents God as utterly faithful and unchanging (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 6:17-18). The Bible promises that "all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Christ]" (2 Corinthians 1:20), assuring believers of the certainty and reliability of God’s Word. By teaching that God does not fully know or control the future, Boyd undermines the believer’s confidence in God’s promises and His unchanging nature.
5. Contradicting the Biblical View of God’s Providence
The Bible teaches that God providentially governs all things, including the details of human lives (Psalm 115:3, Acts 17:26). Jesus taught that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father (Matthew 10:29-30). Boyd’s open theism denies this meticulous providence and suggests that God is often reactive rather than proactive. This concept contradicts the biblical understanding of God's providence and His intimate involvement in the world.
Conclusion from Scripture
The Bible warns against those who teach doctrines that deviate from the truth (2 Peter 2:1-3). Paul strongly admonishes in Galatians 1:8-9 that even if an angel preaches a different gospel, such a message should be rejected. Gregory A. Boyd's teachings on open theism conflict with the biblical attributes of God—His omniscience, sovereignty, immutability, and faithfulness. By redefining God’s knowledge and control over the future, Boyd promotes a diminished view of God that does not align with the biblical witness.
Christians are called to avoid teachers who lead others astray with false doctrine (Romans 16:17-18). Boyd’s teachings present a distorted understanding of God’s character, introducing uncertainty and doubt about the very nature of God. Therefore, his teachings should be avoided, and believers should remain anchored in the biblical revelation of God, who is all-knowing, sovereign, and unchanging. Scripture alone is the ultimate authority, and it affirms that "the counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations" (Psalm 33:11). This is the God we are called to trust, worship, and serve—not the limited, uncertain God presented by Gregory A. Boyd’s open theism.